Production Guide On Bulb Onion: Seedbed Establishment and Seed Sowing (Nursery)
Production Guide On Bulb Onion: Seedbed Establishment and Seed Sowing (Nursery)
Varieties
Red Creole
Red Pinoy
Yellow Granex (Hybrid)
Prepare the field by 2 plowings and 2 harrowings. Level and pulverize the soil to a fine
texture to facilitate formation of beds.
Raising beds are constructed at 0.5 meter wide by 20 m long (maximum) by 15 cm high.
Double row beds will be prepared with a distance of 20-25 cm between hills and with a hole
dept of at least 3.5 cm
Basal application of chicken dung or compost at the rate of 10 t/ha combined with 10
bags 14-14-14 will be applied in the prepared hole and hen cover thinly with fine soil.
Transplant one seedling in each hole by pressing downward the base of the seedlings so
that the roots will have a good contact with the soil. Irrigate after transplanting.
Seedlings are ready for transplanting 45 days after sowing or when the seedlings are
about pencil size in stem diameter, has 5 visible leaves and a height of at least 15 cm.
Sidedressing
First sidedressing will be done ten days after transplanting with 3 bags/ha of Urea mixed
with 2 bags/ha of Muriate of Potash or approximately 15 grams Urea and 10 grams Muriate of
Potash per square meter.
Irrigation
Cultivation and hand weeding should be done 10 days after transplanting to be followed
two to three times more to make sure that the weeds are checked and the plants do not
become waterlogged.
Hilling-up is done 3 weeks before the harvest to avoid greening of onions.
Insect Pests and Disease Control
Thrips.
Abundant during dry season. Adults and nymphs rasp the leaf surface and suck juice
from the leaf. The leaves appear slippery with sunken areas that later dry up resulting to
weakened plant, reduced growth and lower yields.
Examine closely some plants from 14 m perimeter of the field by pulling the leaves apart
at the base. It attack is severe, employ chemical control
Armyworms.
The larvae bore the onion leaves and fed leaving the exterior almost intact. Damage is
worse in weedy fields. Thorough land preparation is done to destroy the egg laying sites and
feeding source. Chemical control is recommended.
Cutworms.
Larvae feed at night and hide near their feeding site during the day. They roll when
disturbed.
Purple Bloch.
Fungal disease that occurs on leaves, bulbs, flowers, and survives in crop residues.
Lesions star as small sunken area. With dark purple center. Infection of the bulb occurs as the
plant approaches maturity. A combines approach involving cultural and chemical control is
necessary.
Sooty Mold.
Occurs generally after the bulbs have been harvested. This is favored by high
temperature and humidity. Curing the onions quickly with good ventilation is necessary.
Fungal spraying is done to prevent fungal diseases. Spraying stars 12 days from sowing
and weekly thereafter.
Harvest the crop as soon as the neck of the plants tends to fall down or when 75% of the
stems are fallen over. Harvesting is done manually by pulling the matured bulbs.
Harvesting bulbs are placed in the field for 2-3 days before bringing them to the curing
house. However, if rain occurs, the bulbs should be brought immediately to the curing house.
The curing house should be well ventilated and relative dry. Harvesting bulbs are air-
dried or cured 3-4 weeks until the neck is soft and dry (closed).
Remove or cut tops with shears 1.5 – 2.5 cm from stem end of the bulbs. Do not remove
outer scales. Place the bulbs on racks made of tiers of bamboo, wood or netted wire, Put the
racks in a well-ventilated shed.
Trimming/ Sorting
Trim the onion roots and leaves right after harvest or one day after filling them under
the sun. Use sharp knife or scythe and cut 4-6 cm from the bulb.
Cleaning/ Sorting
Clean the bulbs by peeling-off the outer peelings. Arrange in crates and
store in well-ventilated place free from high moisture and expose to the sun.