How to plant onion seedlings? Detailed method and step-by-step explanation

SummaryPlanting time: can be sown in mid-September, no later than mid-October, then transplanted in early to mid-November. Variety selection: choose high-quality varieties such as Yuyuan Hongxing and Jiudun Hong. Raising seedlings: after preparing the seedbed, water the soil thoroughly, then mix the seeds with fine sandy soil at a ratio of 1:10 and broadcast sow, cover with about 1cm of soil, and thin the seedlings when they grow to about 4cm. Transplanting: deep plow the soil and apply fertilizer, then rake the ground level and form ridges for transplanting, and cover with plastic film in advance.

1. Planting time

Onions are all sown in mid-September, no earlier than September 1, and no later than October 15. If sown at the proper time, they can be transplanted in early to mid-November, and no later than November 25.

2. Variety selection

1. Yuyuan Hongxing: This variety was bred by the Horticulture Institute of the Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Its outer skin is red, and the single bulb weighs about 0.6 jin. It has the advantages of high yield, disease resistance, and strong adaptability, with an average yield of 11,000 jin per mu.

2. Jiudun Hong: This variety is introduced from abroad. Its outer skin is red, and it is more than 50% higher yielding than ordinary varieties. The single bulb weighs about 0.8 jin, and it is mainly resistant to pink root rot.

3. Raising seedlings

1. Seedling time: Yuyuan Hongxing can be raised 1-2 days around White Dew, and Jiudun Hong can be raised in mid-September.

2. Seedling method: After preparing the seedbed, water the soil thoroughly. After the water seeps in, mix the seeds with fine sandy soil at a ratio of 1:10, mix evenly, and broadcast sow. After sowing, cover with about 1cm of fine soil, and scatter phoxim granules. Use 4 jin of seed per mu of seedbed.

3. Seedbed management: Thin the seedlings when they grow to 4-5cm, thinning 2-3 times in total, and keep the spacing between seedlings at 3-4cm.

4. Transplanting

Before transplanting, plow the soil and apply fertilizer. Generally, apply 8,000-10,000 jin of decomposed organic fertilizer, 100 jin of diammonium phosphate, and 100 jin of superphosphate per mu. After fertilizing, deep plow the soil 25-30cm. While preparing the land, scatter 2 jin of phoxim granules per mu. After raking the ground level, form ridges for transplanting. The ridge bottom width is 90cm, the top width is 70-72cm, and the height is 5-7cm. Plant 5 rows per ridge, and cover with plastic film in advance.

5. Seedling selection and final spacing

Select seedlings with a plant height of 20cm, a stem diameter of 0.6-0.9cm, 3-4 leaves, and a weight of 5-6g for transplanting. The row spacing for transplanting is 17-22cm, and the plant spacing is 15-17cm. Plant 22,000-24,000 plants per mu. The transplanting depth should be such that the small bulb is buried by 1cm. After transplanting, water promptly. After the water seeps in, seal the opening with soil, which helps preserve heat and moisture.

6. Management after transplanting

In winter, take measures such as cultivating to preserve moisture and protecting the film. From regreening to harvest, water 4-5 times, and each time apply 20-30 jin of ammonium sulfate per mu, along with an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer. The suitable temperature during the onion bulb expansion period is 20-26 °C. When it exceeds 26 °C, remove the plastic film promptly while weeding.

7. Pest and disease control

Use 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 800 times dilution to control leaf-mining pests, use Bordeaux mixture at double strength to control onion purple blotch, and use 70% thiophanate-methyl at 600 times dilution, or 60% fosetyl-aluminum at 500 times dilution, to control downy mildew.

8. Timely harvest

When the plants lodge, the lower 3-4 old leaves begin to turn yellow, and the outer layer of the bulb appears dry, harvest on a sunny day. Spray 400 times dilution of maleic hydrazide half a month before harvesting onions, and stop watering 10 days before harvest.