Spring onions are a very important part of the Kenyan diet. The leaves of spring onion are consumed in salads and different dishes. If you would like to start growing spring onions, here is how you will plant spring onions in Kenya.
Spring onions are planted on well-drained soil where shallow rows are made 2.5 cm deep and 30 cm apart. Spring onion seeds are placed on furrows and loosely covered with soil and mulch. After seeds have sprouted, they are transplanted to already prepared land where seedlings are planted in rows at a space of 30 cm apart and 8 cm from one seedling to another.
3 Ways to Grow Spring Onions
Spring onions can be grown in different ways. There are three ways to grow spring onions in Kenya:
1. Grow Spring Onion from Onions
When you want to grow spring onions from onions, select onions with the root base intact. Cut the top and plant it in the soil. After one week, the sprout will appear, and it will grow until the onion runs out of nutrients.
2. Regrow Spring Onions
The roots of the spring onion are trimmed and soaked in clean water. Green new roots will emerge after some time. This is the growth of spring onions.
3. Growing from Seeds
Spring onions take almost 10 days to germinate into seedlings and take 8 weeks to grow to maturity and are ready to be harvested.
When planting spring onion seeds, you should make a furrow 1.5 cm deep in single rows, 15 cm to 20 cm apart. Also, when transplanting seedlings, the space between rows should be 30 cm apart and 8 cm from one seedling to another.
The best time to sow spring onions is between March and August at three-weekly intervals. And for early spring onions, sow seeds in September and over winter.
Spring Onion Seed Found in Kenya
The popular spring onion seed variety in Kenya is white Lisbon scallion, which is a green seed that is sold by Kenya Seed. It is sown directly on the farm or started in a nursery bed. It adapts well to a wide range of climatic conditions, hence being tolerant to heat and cold.
In Kenya, the price of spring onion seeds depends on the volume of seeds and the type of the manufacturer. For instance, 10gm, 25gm, and 50gm of Simlaw seeds are sold at Ksh. 105, Ksh. 255, and Ksh. 495, respectively.
How to Practice Spring Onion Farming in Kenya
Growing spring onions is easy to do, and you can even plant them in your kitchen garden. In Kenya, you can plant spring onions from seeds or bulbs.
Spring onion farming in Kenya does well in a variety of areas with any climate since they can tolerate heat and cold conditions. Spring onion grows well on well-drained loose soils with a PH of 6.3 to 6.8.
Before planting, spring onions select a piece of land that should be transplanted and it should receive full sun. The land should be prepared and enriched with plant fertilizers.
Plant Seeds in the Nursery Bed
Spring onion seeds are planted on a nursery bed before transplanting onto a raised bed of a metre wide and any length. Apply well-decomposed manure at the rate of 15kg and 20gm of phosphate fertilizer per square metre and mix the soil thoroughly.
Prepare furrows on the nursery bed 2 cm to 3 cm deep and 15 cm apart. Place the seeds onto furrows and loosely cover with soil to retain moisture. Cover with a thin layer of mulch to prevent the seed from being washed during irrigation.
Transplanting the Seedlings into Main Field
After 10 days, spring onions will have germinated. Remove the mulch and build a shelter for the young seedlings. The seedlings will be ready for transplanting after 4 to 6 weeks when the leaves are 15 cm.
Transplanting of spring onion seedlings is done in the morning or evening when the sun is not hot to prevent seedlings from being scorched. Seedlings are planted on already prepared land at a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 8 cm from one seedling to another.
Water the Seedlings
Watering of the field is done before and after transplanting. Top dressing is done four weeks after transplanting with CAN fertilizer at 9 kg per acre.
After 2 to 4 weeks, the spring onion will be ready for harvesting when the leaves are succulent. Harvesting is done by uprooting the entire plant using a fork.
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