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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. Unlock the secrets to successful onion farming in Kenya by understanding the discerning preferences of onion customers. Beyond high yields, market diligence plays a pivotal role. In this comprehensive guide explore the best onion varieties available, each boasting unique features that cater to the selective demands of consumers. Best onion varieties and their features Russet f1  Features High productive Good resistance to IR and Pink rot Mid –early maturity Red skin colour with a slightly pungent taste Storage period of 4-5 months Red Pinoy  Features Deep red attractive bulbs with a maturity of 90-110days from transplanting It has a strong pungent smell and long shelf life of up to 6 months at room temperature Tolerant to downy mildew and purple blotch The highest yield of up to 30tones per acre Neptune f1 Features High yielding Usually forms shining red bulbs with good pungency Good for salads Red skin with flattened globe shape Has a mid to late maturity (110-120) 5-6 months storage period Good pink rot resistance Bombay red  Features It is good for dry land warmer conditions Produces small to medium-sized bulbs which are globe in shape and have deep purple red color and very pungent Has a maturity of 150-160 days from transplanting Has an average yield potential of 16,000kg per acre Red Creole Features Produces red, flat-round, globular bulbs Have a very pungent taste Maturity of 150-160daysafter transplanting Excellent in storage Average yield potential of up to 16,000kg per acre Texas Grano f1  Features White colour with a golden exterior Have large bulbs with an average maturity of 120 days from transplanting Poor in storage It has a mild pungency which is good for the salad with an average yield of 21,000kgs per acre. 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.

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. Embark on a journey into the world of sustainable agriculture with Onion Doctor. Our commitment to organic farming aligns with the principles of healthy food, resilient soils, and flourishing environments. Soil-Centric Approach: Discover the core principles of organic farming that prioritize healthy soils. Onion Doctor employs biological fertilizer inputs, cover cropping, and crop rotation to enhance soil quality and organic matter. Organic farming is agriculture that makes healthy food, healthy soils, healthy plants, and healthy environments a priority, along with crop productivity. Organic farmers use biological fertilizer inputs and management practices such as cover cropping and crop rotation to improve soil quality and build organic soil matter. By increasing the amount of organic matter in the soil, organic farmers enhance the soil’s ability to absorb water, reducing the impacts of drought and flooding. Improving soil organic matter also helps it to absorb and store carbon and other nutrients need to grow healthy crops, which, in turn, are better able to resist insects and diseases. Organic production systems do not use genetically modified (GM) seed, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Some of the essential characteristics of organic systems include design and implementation of an organic system plan that describes the practices used in producing crops and livestock products; a detailed recordkeeping system that tracks all products from the field to point of sale; and maintenance of buffer zones to prevent inadvertent contamination by synthetic farm chemicals from adjacent conventional fields. Organic farms use production practices with environmental benefits such as water management practices, no-till or minimum tillage, habitat maintenance for beneficial insects and vertebrates, and biological pest control. These ecologically protective practices contribute to enhanced ecosystem services and benefit water quality, soil health, and biodiversity. Conventional farming typically uses minimal crop rotations, growing the same single crop year after year on the same land. This practice, known as mono cropping causes the depletion of nutrients and minerals. In order to continue growing crops in this depleted soil, nutrients and minerals must be added back in the form of hydrocarbon based fertilizers and mined minerals such as phosphate. Conventional GM farming is dependent on earth-based non-renewable resources. Monocultures and the resulting poor health open the way for infestations of insects, diseases and weeds. Healthy bio-diverse soil keeps these infestations in check. The lack of biodiversity requires synthetic pesticides and herbicides to be used, further destroying the national soil biology. Using biological forms of fertilizer such as compost, animal manures, and legume cover crops, builds soil organic matter, even when routine tillage is used for weed control. Building soil organic matter increases soil water retention and nurtures more active soil microbial communities that retain nitrogen in the soil longer and transform it into non-leachable gaseous forms. There is a small but telling body of research in the US that suggests that improved soil quality influences the ability of crops to withstand or repel insect attack and plant disease. Organic biological fertilizer sources release their nutrients slowly over time, providing more opportunity for the nitrogen to be digested by soil organisms and taken up by crops before leaching below the root zone. Increased soil organic matter in the soil leads to tighter nutrient cycling and greater water holding capability in organically managed soils, with the result that nitrate leaching from groundwater is about half that of conventionally farmed soils.  The cost of organic food is higher than that of conventional food because the organic price tag more closely reflects the true cost of growing the food: substituting labor and intensive management for chemicals. These costs may include cleanup of polluted water and remediation of pesticide contamination. Onion Doctor stands as a beacon for smallholder farmers in Africa, championing quality and affordable onion and garlic seedlings, sustainable farm planning, and innovative practices such as drip irrigation. Join us in the pursuit of optimized yields and maximum profits through organic and environmentally conscious farming practices.

