Growing Spring Onions in Kenya: A Comprehensive Guide with Onion Doctor
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Unlock the secrets to successful spring onion cultivation in Kenya with Onion Doctor's expert guidance. Discover the best varieties, ecological requirements, and step-by-step procedures for growing, transplanting, and harvesting spring onions. Read on to optimize your yields and achieve maximum profits.
Varieties of Spring Onions Grown In Kenya White lisbon. Spring green bunching. American flay. Italian giant.
Ecological Requirements for Growing Spring Onions Light and well drained soil with a pH of 6.0- 7.0. Temperature range between 15-30°c. Well distributed rainfall between 500-700mm. Altitude of 500-2000m above sea level.
Nursery Preparation & Planting The first step is to prepare raised beds about 1 metre wide and furrows which should be 5cm apart and 2cm deep. Apply organic manure/well-decomposed manure on the prepared land. You can also add phosphate fertilisers to enhance soil fertility. Plant the seeds in the furrows at a spacing of 15cm apart. After planting, add a thin layer of mulch above the planted seeds. Germination will occur after about 10 days. At this stage, you can remove the mulch and place it above the seed bed to provide a partial shade.
Transplanting Transplanting is done after 4-6 weeks of sowing, when the seedlings have developed thick bases and attained a height of 10-15 cm. It should be done early in the morning or late in the evening when it is still cool. Proper watering needs to be done before and after transplanting to provide enough moisture for the plants. 4 weeks after transplanting, topdressing should be done using CAN. About 9kg is enough for an acre.
Pests and Diseases Common pests that attack spring onions include leaf miners, onion fly and onion thrips. Diseases include downy mildew, purple blotch, onion rust and fusarium wilt. The pests and diseases can be controlled by using recommended pesticides & insecticides, practising proper field hygiene and crop rotation.
Harvesting Spring onions take about 2 months to be ready for harvesting. They can be harvested once the leaves are green and succulent. Harvesting is done by simply uprooting the entire plant or lightly cutting the succulent leaves. One acre of land can yield about 8 tonnes of spring onions depending on the spacing used.
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