Author name: admin

Farming

Drip Irrigation in Kenya

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or whatsapp +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Drip Irrigation system is a climate smart adaptation  modern farming technique that has been embraced by Kenyan farmers. This system saves on water, labor and helps in even distribution of water and nutrients. Its cost effective and has a durability of up to six years. Components of a drip kit. Advantages of Drip Irrigation System to farmers. Where can you buy Drip Kit in Kenya? Get your drip kits from Onion Doctor Kenya Nairobi. We are a trusted partner to all your farm inputs and management practices. For more information, call: 0703982228 Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Farming

COMPONENTS OF A DRIP KIT

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Farming, Onion Farming

Ecological Requirements For Bulb Onions

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Onions can grow in a variety of climatic conditions and soil characteristics. For optimal growth, onions will require; Bulb onions grow well in well-drained soils. You can also grow onions in shallow soils if you adapt in your management practices. Sandy to silty loams with fine tilth is adequate. pH ranging from 6.0-6.8. This is to ensure your onions maintain good macronutrient uptake. An altitude of below 1900 metres above sea level. The temperature of about 15 – 30 degrees Celsius. If the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, it hastens maturity leading to the production of small bulbs, consequently lowering the yields. Cooler temperatures also encourage the spread of leaf diseases. Well distributed rainfall of between 500 -700mm during the growth period. You should, however, note that during the maturity and curing process, dry weather will be more favorable. Yield Per Acre For Bulb Onions: The maturity period and yield per acre of onions as per variety is as follows; Red Pinoy– This variety takes 90 days after transplanting to mature. It has the ability to yield up to 30 tonnes per acre. It has a shelf life of 6months at room temperature and low humidity. Bombay Red- This variety takes 150 days to mature after transplanting. It has the ability to yield up to 16 tonnes per acre. Red Creole– This is a standard variety in Kenya due to its adaptability to various climatic conditions. It takes up to 150 days to mature after transplanting. You can harvest up to 16 tonnes per acre when farming this variety. Texas Early Grano- This variety is well adapted to the tropics. It matures 120 days after transplanting. You can harvest up to 21 tonnes per acre. The Texas Early Grano variety also has a good shelf life and transportability.

Farming

Harvesting, Curing, and Storing Onions

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Do you need guides and trainings on how to harvest and store your onions, look no further, Onion Doctor we are here for you. All you need is to make a date with us for a very competitive cost. We will offer a detailed path for your journey. Onions can be harvested at any time for fresh eating, but allow storing onions to mature fully to ensure the greatest storage capability. Onions will let you know when they are finished growing. You will start to see the tops flop over. The onions will bend over at the stem and stop directing energy to the foliage. Once the tops fall over, the onions are ready to harvest. Stop watering and wait for a dry period to dig up the bulbs. How to Harvest Onions. The easiest way to harvest a large amount of onions is to use a digging fork to carefully loosen the soil under the onions. Once the soil is loose, grasp around the neck of the onion stalk and pull them up gently trying not to tear the roots, stalks, or bruise the bulbs because damage will reduce the onion’s storage life. Spread out the onions on the garden fence so any soil that is still clinging to the bulbs can dry and be shaken of before bringing the onions inside to cure. If the sun is out, spread the onions out in a dry, shady area out of direct sun. Curing Onions: Curing onions allows the outer layers to dry out and tighten forming a protective wrapping around the bulb. Onions cure best in a shaded, dry, and cool place. This can be in a shed or on a covered porch away from direct sunlight.  Onions are finished curing when their outer skins turn papery, the foliage at the neck constructs, and the foliage shrivels and turns brown. Test one by cutting the stem about an inch from the bulb. The center of the cut area should not show any green. If it does, then the onions have not cured completely. Allow an additional week. How to Store Onions Once the onions are fully cured and all the foliage is dry and crispy, take the bundles back outside for cleaning and trimming before storing. Use scissors and cut the stems cleanly an inch or two from the bulbs and trim the roots. Brush the bulbs gently with your fingers to release any additional soil still clinging to the papery skin. Sometimes, the outer layer falls off. This is ok, but I try not to damage the skins any further than the first layer. Store cured onions loosely in baskets or hung in mesh bags in a cool, dark, and dry location Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Farming

Drip Irrigation: Future of sustainable farming.

