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Embark on a journey to master the art of red onion farming in Kenya as we explore the fundamental steps tailored for beginners. Discover the secrets to cultivating and nurturing these vibrant crops, ensuring a bountiful harvest in your garden.
Understanding Red Onions: To cultivate onions effectively, it is crucial to comprehend their unique characteristics. Red onions are known for their vibrant hue, pungent flavor, and crisp texture. Within the realm of red onions, various popular varieties exist, such as the Red Bull, Red Creole, and Redwing, each possessing distinct qualities that cater to different markets. Additionally, red onions have specific climate and soil requirements. They thrive in regions with moderate temperatures, preferably between (13-24°C), and well-drained, fertile soil with a pH level ranging from 6.0 to 7.5. Understanding these fundamental aspects helps beginners make informed decisions when venturing into red onion farming.
Red Creole Onion Red creole onions have 4 major qualities that makes them to be outstanding among the other red onions. Red creole onions are known to be medium maturing onion, they have a dark red color, and they have awesome yield potential. The red creole onions have tight rings. For you to be able to different the red creole from the other onions, you should check its outer scale, you will definitely see very light red lines that runs to the center of the bulb; they have a pungent taste that makes them not to be as sweet as other onions though excellent in cooking and making salads.
Red Grano Onion Variety The Red Grano Onion Variety is another profitable variety in Kenya. This variety is known for its deep red color and high yield. It takes approximately four months to mature and can yield up to 30 tonnes per acre. The Red Grano Onion Variety is ideal for farmers who want to target the high-end market. Red Grano Onion Variety Red Grano Onion Variety It is known for its large size, mild flavor, and excellent storage quality, making it a profitable onion variety to grow. This variety takes approximately 110-130 days to mature, and it can yield up to 30 tonnes per acre. The bulbs are large, with a diameter of up to 10cm, and they have a deep red color, making them attractive and easy to market. The Red Grano Onion Variety is also known for its mild flavor, which makes it popular in dishes that require a subtle onion taste.
Red Pinoy F1 Onion Variety The Red Pinoy F1 Onion Variety is another profitable variety in Kenya. This variety is known for its deep red color and high yield. It takes approximately four months to mature and can yield up to 30 tonnes per acre. The Red Pinoy F1 Onion Variety is ideal for farmers who want to target the high-end market. Red Pinoy F1 Onion Variety Red Pinoy F1 Onion Variety It is known for its deep red color, strong flavor, and high yields, making it a profitable onion variety to grow. This variety takes approximately 120-150 days to mature, and it can yield up to 30 tonnes per acre. The bulbs are round, with a diameter of up to 8 cm, and they have a deep red color, making them attractive and easy to market. The Red Pinoy F1 Onion Variety is also known for its strong flavor, which makes it popular in dishes that require a robust onion taste.
Plant: Amend The Soil For Onions One of the keys to growing red onions is to give them a good start with the best soil possible. The soil should be well-draining; standing water will cause the bulbs to rot. Mix two inches of compost into the soil first, which will give your onion sets the initial burst of nutrients needed to grow. Mix an organic or time-release fertilizer into the soil before planting. The fertilizer should be under the planting furrow, which is called banding. You want the nutrients where the roots of the onion need them the most. The soil should be between 6.0 to 6.8. To start your onion bed off properly, make sure you use a hard rake or hoe to loosen the soil. Remove all rocks and weeds as well. Root crops need loose soil to grow down into the ground.
Water Drip Irrigation in Onion Farming Being a water saving method it only enhances wetting patterns of onion root zones. This plays an important role in reducing rapid growing weeds that lowers yield. Drip irrigation enhances a balance in water supply to onions. Individual drops of water accumulate to a level required for efficient production. Water is available to onions every time, mostly, during critical growth levels. Drip irrigation moistens the soil and maintains the soil temperature, PH, and fertility. With drop-by-drop irrigation, the cooling effect, erosion, and humus removal does not occur. Labor requirements are low for drip irrigation. With water supply and distribution done by pipework, no casuals or manpower to operate the drip system. Drip irrigation rarely exposes onion bulbs and roots unlike other methods where water hits the ground at high pressure prone to erosion. With minimum water utilization, you can water a large farm with more onion plants with drip irrigation. Drip allows for fertilizers to be distributed easily and uniformly through drip. Fertilizers are mixed and introduced to plants through drip lines. Red onions require at least one inch of water each week. If it doesn’t rain, give your plants a good soaking once per week, twice in very hot, dry conditions. An inch of rain should soak sandy, well-drained soil to a depth of ten inches and heavier clay soil six inches deep. Check the soil moisture with a trowel and add more water as needed. Sandy soil may need more frequent watering. Stop watering when the onion leaves start to fall over.
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1 acre=ksh. 170,000
1/2 acre= ksh 85,000
1/4 acre=ksh 43,000
1/8 acre=ksh 22,000.
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Monitoring and Maintenance: Growing red onions Monitoring the growth and development stages of red onions allows farmers to intervene promptly and address any issues. Regular inspections for signs of diseases, nutrient deficiencies, or pest damage enable timely corrective actions. Pruning and thinning excess foliage and bulbs contribute to larger, healthier onion bulbs and promote proper air circulation. Nutrient management and supplementation ensure that red onions receive the necessary elements for optimal growth. Conducting soil tests and adjusting fertilization accordingly helps maintain a balanced nutrient profile throughout the growth cycle. Applying nitrogen-rich fertilizers during the early stages of growth promotes leaf development, while phosphorus and potassium supplementation during bulb formation enhances bulb size and quality.
Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling: Recognizing the signs of onion maturity is crucial for determining the right time to harvest. As the foliage begins to yellow and topple over, it indicates that the onions are reaching maturity. To harvest red onions, gently lift them from the soil using a digging fork or garden spade, being careful not to damage the bulbs. After harvesting, proper handling and curing techniques are essential to maximize storage life. Onions should be cured in a dry, well-ventilated area with low humidity for a couple of weeks. This process allows the outer onion layers to dry and form protective skins, extending their shelf life. To store red onions, select a cool, dark, and well-ventilated location. Proper storage conditions help prevent sprouting, rotting, or premature spoilage, ensuring a longer shelf life for harvested onions.
Unveil the valuable support provided by Onion Doctor to smallholder farmers across Africa. Explore the wide range of services, from quality seedlings to farm planning, soil testing, and agronomic support. Learn how Onion Doctor empowers farmers to optimize yields and maximize profits, ensuring success in red onion farming.