Onions are a common vegetable found in most homes. Did you know that they can be grown from seeds? In this blog post, we will show you how to grow onions from seeds in Kenya. Kenyan farmers have been growing onions successfully from seeds for many years now. Follow these simple instructions and you will be able to grow your onions at home.
Onion seeds are first grown on a raised seedbed for germination and then transplanted to the main field for harvest. It is encouraged to prepare a seedbed two to three weeks before sowing seeds near the planting site to make it easier during transplanting.
Making Seedbed For Onion Farming
The following guidelines are on how to make a seedbed for onion farming:
1. Prepare a raised seedbed of 12 cm wide with your chosen length. It should be in the shade to protect the seedlings from direct sunlight.
2. Add organic fertilizer and mix the soil.
3. Irrigate the raised seedbed one day before sowing the seeds.
4. On the seedbed, make rows of 15 cm apart and drill seed thinly to a depth of 1 cm.
5. Cover seeds using soil and mulch for 7 to 10 days to germinate.
6. Water the seedbed daily in the morning and evening. After the germination, remove the mulch to allow the seedlings to grow upright and strong.
How to Grow Onions in Kenya
Drain the Seedbed if There Are Excess Water
When the farmer approaches the day of transplanting seedlings, it is advisable to reduce the watering of the seedbed to make the structure of the seedlings strong. Also, remove the shade that is covered in the seedbed to get the seedlings more used to stronger sunshine.
Irrigate the Seedbed
Before transplanting, the seedbed is irrigated to avoid damage to seedlings when pulling them from the seedbed. The field is watered on the day you intend to transplant the seedlings.
In Kenya, onions grow well in well-drained soil, fertile sandy loam soil, and non-compacted soils with a PH of 6.0 to 7.0. Onion farming requires an ideal temperature of 13 to 24 degrees, especially during germination, which is helpful to the onion seeds.
Prepare and Plough the Land
The land is prepared and ploughed one month before transplanting onion seedlings. The soil should be reduced to fine particles for two weeks before transplanting to make planting easier.
Put the ripe animal manure in the field. This will make the soil rigid and increase moisture retention for an extended period. Thereafter, mix the organic fertilizer well with the soil and make furrows for planting onions.
Perform Soil Analysis Test
It is important to perform a soil analysis test on the farm before planting the onion seedlings to determine the nutrient requirement of the soil. Soil analysis helps a farmer to know if the farm has enough nutrients for onion farming.
Transplanting
Transplanting of onion seedlings is done six to eight weeks after sowing seeds. Similarly, you can transplant onions when they have produced three to five well-formed leaves. It is done early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is not burning hot.
Using a shovel, uproot seedlings from the seedbed and plant them in the already prepared land for onions. The seedlings are planted in 2.5 to 3 cm deep trenches at a space of 30 cm between rows and 8 to 12 cm from one seedling to another.
Organic manure is added to the holes when seedlings are planted. Select healthy seedlings and free from pests from seedbed to plant and then firm up the seedlings with the surrounding soil.
After you are done with transplanting, water the seedlings and continue watering in the morning and evening until the seedlings hold well in the soil.
How Much Do Onion Seeds Cost in Kenya?
The price of onion seeds in Kenya varies depending on the location of the seller and the onion variety. The cost of onion seeds depends on the quantity of the seeds. For instance, the price of Jambari F1 onion seed in Kenya is 1 kg is sold at Ksh. 29,000, a half kilo at Ksh. 14,500, and a quarter a kilo is Ksh. 7,250.
The best and most popular onion seeds in Kenya are Jambari F1 and Red Coach FI. This is because Jambari F1 produces a high yield and the size of its onion bulbs is large, while Red Coach F1 also produces high yields and the size and colour of its onions are ideal for Kenyan markets.
How Many Grams of Onion Seeds Per Acre?
An acre requires 1000 to 1500 grams of onion seeds, depending on the onion variety and spacing. The spacing affects the size of the onion bulb in that tiny spacing results in a small onion bulb.
A well-managed onion farm can yield between 75 and 120 tonnes of red creole onions per acre when harvested, and Neptune F1 can give yields of 60 to 70 tonnes per acre.
How Long Do Onions Take to Grow in Kenya?
Onions take different periods of time to grow depending on the type of onion, soil type, and climate conditions. The bulb onion type takes three to four months to grow to maturity. The spring onion takes two to four months to grow to maturity.
The best time to plant onions in Kenya is during the short rains in October to December, such that harvesting is done either in January or February. During this period, there is a limited supply of onions in the market and the price of onions goes up. Therefore, onions make huge profits at this time.
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