Category: Farming

It is always recommended to sell onions immediately after harvest. This is because, they have wet weight thus a farmer will fetch more revenue. This, however, is not always possible due to fluctuations in prices and proximity to the market. An onion farmer, therefore, needs adequate skills to handle the produce while carrying out management practices, harvesting, transport and storage. The quality of the planting materials can play a part in post-harvest losses. Poor-quality seeds produce onions that are vulnerable to damage and disease. It is vital that a farmer selects a hybrid seed that is ideal for their locality. If unsure on the variety to plant, please do not hesitate to contact us. Other than variety, bacterial infections, cuts, excess irrigation and untimely application of fertilizer may cause rotting and discoloration in onions. Onions can also be damaged and become susceptible to infection and spoilage if eaten by insects, thrips, mites, maggots and other pests. It is important to take precautions and avoid bacterial and fungal infections, as well as insect and pest damage. This may entail using fungicides and pesticides as well as carefully inspecting and sorting onions to get rid of contaminated or damaged ones. Harvesting of immature onions reduces their shelf-life. Such onions go bad or sprout easily. Inadequate curing also influences post-harvest losses at farm level. Extreme weather like heavy rain or a lot of sun can damage the crop. Too much rain, for instance, causes onions to rot, while too much sun may result in scalding – a physiological disorder that results in a whitish color on the outer layer of the onions, rendering them unmarketable. Mechanical damage during harvesting, handling and transport also results in potential losses. The rough handling can cause bruising, cuts and damage to the outer layer of the onion, making it more susceptible to decay and spoilage. Onions should, therefore, be handled with care during harvesting and storage. They should be stored and transported in appropriate containers to minimize damage. Onions should be stored in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area to prevent sprouting, rotting and molding. High humidity and warm temperature can cause sprouting, while low humidity leads to drying and shriveling. Following good practices like crop rotation, timely weeding and appropriate use of fertiliser can improve the quality and harvest of onions. The harvested onions should be kept in a clean and disinfected room to prevent fungal infections. Farmers who take appropriate measures to manage post-harvest losses in onions have increased profits. 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. Soil testing simply put, is measuring the soil’s health and fertility. How often you check the soil health is determined by factors such as crop to grow, previous crop, weather conditions e.g. after flooding. As you do your research on Onion Farming in Kenya, remember to add a soil test as part of the process of land preparation. Sampling can be done any time, but you should test your soil as early as possible prior to transplanting to give yourself ample time to amend the soil for pH, Phosphorus and Potassium if needed. Testing your soil is the best way to evaluate the fertility status of your field or high tunnel before planting. A soil test is useful in the diagnosis of plant culture problems, and it is also an important tool in improving the soil nutritional balance. Soil tests will also save you money and energy by applying only the amount of fertilizer needed by the plants. The most common soil test performed is soil pH, which is a measure of soil acidity. Soil pH is an important factor in plant growth because it affects nutrient availability to the plants. When pH is maintained at the proper level for a given plant, nutrients are at maximum availability. Most plants prefer a soil pH between 6.0 – 7.0, except for some acid loving plants like blue berries and potatoes. In Kenya, soil testing can cost you between Ksh 1500 ($15) and Ksh 5000 ($50) per sample of your soil. You will need to carefully do the soil sampling procedure so as to ensure you get the correct samples for accurate report. Onion Doctor provides comprehensive soil testing, analysis and recommendation to farmers’ country wide. We measure pH levels, Macro nutrients, micro nutrients and soil borne diseases. It takes about 14 working days to have the results ready. A balanced soil pH will allow your plants to take up the nutrients from the fertilizers you apply. Acidic soils make the nutrients un-available. If your soil is acidic, adding more fertilizer to your farm will not yield because plants will be starved of these nutrients as a result of the low pH. The remedy to this problem is to add agricultural lime to your soil before the planting. Agricultural lime helps in raising the pH to levels that allow your crops