All you need to know about red creole onion farming in Kenya including seeds, maturity, yield per acre, and beginners guide all in one place.
Onion farming in Kenya is a flourishing business, with most farmers investing in small scale farming. Most local farmers, especially in Kenya’s rural areas, use open gardens, while urban farmers with a good capital investment go greenhouses.
Onion farming is an investment that guarantees the farmers good returns since onions are one of the essential ingredients used across the country. Red creole onion can be used as a spice for food. More so, raw onions are medically proven detoxifiers.
Red Creole Onion Spacing
Farmers prefer the onions are planted in raised beds with a good fencing system to avoid soil being swept away by rainwater. The MajorityMajority of farmers tends to use wood, bricks or any other easily affordable material in their reach.
The farmer can plant either in cells or in one single raw.
During land preparation, the farmer digs cells in the soil, measuring at least half an inch deep.
Each cell is suitable to manage up to 5 seeds. The between one cell to the other is about 2 inches.
Red Creole Onion Maturity
Majority of farmers claims to prefer the red creole type of onions because they have a medium maturing rate. Depending on the climatic conditions, onions are harvested during dry seasons.
Onions can stay in the soil for up to 4 months. However, they should not exceed 175 days before being harvested.
For better results, red creole onion flourishes more during dry seasons. The early stages require more watering as the need reduces as the age of the onions. Most farmers claim that the watering is best done in the early morning and late in the evening.
The seedlings require mulching which can be done using other raw materials such as plant residues to help in water retention and prevent other seedlings from growing. Nevertheless, the farmer should lift the straw once the onions begin bulging to prevent them from absorbing excess water.
Red Creole Onion Yield Per Acre
A well-tended onion farm should yield at least 75 tones minimum to a maximum of 120 tonnes per acre using the a standard red creole spacing of 24 inches apart and a space of not less than 2 inches between the cells. The yield result in an optimum harvest of the red creole onions.
Jambar F1 Onion Seeds Price
Jambar F1 onion seeds are the most plated in the county, with the farmers claiming that Jabari F1 is susceptible to diseases. Farmers planning to farm the type of onions should set aside extra funds.
Quick facts about Jambar F1 Onion Seeds
- Seed Rate: 1kg/Acre
- Yield: 25 Tonnes/Acre
- Maturity: 90 Days
The onion seeds price in Kenya may vary depending on the location of the seller. However, the average market cost of Jambar F1 onion seeds is tabulated below:
| Jambar F1 Onion Seeds Weight | Price |
| 1kg | Ksh. 29,000 |
| Half kg | Ksh. 14,500 |
| Quarter kg | Ksh. 7,250 |
Red Creole Onion Farming For Beginners
Beginner farmers with plans of investing in the Red creole onion farming should consider the variety takes up to 3 -to 4 months to maturity. Some of the factor beginner farmers can consider include;
1. Knowledge
The beginner farmers in the red creole onion project should have an understanding of the farming practices. The farmers should identify with the farming vocabulary of the farming practices to increase familiarity and avoid simple mistakes.
Beginner farmers are always advised to organize trips to other successful farmers in the same field and attend onion farming seminars and training sessions. By so doing, they practically acquire vital information on the farming practice for proper production. An understanding of the family practice helps the farmer know what to expect.
2. Business plan
A well-formulated business plan gives more light to business handling than to avoid guesswork. A good business plan helps the farmer with a proper estimation of financial allocations to help prevent misappropriation of funds.
3. Farming land
Before beginner farmers ventures into Red creole onion, they should consider the farming area. Onions thrive well on raised grounds and in dry seasons. Other than farmers investing in the business using greenhouses, local farmers should consider;
- The terrain of the land
- Fertility rate
- Climatic conditions
4. Capital
Farmers with the vision of starting red creole onion farming need not a heavy investment into the farm except for those investing in applying new technology through greenhouse farmer and those growing the onions on a large scale farm.
5. Pest And Disease Control
The farmer should come up with ways of handling pests and diseases if the onions show signs of an attack to avoid incurring losses before harvest time.
6. Harvest
According to the size of the farm, the farmer should improvise a suitable harvesting method that would help save on time and reduce onion spoilage. Onions are best harvested in dry seasons for good quality and to avoid rotting. Rainy and cold seasons can steer to rotting, which leads to wastage.
Conclusion
Red creole onion farming in Kenya is a lucrative business that young farmers should consider the worth investment. The Kenyan market calls on farmers to venture into the business to reduce the importation of the commodity from the neighboring countries to meet the increasing demands.
