[Goosegirl]

Never having grown them before, I sowed them direct as instructed and the result - not a thing. It was (obviously) a new packet of seeds so what could have happened? Are they difficult to germinate?

[Fisherman]

They can be a bit fickle. I find sowing them under glass (greenhouse or cloche) in troughs or pots ensures good germination. I sow about 50 seed in multipurpose compost in a 6 inch deep trough about 2 foot long. When they have germinated I sow another trough and so on throughout the season from March until September. I have tried various varieties but find White Lisbon as good as any.

[Growster...]

As Fisherman says, Goosey, just chuck a few seeds in a tray, and keep them in a safe place! We put ours next to the carrot buckets, up high, and we're still getting some even after several months!

The 'leaves', also make a great addition to coleslaw as well!

We don't grow them - like we don't grow carrots, in open soil any more.

[DD.]

I sow mine in modules, a pinch in each module. Start off in greenhouse, then plant them out in clumps.

[cadalot]

I sow mine in vending machine cups and transplant out in clumps like DD

[oldgrunge]

Although a lot of gardening books say spring onions are an easy crop - Don't believe it ! I sow them in open ground, they come up to the size of young grass - and stat there. Now I do it Fisherman's way, sow in MP compost in troughs.

[Flowertot]

I failed miserably with direct sowing spring onions for 3 years then this year I followed DD and Cadalot's method of sowing in modules/cups (or similar) and planting out in clumps. Fabulous! I am a convert  . Thanks chaps 

[DD.]

Mrs Digger did some harvesting for me towards the end of the season. She brought home some of the spring onions,thinking they were shallots. I may have let them grow on too long!

[Goosegirl]

Thanks all. I'm sure mine are White Lisbon and it's probably too late to try them now, so will sow next year in my greenhouse and see what happens.

[Eblana]

I had also failed miserably with direct sowing for 3 or 4 years and moved over to the module sown clumps this year with great success.  I sowed 10 modules every 3 weeks which gave me roughly 3 bunches every week for most of the summer.