Scallion (Green Onion) in Zone 4a & 4b
Allium fistulosum
When to plant scallion (green onion) in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b 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 1–May 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 30–Jul 7 (~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 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. 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 4b 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 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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