SCIENTIFIC NAME: Allium cepa
CULTURE: Onions require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Sandy loam soils are ideal; raised beds or raised rows are recommended for heavier soils to promote soil drainage.
DIRECT SEEDING: In October or early November, or as soon as the soil can be prepared in early spring, sow in a 5cm wide band, about 2 seeds/25mm, 6-12mm deep, use an X-24 or MJ-24 Jang seedwheel rows 30-45cm apart. Thin to 3-5cm apart for highest yields in fertile soil. Thin to 7-10cm apart for larger onions.
TRANSPLANTING: In short-season areas, sow seeds indoors in flats in late August to mid-September. Broadcast 12mm apart and cover 6mm. Tops may be clipped to 12cm tall. Transplant to the garden 10cm apart, or sow 5 seeds in each cell of 25-38mm diameter plug trays, thinning to 3 per cell. Transplant each cell 15cm apart. For Paperpot Transplanters use the 2.8mm seed plate and LP-15, 15cm chain pots
CULTIVATION: Keep onions well weeded with shallow cultivation.
WATER: Onions are shallow rooted and grow best with at least 25mm per week of rain or irrigation, especially during the bulbing phase.
WEEDING: Prepare the area with stale bedding, cultivating and flame weeding. Follow up after planting with a wide stirrup or collinear hoe for shallow row weeding.
DISEASES: Adequate air circulation and crop rotation aids in reducing the risk of foliar disease
HARVEST: When necks become soft and tops are falling over, pull and sun-cure at least 2-7 days, depending on weather. Move to a protected location to finish drying.
STORAGE: When dry, clip off tops and roots and store in onion bags or shallow boxes at near freezing and 65-70% humidity.
DAY LENGTH: Onion bulbing is triggered by day length, and maximum day length during the growing season increases from northern to southern Australian areas. Short-day onions are grown at higher latitudes in the northern states, while intermediate and long-day onions are grown at lower latitudes.
DAYS TO MATURITY: From direct seeding; subtract 10-15 days if transplants are used.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE: 30g/8m, 1000 seeds/15m, 5k/83m, 25k/400m, 580,000 seeds/acre, 60 seeds/linear metre, in rows 45cm apart.
TRANSPLANTS: Avg. 30g/5,000 plants, 100g/16,000
SIZED SEEDS: Standard on all varieties.
SEED SPECS: SEEDS/500grams: 100,000-130-000 (avg. 112,000).
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