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. In the dynamic landscape of onion farming, the key to a bountiful harvest lies in understanding the nuanced needs of these heavy feeders with shallow root systems. Essentials of Soil Fertility for Onions: Onions demand meticulous soil fertilization to achieve top-quality yields, particularly in regions where rapid growth precedes bulb formation triggered by decreasing day lengths. Implementing proper soil fertility programs is vital to provide onions with the nutrients they require for robust development. Onion Doctor’s Feeding Program: Onion Doctor takes a proactive approach by offering specialized feeding programs for onions. The expertise extends beyond providing fertilizers; farmers receive training on the precise incorporation of fertilizers, including the when and how, ensuring optimal yields at the end of the season. For more information, farmers are encouraged to reach out to Onion Doctor at a highly competitive cost. Utilizing Organic Matter: The role of organic matter in onion farming cannot be overstated. Onions, being heavy feeders, thrive in soils with high organic content. This section emphasizes the significance of incorporating organic matter into the soil, offering practical advice on preparing the soil well in advance for maximum effectiveness. Maintaining Optimal Soil pH Levels: Soil pH plays a crucial role in nutrient availability to plants. Onions have an ideal pH range of 6.5 to 8.0, and this section guides farmers on the importance of maintaining the right pH levels. A soil testing recommendation is emphasized, providing actionable steps to modify soil pH. Balancing Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus: Onions have moderate nitrogen requirements, but nitrogen remains crucial due to their weak, shallow root systems. The article delves into the balanced application of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, providing specific fertilizer recommendations to meet these nutrient needs. Onion Doctor’s Comprehensive Support: Onion Doctor stands as a beacon of support for smallholder farmers across Africa. From quality and affordable onion and garlic seedlings to farm planning services, soil testing, drip irrigation installation, and on-farm training, Onion Doctor covers every aspect of onion and garlic farming. This holistic approach aims to empower farmers, optimize yields, and ensure 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. 1. For hair growth: Onion juice is one of the best home remedies to fight hair fall and boost hair growth. Onions contain sulfur that boosts collagen production in the tissues and helps in the re-growth of hair. Hair fall is also often caused due to the absence of high sulfur proteins which leads to breakage and makes your hair strands fragile. 2. Repel insects and soothe bites: This may sound a bit revolting as no one really likes the smell of onion, but rubbing a slice of it on your skin acts as a natural insect repellent. Not only this, onion juice can also help in soothing the pain caused by insect bites. Onions slices are often rubbed on bee stings to soothe the pain and prevent swelling. 3: Additional flavor: Don’t throw away the onion peels. They are rich in fiber and antioxidants such flavonoids, quercetin, and phenolic compounds. Steep the onion peels in water for five-seven minutes and then use this water in your soups and stews. This adds a wonderful flavor to your curries and gravy-dishes. 4: Clean rusty knives: Have lots of rusty knives lying around in the kitchen? Here’s how you can clean them. Slice an onion and rub it all over the knife and on the rusted part. Rust is made up of hydrogen ions, and onions contain a chemical called sulphanilic acid that reacts with these hydrogen ions to break up rust and make your knives shine again. 5. Remedy for a sore throat: Onions are a great natural remedy for a sore throat. To treat a dry or painful throat, sip some onion tea. You can make this by steeping some onion peels in water (1 cup of water will require peels form 1/2 an onion). Bring it to a boil, remove the onion peel and then drink up to get relief. Onion peels contain natural nutrients to fight cold, flu and cough. 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. Onion farming in Kenya is a lucrative venture that thrives in well-drained, fertile, sandy loam soils with an ideal pH range of 5.8 to 6.8. This versatile crop can be cultivated throughout the year, thanks to the accessibility of irrigation. Ideal Conditions and Year-Round Cultivation: Onions flourish in temperatures between 13 – 35 degrees centigrade, making them suitable for growth in most parts of Kenya. To enhance production in hotter regions like Ukambani and the Coastal area, investing in a greenhouse with drip irrigation is crucial. Greenhouses regulate temperatures, and irrigation ensures a consistent water supply, especially in dry areas. Requirements and Varieties: Beyond land, essential requirements for onion farming include DAP Fertilizer and seedlings. Precision matters – 1 kg of seedlings per acre and 20 grams of DAP Fertilizer per square meter. Highlight the significance of choosing the right seed variety; in Kenya, popular hybrid varieties like Red Creole, Red Pinnoy, Jambar 1, and Red Bombay are available. The Jambar F1 variety is particularly favored for its high yield and larger onion size. Challenges and Solutions in Onion Farming: a. Rains or Excess Watering: Address the challenge of water logging due to excess rain by emphasizing suitable planting seasons. Promote raised beds and the use of drip irrigation to prevent waterlogging. b. Diseases: Highlight common onion diseases like Downy Mildew and effective solutions such as herbicides.  c. Pests: Discuss prevalent pests like maggots and nematodes, advocating for accredited pesticides.  d. Weeds: Emphasize the importance of weed control through physical removal or herbicide use.  Harvesting Best Practices: Guide farmers on optimal harvesting times – dry seasons for bulb onions with a shiny membranous cover and when foliage withers. For spring onions, harvesting is ideal when they reach 15 centimeters in height and 1.5 centimeters in thickness. Onion Doctor’s Support for Farmers: Highlight Onion Doctor’s role in supporting smallholder farmers across Africa. Mention services such as quality and affordable onion and garlic seedlings, farm planning, soil testing, drip irrigation installation and maintenance, agronomic support, value packs, farm management, e-extension, and on-farm training.