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Drip irrigation is a method of irrigating crops that involves delivering water directly to the root zone of plants through a system of pipes, tubing, and emitters. This method is more efficient than traditional irrigation methods because it minimizes water loss due to evaporation and runoff. As a result, drip irrigation has become increasingly popular in recent years and is often referred to as the future of sustainable farming. Here are some of the advantages of Drip irrigation. CropYields Drip irrigation is proven to deliver up to 40% higher yields than furrow irrigation while saving up to 50% in water usage and 30% in nutrients and labor. Additionally drip irrigation helps prevent nutrient leaching and runoff that is common in furrow irrigation. Labor Costs Drip irrigation also has the potential to reduce labor and energy costs for farmers. Once installed, drip irrigation systems can be set to run automatically, reducess the need for manual labor and supervision. This can be  beneficial for farmers in developing countries, where labor costs may be high. Drip irrigation is a sustainable farming practice that can help to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. By reducing water usage and minimizing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, also can help to reduce the pollution of waterways and the degradation of soil quality. Additionally, drip irrigation can be combined with other sustainable agricultural practices, such as crop rotation and soil conservation, to create a more environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to farming. Soil Health In conclusion, drip irrigation is the future of sustainable farming. Its ability to conserve water, increase crop yields, improve plant health, reduce labor and energy costs, and promote environmental sustainability makes it an essential tool for farmers around the world. As the global population continues to grow and the demand for food increases, drip irrigation will play an increasingly important role in ensuring that we can produce food sustainably for generations to come. Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Farming

How to Plant onions in a Nursery.

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. We Onion Doctor offer trainings on how to set and prepare your nursery bed depending on your location, and also guide you on the spacing per bed. At very competitive price, reach to us for a quote. To get the best results with onions you need to start them in a Nursery. Here is how to do this; Make a raised nursery bed 1 metre wide and any desired length. Apply well decomposed manure at a rate of 15kg per square metre. Mix and Apply DAP fertilizer at a rate of 20 grams per metre square. Make shallow furrows 15 cm apart. Mix the seeds with dry ash, sand or soil at a ratio of 1:3 to help spread the small seeds. Plant the seeds and cover lightly with soil and apply mulches ( Grass or Polythene cover spread over the soil on the nursery bed) After planting irrigate the nursery bed liberally for the first 10 days and continue watering regularly. Germination of seeds will take about 7-10 days after which the mulches are removed and used to make a shade above the tender plants which have not fully developed. Transplanting of the seedlings takes place 6 weeks after planting seeds in the nursery. Transplant when the seedlings have pencil thick base and a height of approximately 15cm. Seedlings should have 3 to 5 well formed leaves at transplanting time. Two weeks before transplanting reduce the shade to improve seedling survival rate in the field. It takes about 3 months for onions to mature. Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Farming

