Scallion (Green Onion) in Zone 3a & 3b
Allium fistulosum
When to plant scallion (green onion) in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Scallion (Green Onion) doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 16–May 23 |
| Estimated harvest | Jul 15–Jul 22 (~60 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Scallions are one of the easiest alliums to grow: direct-sown, no bulbing to manage, and forgiving enough to go in the ground before your last frost while other crops are still waiting on warmer soil. They're also one of the densest plantings you can make in a small bed.
How scallion (green onion) fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Scallion (Green Onion) needs about 60 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
- Carrot: Same allium/carrot pest-masking effect measured for onion and carrot (Uvah & Coaker 1984) — a real, peer-reviewed field study, not folklore. The reverse direction (carrot masking onion from onion fly) wasn't part of that study and is the less-supported half of this pairing.
- Lettuce: Space-efficient interplant with non-competing root depths.
Where to buy scallion seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing scallion (green onion)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Scallion (Green Onion) in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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