Bunching Onion ‘White Lisbon’ is a fast-growing, mild-flavoured bunching spring onion variety that is widely grown for its reliability, crisp texture, and versatility in the kitchen. It’s a popular choice for home gardeners across Australia and can be grown year-round in many regions. Bunching Onion ‘White Lisbon’ is a dependable and easy-to-grow variety that suits both beginner and experienced gardeners. It’s perfect for small gardens, balcony pots, and kitchen gardens, offering a quick and rewarding harvest. Whether used fresh or cooked, it adds a mild, fresh onion flavour to countless dishes and can be grown almost year-round in most parts of Australia.

‘White Lisbon’ is an old European heirloom that has been cultivated for centuries. It likely originated in Portugal and was named after the city of Lisbon. Over time, it has become one of the most commonly grown bunching onions worldwide, appreciated for its adaptability, vigour, and flavour.

Appearance and Flavour
This variety produces slender white stems with bright green, upright leaves. The flavour is mild and slightly sweet, making it perfect for use raw in salads or cooked in stir-fries, soups, and omelettes. Unlike bulb-forming onions, it does not develop a large bulb and is instead harvested for its entire stem, bulb and leaf structure. It is usually picked young, but can be allowed to grow larger for a stronger flavour.

Medicinal Benefits
Bunching onions like ‘White Lisbon’ contain beneficial compounds such as vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and antioxidants. They are known to support immune health, reduce inflammation, and aid digestion. They also have mild antibacterial properties and have traditionally been used in natural remedies for colds and flu. Regular consumption can contribute to a healthy diet and improved cardiovascular function. All parts of the plant are edible, including the white stems and green tops. They can be used fresh, lightly cooked, or as a garnish. The flavour is milder than that of a full-sized onion, making them suitable for children or those who prefer a subtler taste.

How It Grows
‘White Lisbon’ is a hardy, cool-season crop but can also be grown through the warmer months in many areas of Australia. It prefers:

• Full sun or light shade

• Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with compost or aged manure

• Regular, even watering to encourage tender growth

• Successive sowing every few weeks for a continuous harvest

Plants grow to about 30 to 40 cm tall and can be harvested in as little as 8 to 10 weeks from sowing, though they can be left longer for thicker stems.

Growing From Seed
This variety is easy to grow from seed and well suited to direct sowing in garden beds, containers, or raised plots.

What The Seeds Need:

• Light, well-prepared soil

• Moisture for even germination

• Good spacing to allow for airflow and strong growth

How To Sow:

1. Sow seeds directly into the soil, 5 mm deep in rows about 15 to 20 cm apart

2. Space seeds 1–2 cm apart, or thin later to 5 cm if larger stems are desired

3. Keep soil moist during germination, which typically takes 7 to 14 days

4. Begin harvesting once the plants reach around 15 cm tall

5. For continuous supply, sow new rows every 3 to 4 weeks

6. In cooler climates, sow from late winter to early autumn; in warmer areas, sow year-round

Images by: Jeremy Keith from Brighton & Hove, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons