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.
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