| Information sheets | | | Elsenburg infopaks | | | Crops, vegetables: 2 |
Production of onion plantlets by the small farmer
Afrikaans | Xhosa
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The planting and harvesting of onions begins with the plantlet. Therefore it is essential to do the planning before the onion seed is sown.
Onions are one of the crops that are influenced by day length. Therefore it is necessary to begin sowing by 15 May. If sowing commences too soon, there are too many bulbs that run to seed, and if sowing is too late, in June, for instance, the result is also a running to seed, as well as too many small onion bulbs. The following are important: |
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The seedbed
It is important to know the soil on which the onion is to be grown. What crop was previously grown on the soil? Were any problems encountered, for instance with disease? Some diseases that occur in other vegetables also attack onion. Look for the best site. Make sure that the soil is neither acid nor brackish. Alkaline soil is preferable. Your extension officer cans advice you. |
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No water puddles should remain on the ground after rain or irrigation. To prevent this, it is important to
raise the bed about 15cm to ensure drainage.
It is essential to cultivate the soil to a fine, even texture, but not to pulverize it, as this would compact the soil so that the seedlings would not come up well. Remove all the large weeds, lawn and dead plant material with a garden fork. Seedbeds sized 1 x 10 m is easy to sow and to water with a watering can. This also facilitates weed control. Once all the preparations have been completed, the small farmer can begin sowing. |
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Sowing
Draw lines across the whole of the bed. They must be 2-3cm deep (no deeper) and 15cm apart. |
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Sow approximately one level teaspoonful of seed in each row as evenly as possible. Then rake over the rows with an ordinary garden rake to cover the seeds. Sowing the seeds too thickly leads to sickly, thin, weak plants. |
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The spaces between the rows are necessary for weeding and for providing for air movement that prevents diseases. Remember that the seedbed is the basis for successful onion farming. |
P Coetzee
ELSENBURG / ARC Vegetable and Ornamental
plant Institute
