What is Onion?
An onion, also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium.
The shallot is a botanical variety of the onion which was classified as a separate species until 2011. Its close relatives include garlic, scallion, leek, and chive.
How To Grow Onion In Rainy Season In Zambia
When most people see big onions, they can never imagine growing them like that in a thousand years. This is because onion plants often fail to produce large firm bulbs and are susceptible to a host of diseases. However, following a few simple tips can make a big difference in your harvest.
It all starts with whether you should start your crop with seeds, sets, or transplants as well as the varieties you should grow. Make sure you have the right onion. You need short-day cultivars which include Hanna, San, Shahar, Red Creole, and Texas Grano take between 220 and 230 days to mature.
1. Start early
Onions need all the time you can give them. An early start is always beneficial because the longer onion plants grow before they form bulbs, the bigger and better the onions will be.
2: Nitrogen
Most people think that because onions are rare root vegetables, they require lots of phosphorus. However, each leaf the onion puts out is a ring on an onion, this means the more leaves, the bigger the onion. You want growth, especially in the early stages so, nitrogen is the way to go.
3. Avoid onion sets, start from the seed
Onion sets are perfect for lazy farmers. They are already started and easy to plant. But, they might not give you the best results. The biggest problem with onion sets is that many onion growers will grow small onions, store them, and sell them as onion sets.
Furthermore, onions are bi-annual – they flower in the 2nd year of growing. Therefore, when you grow them, they will flower that year. This unfortunately will not only reduce the storage time, but it will also reduce the amount of energy to enlarge the ball.
4. Water frequently
Onions love water, because the more water, the plump the onion can get. As much as you shouldn’t overwater, the soil should also never be allowed to get bone dry.
5. Mulch
Mulching helps to eliminate weeds which steal nutrients and water from the onion. The weeds can also transmit viruses and diseases to the onion.
6. Ensure you have good soil
Sandy loam soil is the ticket for large onions. When the onion is compacted in the soil, it leads to a pinched onion which reduces its size of the onion. However, a bulb that can freely expand in the soil is usually the biggest.
7. Don’t harvest too quickly
Leave the onion plant till the tops become like paper. Sometimes, the tops die back, but the onions still continue to absorb water for up to 2 weeks. So, leave an onion in the ground till the tops fall over and become like paper.
Which onion variety is best for the rainy season?
Red onion for the rainy season.
What is the best time to grow onions in Zambia?
The traditional onion planting season in Zambia for commercial hybrids is between the end of February and the end of March,
although we do see earlier and later plantings. To provide context, short-day onions (planted in Zambia) require 10 – 12 hours of daylight to form bulbs.
How many days does it take for onions to mature?
Onions require 90-100 days to mature from seed, which is around four months. From sets, onions are ready to harvest after around 80 days, or just under three months.
How do you grow rainfed onions in Zambia?
So today, to start onion farming in Zambia, you will need a piece of farmland that has been cleared, start planting during seasons with low rainfall and during the dry season,
nurse the seed, add organic manure to the bed and that is all you need to start planting onions.