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 a successful onion farming journey in Kenya requires meticulous attention to environmental conditions. Understanding the nuances of soil type, sunlight exposure, temperature, and modern farming techniques is vital. This guide, enriched with insights and Onion Doctor’s expertise, will navigate you through the key aspects of thriving in the onion farming landscape. Optimizing Environmental Conditions: Successful onion farming begins with choosing the right environment. Onions thrive in well-draining loam soil, ensuring healthy growth. Adequate sunlight is crucial, but shading during the early stages may be necessary. Balancing temperature between 13 to 35 degrees Celsius is key for optimal growth. Smart farming, including greenhouse cultivation, has become a trend for providing ideal conditions. Consulting Onion Doctor for Success: For a thriving onion farm, consulting with Onion Doctor is a wise move. Different onion varieties have specific requirements for maximum yield. Onion Doctor provides expert advice on variety selection, fertilizers, manure, and best farming practices, ensuring a successful journey. Onion Farming Procedure in Kenya: Following a systematic procedure is crucial for success in onion farming. This includes: Land Preparation: Fertile soil with proper drainage is essential. Trenches, 4 inches deep and wide, filled with manure and fertilizers. Machines or laborers may be required for efficient preparation. Planting: Seeds planted in rows, 2 inches from trench edges and 2 inches above trench depth. Adequate spacing to avoid congestion and facilitate nutrient absorption. Covering seeds with ash to repel pests. Weed Management: Regular removal of weeds to prevent competition for nutrients. Weed removal crucial for preventing stunted growth and pest infestation. Watering: Drip irrigation is preferred over overhead irrigation. Observing the plant life cycle to determine watering frequency. Timely irrigation crucial to prevent bulb splitting. Harvesting: Onions are typically harvested 3 weeks after maturity. Ideal harvest time in January and October, aligning with market demands. Embarking on a successful onion farming venture in Kenya is a rewarding journey. With careful consideration of environmental factors, adherence to the onion farming procedure, and guidance from Onion Doctor, you can optimize yields and secure profits. Onion farming is not just a cultivation practice; it’s a strategic venture that, when done right, brings prosperity to farmers across Kenya. 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. In Kenya, spring onion farming is a lucrative agricultural practice that offers income-generating opportunities. If you’re wondering whether spring onion farming is profitable in Kenya, this blog will delve into the details and provide insights on optimizing your spring onion farming venture for success. Profitability of Spring Onions in Kenya: The profitability of spring onions in Kenya hinges on the yields you can achieve. Consider this: an acre of land can yield approximately eight tonnes of spring onions in each season. If you sell these onions at, for instance, Ksh. 20 per kilo, you can potentially earn Ksh. 160,000 in every season. Spring onions become particularly profitable when their market prices are high, and you consistently achieve high yields. Moreover, their demand remains steady as they are widely used in vegetable salads and as a seasoning in soups. The good news is that spring onions are easy to cultivate, making the initial planting costs minimal. Cost of Farming Spring Onions in Kenya: For a one-acre plot of land, the cost of spring onion farming in Kenya involves various expenses. You’ll need 100 kilos of onion seeds, each costing Ksh. 500, totaling Ksh. 50,000. Additionally, you’ll require fertilizers (25 kg bags at approximately Ksh. 500 each), pesticides (around Ksh. 1,000), and miscellaneous expenses such as labor and transportation, which might amount to nearly Ksh. 50,000. Price of Spring Onions: The price of spring onions fluctuates based on the season and location. During low-demand seasons, a kilo of spring onions may sell for Ksh. 15, while in high-demand seasons, prices can reach Ksh. 30 per kilo. In urban markets, a bundle of 142 kg can fetch Ksh. 2,200. The local market for spring onions in Kenya varies according to demand. How to Grow Spring Onions in Kenya: Growing spring onions in Kenya is straightforward and can even be done in a kitchen garden. Spring onions can be cultivated throughout the year, unaffected by day length. The highest-quality spring onions are typically produced in late spring. It’s important to note that during the winter season, spring onions’ tops may turn yellow due to frost, which can affect their quality. Nevertheless, spring onions thrive in various climates, as they can tolerate both heat and cold conditions. They grow best in well-drained loose soils with a pH range of 6.3 to 6.8. Land Preparation: Before planting spring onions, select a sunny piece of land and prepare it adequately. Enrich the soil with plant fertilizers, incorporating 15 kg of well-decomposed manure and 20 gm of phosphate fertilizer per square meter. Ensure thorough mixing of the soil. Planting Seeds in the Nursery: Create furrows on the nursery bed, 2 cm to 3 cm deep and 15 cm apart. Place the spring onion seeds in these furrows and lightly cover them with soil to retain moisture. Use a thin layer of mulch to prevent the seeds from being washed away during irrigation. Approximately 10 days later, the spring onions will germinate. Remove the mulch and provide shade for the young seedlings. After 4 to 6 weeks, when the leaves reach 15 cm in length, the seedlings will be ready for transplanting. Transplanting: Transplant the spring onion seedlings either in the morning or evening to avoid scorching from intense sunlight. Plant them with a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 8 cm between individual seedlings. Watering and Care: Ensure proper watering before and after transplanting. About four weeks after transplanting, apply CAN fertilizer at 9 kg per acre for top dressing. Harvesting: Harvest spring onions when the leaves are succulent, usually after 2 to 4 weeks. Uproot the entire plant using a fork for harvesting. Spring onion farming in Kenya offers a profitable venture for those who optimize their practices. By carefully managing costs, timing your planting, and ensuring proper care and harvesting, you can maximize your profits. Remember that Onion Doctor provides valuable support to smallholder farmers in Africa, offering quality seedlings, farm planning services, soil testing, and more to help you optimize yields and profitability in your spring onion farming journey.

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.