to take up nutrients. This saves you on the cost of fertilizers since no wastage occurs and plants are able to efficiently take up the available nutrients in the soil. Nutrient recommendations are provided on soil test reports. Additional help is provided to refine nutrient recommendations for specific crop, landscape, and garden situations, and to aid in correcting other problems diagnosed with a soil test. Proper recommendation will entail a soil correction plan with advice on the quantities and rations of NPK fertilizers, or a combination of manure and agricultural lime. Getting a good report is however the first step to a good harvest. Additional to the recommendations, we give advice on other aspects of crop production especially when it comes to crop management like pest and disease control. For more specific information about soil testing contact us via any platform and we will be glad to serve you. 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. According to Food and Agriculture Organization’s report, half of red onions sold in Kenyan markets are grown in Tanzania. Local farmers are trying their best to address the demand and close the gap, although the demand is always higher than the supply. This demand makes farming onions investment a very attractive commercial investment. Two main onions grown in Kenya, bulb onions and spring onions. Of the two types, bulb onions are more popular than the spring ones due to their long shelf life and sweet taste. The best areas suited for growing onions are Kajiado, Narok, Kieni, Karatina, Oloitoktok, Kakamega, and Naivasha, among others. Onions do well in well-drained fertile soils rich in humus with the pH ranging from 5.8-6.5: The common varieties grown in Kenya include Jambar F1, Islero, Red creole, Red Passion and Red Pinnoy. All the varieties in Kenya prefer warm to hot temperatures, that is 15-30 degrees Celsius. We the Onion Doctor offers high-quality onion seedling varieties depending on the region you are at. Contact us for a quote. An acre requires 1-1.5kg of onion seeds depending on the variety and the spacing. The spacing normally affects the size of the bulb onions. Onions can be grown by direct seeding, which requires intensive management or one can decide to first establish a nursery bed. Just like other vegetables planted on nursery bed, site selection is key to proper planning for production of healthy and vigorous growing seedlings. The site should be in a secure environment, near a water source and preferably near the crop production site. It should be raised to a height of about 15cm to encourage drainage, 1m width for easy workability and the length of your own desire depending on the number of seeds to be sowed. Transplanting: It’s always wise to do a soil test before planting to know the status of nutrients in the soil, which will guide you on nutrient application for onions production. Contact us Onion Doctor for a sure and reliable soil test, for a very competitive price. Prepare the land to a fine tilth and add well decomposed manure. Depending on the soil test, one can consider using DAP during planting and top-dress using CAN at week four. Frequent scouting for crop nutrition is paramount and mitigation measures should be taken immediately. It’s ideal to trim the shoot and root (3 inches for shoots and 0.5 inch for roots) before seedling placement to minimise moisture loss and seedling shock during and after transplanting. The ideal spacing is 8-10cm between the seedlings and 15cm for inter row distance to allow better bulb development. Spacing is also determined by the variety planted and soil fertility. Onion production can be done in the greenhouse and open field depending on the location with the latter being more preferred. Pests and diseases: Common diseases that affect onions include Downy Mildew, Bacterial Soft Rots, Pink/White Root, Botrytis, and Rusts. Use herbicides to get rid of the diseases. Common pests that attack onions include maggots, thrips, onion flies, red spider mites, nematodes and the leaf miner. Use pesticides from accredited brands to get rid of the pests. Frequent scouting for pest and diseases is important for early detection, prevention and control. Weeds: The land should be free of weeds, which compete for nutrients, light and space and harbor pest and diseases. Weeds should be removed occasionally either physically or through the use of herbicides. In one season, there should be at least 2 – 3 weeding sessions. Harvesting: Once transplanting is done, one should prepare to harvest after 4-5 months depending on the variety. Top leaves will yellow and begin to fall over, an indication they are ready for harvesting, which should coincide with dry and hot weather. Curing of the onions is done by uprooting every single stem and leaving it to dry after which leaves and roots are cut off with a sharp knife. 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.