Beltsville Bunching

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Beltsville Bunching to a garden.

Sweet, mild scallion flavor with a crisp, juicy snap—Beltsville Bunching forms tidy bunches of tender green that feel as fresh as they look.

At about 60 days, the plants produce slender, upright stalks with a clean, delicate bite that shines in fresh garnishes and quick stir-ins, and it also holds its own when lightly roasted or folded into sauces. A favorite for gardeners who want dependable bunching performance and a steady harvest rhythm from a compact, easy-growing stand.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Clumping

Botanical illustration of Beltsville Bunching

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Beltsville Bunching Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 24th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 18th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 14th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 12th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 7th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Clumping
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Beltsville Bunching is made for the moment you want scallion flavor without the sting—its slender stalks stay crisp and juicy, so they don’t collapse into the dish. Use it late to keep that clean snap, or hit it briefly with heat for sweet, browned edges.

Best Uses

finishing garnish where the crunch stays loud
quick stir-ins (last 60–90 seconds) to keep it tender
light roasting or griddling for caramelized edges
folded into warm pan sauces where it softens without going oniony

Flavor Profile

sweet, mild allium bite crisp, juicy snap clean, delicate finish

Kitchen Pairings

soy sauce ginger sesame oil rice vinegar miso chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I control onion thrips and purple blotch on Beltsville Bunching (60 days) without ruining the greens?

Onion thrips cause silvery streaks and stunted, weak tops; check weekly and spray with insecticidal soap, covering leaf undersides, in the early morning. Purple blotch shows as purple-brown lesions that spread during cool, wet weather; remove infected leaves and keep beds evenly spaced for airflow. Avoid overhead watering—water at the base and only in the morning—so foliage stays dry.

How often should I water Beltsville Bunching during the main growing phase (weeks 3–8)?

Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy: water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, typically about 1–2 times per week depending on heat and mulch. During dry spells, increase frequency to maintain steady moisture because uneven watering leads to tough, bitter greens. Mulch lightly to reduce surface drying, but don’t let water pool around the shallow roots.

When are Beltsville Bunching bunches ready to harvest and how should I pick them?

Harvest about 60 days after sowing when the green tops are thick and tender and the bulbs form a small white base (usually thumb-size or slightly larger). Pull a few to check—if the base is firm and the leaves are still crisp, it’s time. For best flavor, harvest in the cool part of the day and cut or pull the entire bunch, then replanting isn’t needed because Beltsville bunching is typically a single harvest crop.