Kids Hack: Growing Green Onions
Growing green onions is a fun, easy, and educational activity that kids can enjoy at home, whether you have a garden or just a sunny windowsill. Green onions, also known as scallions or spring onions, are fast-growing and low-maintenance, making them perfect for young gardeners. With this simple kids hack, your little ones can learn about plants, responsibility, and even enjoy the fruits (or veggies!) of their labor in just a few days.
Why Green Onions?
Green onions are a great starter plant for kids. They grow quickly, don’t require much space, and can be regrown from kitchen scraps. That means your child can watch them sprout in just a few days—instant gratification! They’re also edible, which makes this a delicious science experiment.
What You’ll Need
You don’t need a fancy setup to grow green onions. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Green onion bulbs with roots (from the grocery store)
- A small jar or glass cup
- Water
- Sunny windowsill or outdoor spot with good light
- Optional: Potting soil and a small container or garden space for transplanting later
Step-by-Step Hack for Growing Green Onions
Step 1: Save the Roots
After using the green tops of store-bought green onions in a meal, save the white bulbs with the roots attached. Make sure to leave about 1–2 inches of the white part above the roots.
Step 2: Place in Water
Stand the bulbs upright in a small glass or jar. Add enough water to cover just the roots, not the tops. Too much water can make them rot. Clear containers work best so kids can see the roots growing.
Step 3: Find the Light
Place the jar on a sunny windowsill. Green onions love light, and the more sun they get, the faster they’ll grow.
Step 4: Watch Them Grow
In just 2–3 days, green shoots will begin to emerge. Within a week, they can grow up to 4–6 inches tall! Kids will love seeing the changes each day. Keep the water level consistent and change the water every 2–3 days to keep it fresh.
Step 5: Harvest and Eat
Once the green tops are tall enough (usually around 6 inches), you can snip them with scissors and add them to salads, soups, eggs, or sandwiches. Leave the roots in the jar, and they’ll grow again!
Step 6: Optional – Transplant to Soil
If your child wants to try growing onions in soil, that’s a great next step. After a week or two in water, you can plant the onion roots in a small pot with soil or in the garden. Bury the roots and part of the white stalk, and keep the soil moist. With enough light and water, they’ll keep growing just like before.
Fun Add-Ons for Kids
- Decorate the jars with stickers, markers, or labels.
- Make a growth journal – have kids draw the onions every day and measure how tall they get.
- Try different containers – use mason jars, recycled yogurt cups, or old mugs.
- Grow more veggies – once they master green onions, try lettuce, celery, or basil from scraps.
Final Thoughts
The green onion growing hack is not only fun but also teaches kids about nature, sustainability, and where their food comes from. It’s a great rainy-day activity or a simple science project that can lead to a lifetime of gardening interest. Plus, kids love the idea of growing something they can actually eat. So grab those green onion roots and get growing!