Garlic: Diseases and Symptoms

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Damping off: Disease symptoms: Nursery affected with dumping off rot before they emerge out of the soil. Post-emergence damping-off : The pathogen attacks the collar region of seedlings on the surface of soil. The collar portion rots and ultimately the seedlings collapse and die.  Survival and spread: Pathogen(s) survives on infected crop debris and soil which are source of primary inoculum. Favorable conditions: The disease is more prevalent during hot season/rainy season and causes about 60-75% damage. High soil moisture and moderate temperature along with high humidity leads to the development of the disease Purple blotch: Disease symptoms: The symptoms occur on leaves and flower stalks as small, sunken, whitish flecks with purple coloured centres. The lesions may girdle leaves/stalk and cause their drooping. The infected plants fail to develop bulbs  Survival and spread: The disease is soil borne and fungus survives in soil, infected bulbs and may persist in plant debris or on roots of weeds. Favorable conditions: Hot and humid climate with temperature ranging from 21-30° C and high relative humidity (80-90%) favor the development of the disease. Stemphylium leaf blight Disease symptoms: Infection occurs on radial leaves of transplanted seedlings at 3- 4 leaf stage. The symptoms appear as small yellowish to orange flecks or streaks in the middle of the leaves, which soon develop into elongated spindle shaped spots surrounded by pinkish margin. The disease on the inflorescence stalk causes severe damage to the seed crop.  Survival and spread: The fungus survives in plant debris or soil. Favourable conditions: Warm (18-25 °C) humid conditions and long periods of leaf wetness (16 hours or more) favour disease development. White rot (Sclerotial rot) Disease symptoms: The initial symptoms are yellowing and dieback of leaf tips. Later, scales, stem plate and roots get destroyed. The bulbs become soft and water soaked. Later, white fluff y or cottony growth of mycelium with abundant black sclerotia resembling mustard grain develops on the infected bulbs. Survival and spread: Fungus survives in soil as sclerotia for many years and it can over-winter in infected garlic debris and in diseased garlic sets. Favourable conditions: This disease is most severe in cool and dry soils. Downy mildew: Disease symptoms: Leaves turn to pale green. On leaves, cottony white mycelial growth develops and appears white. Gradually the leaves turn pale yellow to dark brown and dries up.  Survival and spread: Fungus survives in soil and infected plant debris. Favourable condition: Warm and humid climate favours the development of disease Bacterial brown rot/Slippery skin Disease symptoms: Field symptoms often appear as one or two wilted leaves in the center of the leaf cluster. These leaves eventually turn pale yellow and dieback from the tip while older and younger leaves maintain a healthy green appearance. During the early stages of this disease, the bulbs may appear healthy except for a softening of the neck tissue. In a longitudinal section, one or more inner scales become watery or cooked. The disease progresses from the top of the infected scale to the base Eventually, all the internal tissue will rot. Finally, the internal scales dry and the bulb shrivel. Squeezing the base of infected plants causes the rotted inner portion of the bulbs to slide out through the neck, hence the name slippery skin. Survival and spread: This bacterium is soil-borne and can be readily water-splashed to the foliage and necks where it can enter through wounds. Favourable conditions:  This bacterium requires moisture for infection and grows in the temperature range of 5-41° C. Heavy irrigation and persistent dews are also conducive to this disease. Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Farming, Onion Farming

Frequently Asked questions: Onion Farming in Kenya

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Question: Are all onion varieties suited for all places? Answer: No, we have varieties that do well in hot low altitude areas such Neptune f1, Redcoach F1 ,Jambar F1 and varieties that do well in colder high altitude areas such as Russet F1,Malbec F1. Broadly, short day varieties do well in cooler areas while long day varieties do well in hotter areas. Question: How many seedlings fit in an acre? Answer: 150,000 to 180,000 pieces depending on irrigation method and spacing used. Question: How long do onions take to mature after transplanting? Answer: Three months Question: How long do onions take in the nursery before transplanting Answer: 6 weeks. Question: What is the yield of onions / acre? Answer: 12 to 15 tonnes /acre Question: What is the average farm gate price of onions per acre? Answer: 40 Ksh /Kg Question: What are the common Pest and Diseases. Answer: Common pest includes, Thrips, Mite and Leaf Miners. Common Diseases are: Downy mildew, Leaf blight, Purple blotch and Maggot rot. White onion seedlings Question: Are all onion varieties suited for all places? Answer: No, we have varieties that do well in hot low altitude areas such Texas grano F1 and varieties that do well in colder high altitude areas such as Cyelon F1 . Broadly, short day varieties do well in cooler areas while long day varieties do well in hotter areas. Question: How many seedlings fit in an acre? Answer: 150,000 to 180,000 pieces depending on irrigation method and spacing used. Question: How long do onions take to mature after transplanting? Answer: Three months Question: What is the yield of onions / acre? Answer: 12 to 15 tonnes /acre Question: What is the average farm gate price of onions per acre? Answer: 40 Ksh /Kg Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Farming

