Onions are vegetable crops that are easy to grow these require 5-10 days to germinate in the nursery bed. However onions are greatly affected by sucking pests such as like thrips, aphids and mites.
Furthermore always space onions properly in the nursery bed to avoid nutrient competition after seeds germination and avoid applying too much water in the nursery to prevent seeds from rooting. Also make ridges for onions to avoid soil erosion.
Nursery bed management
Always mulch and apply sufficient water to seedlings to provide moisture for seed germination.
Ensure monitoring seed bed and remove mulches when 50% of the seedlings germinate to allow plants grow upright.
Also remove mulches in the evening when temperatures are cool and gently water seedlings.
After 1-2 days apply a fungicide and between 5-7 day spray seedlings with an insecticide for proper plant growth.
Additionally when seedlings are 4 weeks old apply a vegetative fertilizer to strengthen and harden seedlings to protect them from transplanting shock.
Ensure weeding the nursery using hands to avoid damaging plant roots and also level nursery bed when sowing to minimize seeds and control soil erosion.
Lastly transplant seedlings on a rainy day or irrigate after transplanting to prevent plant desiccation.
Transplanting practices
Start by preparing ridges for the seedlings this is done to avoid soil erosion.
Also apply fungicides to plants after planting to control fungal diseases and regularly monitor plants to easily identify pests.
Lastly apply ammonia phosphate fertilizers to boost plant growth.
