Onion
Seed # 123
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 123
- Seed Name
- Onion
- Variety
- Tokyo Long White Bunching
- Category
- Vegetable
- Plant Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Plant Type
- Japanese bunching onion (Allium fistulosum)
- Planting Method
- Direct Sow or Transplant
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Feb 24
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Sep 1
- Plantable Months
- February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September
- Indoor Start
- Feb 24 – Mar 10
- Direct Sow
- Mar 15 – Sep 1
- Transplant
- Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- 10 weeks
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- Not recorded
- Germination Days
- 10–15 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- 65 days
- Succession Planting
- 21 days
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- 50-75°F
- Planting Depth
- 1/4 in
- Plant Spacing
- 1/2-1 in
- Row Spacing
- 12 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- Not recorded
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun
- Water Needs
- About 1 in/week; maintain steady moisture for tender, mild stalks
- Soil Preference
- Fertile, loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; approximately pH 6.0-7.0
- Minimum Container Size
- 6-8 in deep
- Plant Height
- 12-24 in
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Perennial
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- Yes
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- No
Garden Uses
Container Culinary Pollinator Seed SavingCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Carrots | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Lettuce | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Lettuce | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Lettuce | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Radish | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Onion | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Onion | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Onion | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Onion | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Onion | Avoid | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- True Leaf Market/Kitazawa; Southern Exposure Seed Exchange; Underwood Gardens; University of Minnesota Extension; Redford frost-date data
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Direct sow or start indoors and transplant
Original Start Planting Date: Feb 27 – Mar 13 indoors; Mar 25 – Apr 1 outdoors
Original Last Suggested Planting Date: Jul 1 – Jul 10 for full-size crop
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: Mar 25 – Jul 10 for full crops; later sowings for young scallions
Germination Time: 7–10 days; up to 14 in cool conditions
Days to Harvest / Bloom: 65–95 days; younger scallions can be harvested earlier
Pollinator Friendly: Not important for the normal crop; flowers support pollinators if allowed to bloom
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Culinary; not classified as medicinal/herbal
Perennial?: Perennial species; usually grown as annual
Succession / Reusable Notes: Sow every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply; harvest young or let mature for larger white shanks.
Zone 6B Notes: Handles cool conditions well; do not rely on Tokyo Long White overwintering through a Michigan winter.
Companion Plants: Lettuce, carrots, radishes, other compact/quick crops
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Watch for thrips, onion maggots and onion yellows; avoid overcrowding. Reported resistance to pink root rot.
Sources: True Leaf Market/Kitazawa; Southern Exposure Seed Exchange; Underwood Gardens; University of Minnesota Extension; Redford frost-date data
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Tokyo Long White is hardy in Zone 6 and is suitable for repeated sowings from spring through late summer. It tolerates both heat and light cold and can overwinter in suitable conditions.
Germination: Start indoors 8-10 weeks before May 5, or direct sow once soil is workable. Seed normally germinates in 10-15 days.
Harvest: Harvest around 65 days for long mild white scallion stalks. Plants can be hilled or blanched to produce longer white shanks.
Seed Saving: Allium fistulosum is perennial and insect-pollinated. Allow established plants to flower and mature seed; isolate from other flowering A. fistulosum varieties for purity.
Special Care: Unlike bulbing Allium cepa onions, Tokyo Long White is a true bunching onion and does not depend on day length to form a storage bulb.
Research Source: Botanical Interests — https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/tokyo-long-white-bunching-scallion-onion-seeds — Allium fistulosum identity, 65-day maturity, perennial habit, Zone 6 hardiness, heat tolerance, frost tolerance, container use, 10-15 day germination, depth, spacing, row spacing and indoor-start timing
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]