This is one vegetable that you will never regret growing – no matter where you are in the world!
An extremely versatile crop that can be harvested at any point of growth. The leaves can be snipped for use in salads or the whole plant can be pulled up. Pencil-thin stems can be used as spring onions or left to grow as thick as a carrot without losing their flavour and long white tender stems can be obtained by applying the earthing-up method during growth. A perennial variety that is cold hardy & very adaptable to various climates.
The flowers are attractive to bees, while the whole plant is an effective insect repellent. They are very easy to grow from seed, extremely hardy and pest resistant and will grow from cold, wet regions right through to hot, tropical areas.
Ishikura is vigorous and quick to mature, sown March to July, it can be harvested from May right through to October. Because it has such a long harvesting period, there is rarely any waste and unlike normal types there is not the need to be sowing every three weeks for a continuous crop.
At maturity, this single stalked variety has white stems up to 20in long with 6in green leaves. The stems can grow up to 1in in diameter.
In Japan this traditional Japanese type bunching onion is a very popular cultivated vegetable and an important ingredient in Asian cuisine. It is used in stir-fry’s, miso soup and in takoyaki dumpling dish, among others.
It has a mild, sweet flavour and is strongly reminiscent to the scallion or welsh onion, once grown it is similar to the leek in appearance. It is a useful addition to a vegetable plot or herb garden and once established they tend to look after themselves.
~ planting ~
Direct sow in spring as early as the ground can be worked and soil temperature is between 50˚ and 95˚. Plant seed ½” deep. Sow indoors 8 weeks before last frost in spring. Keep soil temperature 50˚ to 95° and consistently moist for optimum germination. Plant in loose, well drained soil that has been enriched with compost or a general purpose garden fertilizer. Plant seed in a trench and as the onions grow fill in the trench with soil as this is a very tall bunching type onion. When the plants are 2” high, thin 2” to 3” apart. The greens you thin can be used in cooking or salads. Water moderately on a regular schedule. Plant in late summer for an early crop the next spring or summer.
~Harvesting~
Ready about four to six weeks after planting out. Harvesting is very easy if they are already growing in bunches. Simply pull or fork out the bunches, knock off some excess soil from the roots, cut off the tops so the bunches are about 30 cm long and tie them together with a rubber band. Only harvest scallions as you need them as they will not keep well once they are harvested.