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. Explore the art and science of successful onion farming in Kenya with Onion Doctor. Discover key insights and crucial considerations for a thriving onion farming venture. What are the several things you should consider before starting onion farming? Budget: How much is required to start farming onions? Do you have the resources? With 100,000ksh – 250,000ksh, you can begin your onion farming venture. The starting capital could be even lower, especially if you have all the requirements. For example, you own the land, have a drip irrigation system, have an existing farm with laborers already, and so forth. What will be the returns The yields and profitability expected will be driven by many factors, including the varieties planted, crop management, geographical locations, water availability, etc. The average market price will vary between 50ksh- 100ksh depending on the current market prices, sometimes can even go higher as will be dictated by the market dynamics. Hybrid varieties can yield as high as 12-15 Tons depending on the management aspects, fertility of the soil, and weather aspects during the crop growth. The local variety produces 4-8 tons in similar conditions. Basic requirements for onion farming Onions do well in fertile, well-drained, sandy loam soil. They prefer pH ranging between 5.8 and 6.8. You must test your soil before planting. The average rainfall is required, and one can opt to use irrigation. Which variety to choose from There are both local and hybrid varieties. The local varieties are the open-pollinated varieties propagated traditionally by the local people hence the name local varieties. Hybrid varieties were developed later as an improvement to the local types. It’s worth noting that different varieties of onions will yield differently under other conditions. Common hybrid varieties available in Kenya include Red Creole, Red Pinoy, Jambar F1, and Red Bombay. The popular seed variety in Kenya is the Jambar F1, as it produces a high yield, and the size of its onions is bigger. 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.

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. Embarking on onion farming in Kenya, whether on a large or small scale, presents a lucrative opportunity for both commercial and domestic purposes. Despite the majority of onions being imported from Tanzania, local cultivation can bridge this gap and create a thriving market for Kenyan farmers. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the key steps and considerations in successful onion farming, optimized for maximum yield and profitability. NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT All onions are raised on a nursery bed before being transplanted onto the main seedbed once ready. 1acre requires an average of 1-1.8kgs of seed depending on the variety and irrigation method used. The plot should be prepared by digging and mixing the soil with well decomposed farmyard manure. For ease of nursery management practices such as weeding and irrigation, ensure the nursery bed is 1.2m wide and of a conventional length. Make shallow drills of 1cm – 2cm depth at a spacing of 15cm – 20cm apart. Thinly sow the seeds and cover them lightly using soil or well decomposed and fine farmyard manure. At this point you can drench your nursery using a bio-stimulant, fungicide and insecticide to control against early attack of soil borne diseases and pests. Germination takes place in about 5-7days. Depending on environmental conditions, irrigate your nursery in the morning hours but maintain a damp condition during the 6weeks of seed raising in the nursery. On the 6th week when seedlings have 3-5 leaves trim them and apply a fungicide to prevent attacks from Downey mildew. This facilitates more root development, more plant vigor and large bulbs. Seedlings are ready for transplanting when they have 3-5 well formed leaves. LAND PREPARATION Onions thrive well in a wide range of soils but they should be fertile and welldrained with a pH range of 6.0-7.0. Optimum temperature ranges from 15℃ − 30℃. It is advisable to till the land 2-3weeks before transplanting and harrow 1- 2times to obtain a fine tilth suitable during onion production. TRANSPLANTING Before lifting the seedlings, the nursery bed should be irrigated a day before to avoid root damage of the seedlings. The seedlings should be transplanted in rows 15-20cm apart and 8-10cm from one seedling to the other. At this spacing, the onions utilize fertilizer and manure applied efficiently which in turn makes onions mature fast and maximize yield per unit area. NOTE: During transplanting, don’t burry the onion seedlings more than 1inch into the soil. Continuously irrigate your onion seedlings in cases of less rainfall. One can choose to use furrow, overhead or drip irrigation. Prolonged drought periods can lead to onions splitting or formation of multiple bulbs. NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT Onions have adventitious roots, a factor which makes them heavy feeders hence consistently require feeding and irrigation. At planting, application of phosphorous is crucial as this acts a starter solution that invigorates young seedlings growth. One can choose to apply NPK or CAN. After 2-3weeks when the seedlings have established, a top dress using a nitrogenous fertilizer is required. A second and third top dress split might be necessary depending on the soil analysis results. Foliar fertilizers can be applied in between the basal fertilization splits to maximize on nutrition required during growth. o Once the bulbs start to form and push away the soils, minimize on Nitrogen application as this can lead to delayed maturity due to thick necks and soft bulbs. Since onions develop slower than other vegetable crops, they are more susceptible to weed competition especially during early stages of growth which can result to yield losses. Weeds can be controlled by using pre or post emergence herbicides by using only registered products. Care should be taken to avoid damage to the bulbs when carrying out mechanical weeding. HARVESTING ONIONS Bulb onions generally are ready for harvest 3-4months after transplanting which depends on the variety. OPVs have a longer maturity period compared to hybrids. Another key indicator is when 75% of the foliage begins to discolor, bend and dry towards the ground. Harvesting is done by pulling the bulbs and chopping off the dry foliage and roots followed by grading and storing the bulbs in net bags. Field curing is possible when temperatures are between 27℃ − 30℃ for about two weeks where the bulbs will have a tight neck and dry outer scales that rustle. By doing this, one will prolong shelf life by preventing moisture loss and disease attack such as bacterial rots, fusarium rots and neck rots. 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.