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 processing is gaining importance worldwide. Processed onion is mainly in the form of dehydrated onion, canned onion and onion pickle.  Examples of value-added onion products include minimally processed onions like frozen onion rings, onion paste, dehydrated onion flakes, onion powder, onion oil, onion vinegar, onion salt, onion sauce, pickled onion, vacuum-packed onion, onion wine and beverages. Dehydration is widely used in onions to reduce the onion’s moisture content of about 86% to 7% or less for efficient storage and processing. Minimally processed: Onions are peeled and/or cut onions which retain its freshness. Availability of minimally processed onions to cook or ready to use purpose reduces the overall food preparation time. Alternatively, onions are used by way of frozen onion rings where the raw onions are sliced into rings, freeze dried and stored in a suitable packaging material under low temperatures. The frozen onion rings have a long storage life of 12 months and can be readily used for direct consumptions or for adding to soups and dressings Onion oil: Onion oil results from distillation of minced onions. It has a flavour strength 500 times that of the dehydrated product. Onion contains exceedingly small quantity of oil. This can be extracted by solvent extraction method or super critical fluid extraction technique. Oil is used as a flavoring substance, preservative and as a medicine. As the oil contains specific pungent aroma, encapsulation of oil is also done to reduce the pungent flavor while consuming. Dehydrated onion flakes: Are made from the dried onions and can be grounded to powder that dissolves more than the flakes. Dehydration in to flakes reduces bulk to store and transport besides increasing shelf life. Flakes are prepared by peeling, cutting, pretreating and drying using different drying techniques such as sun/solar, hot air/vacuum oven, microwave, fluidized bed, freeze drying and infra-red. Pretreatment before drying improves quality of dried product, prevents browning, accelerates drying rate and retains volatile compounds. Selection of proper drying technique is important to maintain quality of the product and make profit. Onion dehydration involves the following basic steps: Harvesting Transporting to the processing plant Curing Washing Slicing, Dehydration in a solar/mechanical/oven dryer Milling Packaging Dehydrated onion powder: Is prepared by grinding the dried onions, i.e. dehydrated onion flakes. Powder dissolves very easily and reconstitute quickly compared to flakes. It is a common ingredient in seasoned salt and spice mixes, such as royco seasoning. Some varieties are prepared using toasted onion. The dehydrated flakes and powder are used in the preparation of baked products like bread and pizza, seasoning, soups, sauces, salad sprinkles, among other uses. Dehydration decreases water activity of the material, reduces microbiological activity, and minimizes physical and chemical changes during its storage and extends the shelf-life. Dehydration  improves food stability of semi-perishable crops like the onion. 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. Starting an onion farming venture in Kenya can be a rewarding and profitable undertaking, but it requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some key factors to take into account: 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. Harvesting usually takes place after four to five months. Nevertheless, onion farming can be a profitable venture for Kenyan farmers. With the right knowledge and management practices, farmers can produce high-quality onions in demand by both local and export markets. Proper treatment at harvest maximizes the amount of time you’ll be able to store your onions. When the tops of the onions turn brown or yellow and fall over, it’s time to harvest. Ideally, the plant will have about 13 leaves at this point. Pull the onions early in the morning on a sunny day and shake off excess soil. Dry the onions in the sun for two days. To prevent sunscald, lay the tops of one row over the bulbs of another. A bountiful harvest depends on taking good care of the field during growth, the weather, and the type of onion variety. Properly managed crops can produce 30 to 40 tons of onions per hectare. Therefore, you should start harvesting the onions when you notice that 50 percent of your crops are weak and dry. Early harvesting causes the onions to spoil early. When harvesting, prune the entire stem and cut off the excess leaves and roots. After harvesting, dry the onions in a moisture-free, well-ventilated area. Again, store well-dried onions in a moisture-free, well-ventilated place. Wet onions will rot if you try to keep them. If the weather is excellent and moist-free, you can store onions for three to six months. You can keep small onions longer than wider varieties. After harvesting onions, remember to incorporate crop rotation to preserve the soil for the next planting season. This also assists in pest control and diseases. 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.