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Scallion / Bunching Onion variety
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Tokyo Long White

Vegetable
70 days to harvest
Full sun to part shade

What's special about Tokyo Long White

Japanese negi — very long white shanks, prized in ramen and sukiyaki.

Growing this variety

Tokyo Long White follows the same growing basics as Scallion / Bunching Onion. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Scallion / Bunching Onion family.

Season
Cool season — spring and fall, some perennial
USDA zones
3–10 (perennial in 5–9)
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Start indoors
6–8 weeks before last frost
Direct sow outdoors
3–4 weeks before last frost, then every 3 weeks
Days to harvest
70 days

Germination

Germination time
7–14 days
Soil temperature
60–75°F (15–24°C)

Spacing & depth

Sow depth
1/4" (6 mm)
Seed spacing
Sow thickly in a 2-in-wide band
Mature plant spacing
1–2 in (2.5–5 cm)
Row spacing
10–12 in (25–30 cm)

How to plant

Direct-sow in dense little rows — you're growing a curtain, not individual plants. Keep evenly moist. Pull whole clumps when pencil-thick, or cut like chives and let regrow. Succession-sow every 3 weeks for a constant supply.

Grower's tip

Perennial types (Welsh onion, He-shi-ko) never bulb — leave a clump in the corner of the bed and harvest for years.

Soil preferences

Soil type

Loose, well-drained soil — bulbs rot in wet feet.

pH range

6.0–7.0

Amendments

Compost + bone meal or rock phosphate worked into the planting hole.

Watering

Frequency

Water in at planting, then only during active growth. Let bulbs go dry during dormancy.

Method

Deep watering at the base. Avoid overhead watering after leaves die back.

Over vs. under

Overwatered: soft, mushy bulbs at harvest; basal plate rot. Underwatered: small bulbs, thin necks.

Top-water or bottom-water?

Prefers top-watering — Top-water at the soil surface — keep the necks and crowns as dry as possible to prevent basal rot.

Temperature tolerance

Ideal daytime air temp

60–75°F (15–24°C) during growth

Ideal nighttime air temp

40–60°F (4–15°C)

Frost sensitivity

Hardneck garlic, shallots, and daffodils need a cold winter to bulb properly. Tender bulbs (dahlia, gladiolus) must be lifted in cold zones.

Container growing

Container-suitable?

Yes — great in containers

Recommended pot size

8+ in deep, wide enough to space bulbs 2–3× their diameter

Notes

Deep pot for tulips and daffodils; shallow bowls for crocus.

Detailed harvesting

For garlic and onion: dig when the bottom 3 leaves brown and top leaves still stand. Loosen with a fork, don't yank. Cure whole plants 2–3 weeks in a warm, airy, shaded spot.

Post-harvest storage & preservation

After curing, trim tops and roots. Store hardneck garlic 4–6 months, softneck 8+ months in a cool (50–60°F), dry, dark spot with airflow. Never in the fridge.

Culinary, medicinal & other uses

Culinary staple (allium bulbs), cut flowers (tulip, daffodil, lily), forced blooms indoors, or perennial garden color.

Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.

Seed saving

Pollination

Propagate by offset bulblets, not seed — bulbs mature much faster from a clove/bulb than from seed.

Isolation needs

Not applicable when replanting clones. Cross-pollinated seed rarely comes true.

How to save

Save the biggest, firmest bulbs each year and replant. Over generations you build a locally-adapted strain.

Your zone's planting calendar

Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for scallion / bunching onion in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.

My Tokyo Long White Scallion / Bunching Onion notes

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Tokyo Long White Scallion / Bunching Onion seeds on hand

Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.

Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.

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From your kitchen — grow scallion / bunching onion from what you already have

Grocery scallions regrow indefinitely — one bunch becomes an endless supply.

  1. 1Cut off the white bases with roots attached (leave 1–2 in of white).
  2. 2Stand them root-down in a jar with 1 in of water on a sunny windowsill; change water every 2 days.
  3. 3Green tops regrow within a week. After 2–3 harvests, plant into soil for a stronger crop.
  4. 4Alternatively, plant directly outdoors 1 in deep, 2 in apart.

Storage: Rotates forever — snip tops, let regrow, snip again.

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