Managing Garlic Beds for Pests and Diseases

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. There are a number of practices that minimize the risk of pests or disease. The ones we consider the most important are: 1. Use only clean, sound cloves from disease-free stock. 2. Carefully clean and sanitize all equipment for soil preparation, weeding, harvesting, handling, and storing garlic. 3. Allow at least two years, and preferably longer, between successive crops in the allium family (garlic, onions, leeks, chives, elephant garlic). 4. During the growing season remove (rogue) plants that are not doing well and send suspicious plants to the dump. Sanitize your shovel after removing a suspicious plant. 5. Do not put your aluminum waste in the compost. We the Onion Doctor, offers on-farm trainings and guidelines on how to manage and control pests and diseases in Garlic. We have a module on the controls during and after planting till harvesting your garlic, at a very competitive price. For more information, feel free to reach to us for our services. Tips 1. Mulch will control weeds and help the ground maintain moisture. 2. A member of the onion family, garlic plants do not produce true seeds, which is why you propagate by planting cloves. 3. Garlic is appropriate for container gardening if you have a deep pot and saucer. 4. Hard-neck varieties of garlic grow a main stalk that produces a garlic flower or scape. If you want your garlic to produce a large bulb, clip off the scape once it makes one or two loops so the energy is focused on vegetable production. Warnings:  If the garlic bulb grows poorly, has mold or a burst skin, this is an indication of over-watering. You can thin out the plants and extend the length of time between watering. Plant your propagated garlic in a new area of your garden the following year to ensure healthy and vigorous production. This is called rotating the crop. Garlic is a hardy crop with few pests, except for animals. If animals are a problem, plant a fence around your garden. Pests and Problems: 1. White rot, or Sclerotium cepivorum, is the most serious disease of garlic. White rot is a fungus that can strike all Allium crops, including onions. White rot-infected garlic plants can be identified because their leaves will turn yellow and the plants will die back partially and wilt. The roots rot as well, so infected plants may uproot easily. White rot typically develops from the middle of the season to harvest. 2. Nematodes, Ditylenchus dipsaci, are another problematic garlic pest. These microscopic animals are similar to worms and live inside the garlic plant itself, eating it as it reproduces. Nematodes do not need water to survive and they can live in the surrounding soil for several years. Nematode infestation can build up for several seasons without much damage, then strike and take out an entire crop. 3. Onion thrips are the most common insect that plagues garlic. Thrips damage the leaves when the rasp them to drink the sap of the plant, which slows the growth of the bulb. If severe, thrips may cause the garlic to wilt and die.

Farming, Onion Farming

Soil sampling methods and tools

Are you in need of in-depth knowledge on onion and garlic production? If yes, we are a call away. Our service chatter includes: Onion seedlings, Garlic seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack and Farm management. For free consultation, placing orders or booking a visit with an agronomist, please contact us via Call or what’s app +254703982228, Email: Info@oniondoctor.co.ke. Before any sampling can begin, the following steps should be considered to ensure the sample is collected and analyzed correctly: Obtain appropriate tools for field sampling. Divide fields and production areas into sampling zones. Determine sampling locations based on crop Appropriate tools for field sampling. Push probes, hammer probes, and bucket augers (Figure 1) are commonly used because they are capable of taking uniform samples with depth. A  clean plastic bucket should be used.Ensure that the bucket and free of any debris and has not been used to collect or hold fertilizer, manure, or compost. Avoid using a metal bucket as it can interfere with test results. Dividing fields and production areas into sampling zones Identify areas with differences in topography, nutrient application rates, soil type or texture, or soil tillage practices to create sampling zones with uniform characteristics. A sampling zone is typically an entire field or production area, but differences in soil may require an area with the same crop and management to be split into different sampling zones. Some areas may be separated by a physical barrier, such as a ditch or road, or even be non-contiguous, but may be considered one sampling zone if they have uniform characteristics. Sampling zones for the basic soil fertility test should be limited to a  (25-acre) size. Sampling zones measuring nitrate are not limited to a size when no other differences in soils, cropping system, or management exist. In situations where large areas need to be sampled, alternative sampling strategies, such as directed benchmark sampling, may be used. Determine sampling locations The sampling location within the sampling zone is dependent on the crop and method in which nutrients area applied For all sampling guidelines, avoid sampling areas that would not be considered representative of an area. This includes: Soil Sampling Depth Depending on Crop. Most Horticultural crops, have their root zone in the top 30 cm. When collecting a sample the top soil(30cm) should be collected. Most fruit trees have their root zones in the top 100cm. When collecting a sample, the top and sub-soil should be collected. Onion Doctor provides soil testing services at very competitive prices. Do not hesitate to contact us for a quote. Onion Doctor supports small holder farmers across Africa with quality and affordable Onion and Garlic seedlings, Onion seedlings, Farm planning services, Soil testing, Drip irrigation installation and maintenance, Agronomic support, Onion and Garlic value pack, Farm management, E-extension and on-farm training for farmers to optimize on yields and get maximum profits.

Scroll to Top
Open chat
Scan the code
Powered by Onion Doctor.
Hello 👋
Welcome to Onion Doctor! How can we help you today?
Call Now Button