How to make Money From Onion Farming

For many years, onion farming has became popular. However, due to lack of interest of many farmers the industry declines. Fortunately, nowadays lots of people engage in backyard gardening and they find growing onions as their choice. There are two categories of onion such as the short day onions and the long day onions. These two onions differ on the growing period. Likewise, when buying for onion varieties that you will grow you can choose from bulb onions and the perennial onions.

How to Plant Onions?

Onions can be grown from seeds, sets and transplant. When you choose to grow onions from seeds you should plant the seeds ½ inches apart and 3/8 inch deep. The rows should be 15 inches apart. On the other hand, the bulb onions are perfect to grow from transplant. The planting process is merely the same with growing from seeds. In like manner, the bulb onions can be easily grown by planting sets. Planting sets can be can be grown closely together but needs to be thin out by getting the green onions and the others will grow into bulbs.

Maintaining onion Plants

Farming onion plants requires lot of water as they initially grow. However, as the plants mature, thy do not need much of water. Sometimes you can just depend on rainwater but make sure that the plants absorb the right amount every 5-7 days. Mulching can help reduce the weeds and at the same time maintain the soil moisture level. Keep in mind to weed out once the onions start to grow so that the weeds will not absorb the soil nutrients needed by the onions. However, you should be careful when weeding and ensure not to disturb the roots of the onions. In addition, you may not use fertilizer if you employ quality compost in the soil before planting the onions. Instead, you should use root builder like the natural mycorrhizal fungi. It helps the roots in absorbing water as well as soil nutrients by attaching to the roots. In this way, you can save the organic fertilizer for other crops.

Harvesting Onions

Bulb onions can be harvested within three months. When the plants start to yellow then it is the right time to harvest the bulb onions. Ripening process can be induced by breaking the tops of the onions. It is best to harvest the onions prior of producing flower stalks. On the other hand, you can only harvest the green onion as soon as it reaches 5 inches tall. The flavor depends on how taller they get. This means that if you want a strong flavor onion you should let it grow taller.

Selling onions

Packaged Onions

Onions can be packaged at a portatble sizes (between 700g and 1000g) and sold to supermarket who need them at a cheaper rates than what can ever be obtained in the market after adding your own margin. We sell to supermarkets and whoever is interested in handing over to the consumers in exchange for money. The packagings are very attactive and we can put in your own label.

Onion powder

Tip: The onions should be dry when you can easily crumble the chopped pieces in your hand.

1. Peel and finely chop your onions.

2. Then, spread the onion pieces out on a tray and heat in a 150 degree oven or in a food dehydrator until dry.

3. Allow the onions to cool. Then, grind with a coffee grinder, spice mill, food processor or mortar and pestle until you reach your desired consistency.

4. Store your finished onion powder in an air-tight container in a cool, dry spot or freeze.