How to Grow Scallion 'White Lisbon'
Wikimedia Commons
Scallion 'White Lisbon'
Allium fistulosum
vegetable'White Lisbon' is a popular bunching onion variety prized for its mild flavor, tender white bases, and long green tops. It matures quickly and produces uniform, slender bulbs ideal for fresh use and cooking. This variety is one of the most widely grown scallions in home and commercial gardens.
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Example Scallion 'White Lisbon' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Scallion 'White Lisbon'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Scallion 'White Lisbon'
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Scallion 'White Lisbon' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-10; can be grown year-round in mild climates with succession planting
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Germination & Seedling
7-14 days germination; 3-4 weeks to thinning stageTiny thread-like sprouts emerge and develop first true leaves; seedlings are very delicate and narrow.
Keep soil evenly moist; thin seedlings to proper spacing when 2-3 inches tall. Provide consistent warmth (60-70°F). Avoid overwatering to prevent damping-off.
Early Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksSeedlings develop multiple thin green leaves; white base remains thin and undifferentiated.
Maintain consistent moisture and remove weeds carefully to avoid damaging shallow roots. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Ensure adequate light and airflow.
Base Thickening & Maturation
3-4 weeksWhite base begins to swell and differentiate from the green tops; plant develops 4-6 green leaves; characteristic scallion form becomes apparent.
Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to encourage base development rather than excessive leaf growth. Continue consistent watering. Hill soil slightly around bases if desired for whiter, longer blanched sections.
Harvest-Ready
Ready at 60-75 days; can continue harvesting for 2-4 weeksScallions reach 6-10 inches tall with 0.25-0.5 inch diameter white bases; tops are bright green and tender.
Begin harvesting when bunches reach desired size. Stagger harvests by pulling individual or small bundles every few days rather than entire crop at once. Continue watering and fertilizing for continued production.
Common Pests
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Use row covers during egg-laying season (spring); apply beneficial nematodes to soil; practice crop rotation; remove and destroy infested plants
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves; maintain adequate water to reduce spider mite issues
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Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur or copper fungicide at first sign; remove infected foliage
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Plant in well-draining soil; avoid overwatering; practice 3-year crop rotation; remove infected plants; sterilize tools
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and
Hand-pick in early morning or evening; use beer traps; create barriers with diatomaceous earth; encourage beneficial predators
Uses
Fresh Raw & Cooked
CulinaryWhite bases provide mild onion flavor perfect for raw applications like salads, salsas, and Asian dishes, while green tops add fresh, slightly sweet herbal notes to soups, stir-fries, and garnishes. [source]
Asian Cuisine Staple
Culinary'White Lisbon' is essential in Asian cooking, appearing in Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese dishes as both ingredient and garnish for ramen, fried rice, dumplings, and steamed fish. [source]
Traditional Remedies
MedicinalBunching onions contain beneficial compounds like quercetin and allicin, traditionally used in herbal medicine to support immune function and overall wellness. [source]
Easy Cut-and-Come-Again Crop
HouseholdWhite Lisbon's regrowth capability makes it ideal for container gardening on windowsills, allowing repeated harvests from a single planting for several months. [source]
Beneficial Flower Resource
WildlifeIf allowed to bolt, scallion flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects while providing ornamental interest; flowers are also edible with a delicate onion flavor. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest when scallions are 6-10 inches tall and white bases are 0.25-0.5 inches in diameter, typically 60-75 days after sowing. Grasp at soil level and pull gently, or cut 1 inch above soil to allow regrowth. For continuous harvest, pick outer stalks first, allowing inner ones to mature. Morning harvest provides crispest texture. Use immediately for best flavor, or store in refrigerator in plastic bag for up to 2 weeks.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 'White Lisbon' was developed in Lisbon, Portugal, and has been a commercial favorite since the early 1900s due to its uniform growth, reliability, and excellent flavor profile.
- 🌱 Unlike true onions, bunching onions like 'White Lisbon' rarely form true bulbs and are genetically adapted to produce multiple shoots from a single base, allowing perpetual harvesting.
- 🌱 Scallions can regrow after harvest if 1 inch of white base and roots remain in the soil; some gardeners successfully regrow them in water on windowsills for weeks.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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