Japanese Bunching Onions
Japanese Bunching Onions: 65 days to harvest, 7-14 days to germinate, 2-3 inches, or broadcast in bands between plants, pH 6.0-7.0, hardy in zones 4-9. Fruit runs to about Pencil-thick to 3/4 inch diameter stems. Give it full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours) and consistent moisture, 1 inch per week water. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Direct sow in spring or fall. Can succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- Consistent moisture, 1 inch per week
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with organic matter
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 2-3 inches, or broadcast in bands
- Height
- 1-3 feet
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Dark green tops with white bases
- Size
- Pencil-thick to 3/4 inch diameter stems
- Shape
- Long, hollow, cylindrical leaves
- Flavour
- Mild onion flavor, tender and crisp
In the kitchen
Asian cuisine, soups, stir-fries, salads, garnishes. Use both white and green parts.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Onion thrips, aphids
- Diseases
- Downy mildew in humid conditions
- Resistance
- Generally disease resistant, very hardy
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | August – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | July – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | May – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | April – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 40
- Protein (g)
- 1.1
- Fat (g)
- 0.1
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 9.34
- Fibre (g)
- 1.7
- Sugars (g)
- 4.24
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 0
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 7.4
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.02
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 0.4
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.12
- Folate (µg)
- 19
- Calcium (mg)
- 23
- Iron (mg)
- 0.21
- Magnesium (mg)
- 10
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 29
- Potassium (mg)
- 146
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.17
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.5
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Japanese Bunching Onions?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other alliums with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Japanese Bunching Onions suits these too.
- Evergreen Hardy White 65 days
- Evergreen White Bunching Onion 60 days
- Purplette 60 days
- White Lisbon Bunching Onion 60 days
- Common Chives 75 days
- King Richard 75 days