When to Plant Welsh Onions? A Complete Guide to Planting Time and Methods

Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) is a biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Allium in the Amaryllidaceae family. China has over one hundred varieties of Allium vegetables, mainly distributed in the northwest, northeast and north China regions. Allium vegetables hold an extremely important position in China's vegetable production. Below is an introduction to the planting time and planting methods of Welsh onions.

I. Planting Time of Welsh Onions

1. Autumn planting

Sow in early September of the first autumn, overwinter as seedlings, transplant in early to mid-May of the second summer, harvest before winter, store in cellars or overwinter in the open field. In the third spring the plants bolt and flower, and seeds are harvested in the second season. The seedlings at transplanting time can be sold as small scallions from early May to late June, or around the Start of Summer they can be planted in flat beds in clumps or with reduced row and plant spacing as trench onions for autumn supply, or after overwintering supplied as early-spring ram's horn onions.

2. Spring planting

Sow after the soil thaws in early spring, supply as small scallions before the hot summer arrives, or harvest in the same year after transplanting as dry onions or trench onions. They can also be overwintered as ram's horn onions or kept as seed plants.

3. Summer planting

Mostly sown from late July to early August, hence also called fu cong (dog-days onion). The plants are relatively large when overwintering in the same year, easily complete the vernalization process, sprout early the following spring and quickly bolt and flower, generally coming to market after the ram's horn onions.

II. Planting Methods of Welsh Onions

1. Selecting good varieties

There are many varieties of Welsh onion, and they are highly adaptable to the environment; basically any seed can grow in any location, it is only a matter of yield and quality. So before planting we should choose varieties suited to the local climate. You can first investigate the local Welsh onion growing situation and choose varieties that are high quality, high yielding and have a decent market. Secondly, you can plant several varieties at the same time, observe their economic benefits, and then select the best.

2. Land preparation and fertilizing

Welsh onions are not demanding about the planting site. Generally, any plot with fairly sufficient sunlight, close to a water source for easy irrigation, and soil rich in organic matter can be used. When preparing the land, plow deeply at least about 30 cm, clean out impurities in the soil such as pest residues and weed roots so that later management is simpler, finally break up the clods as much as possible and rake level. At the same time, open furrows about 1 m to 1.5 m wide to make beds and wait to plant.

3. Scientific planting

There are three main ways to plant Welsh onions: seed propagation, division propagation and bulb propagation. The suitable planting time is generally around May to June each year. Then open furrows at intervals of 30 cm per row for drilling or row planting; for row planting the spacing between plants is about 5-8 cm. Before planting the site must be watered thoroughly, which can raise the survival rate by at least about 15%.

4. Fertilization techniques

Fertilizing Welsh onions mainly depends on the fertility of the planting site and the growth of the onions. Generally the first fertilization is done after the Start of Autumn; under normal fertilization about 2000 kg of farmyard manure per mu is needed, or 200 kg of cake fertilizer plus 20 kg of urea. After the End of Heat, a second topdressing is applied, requiring only about 15 kg of urea. Finally, it depends on the growth of the onions: if the leaves and stems are rather thin and uneven with a hooked, drooping look, then an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer should also be applied, and a suitable amount of fertilizer added at each growth stage to supplement the nutrients needed for growth.

5. Field management

About 5-6 days after transplanting the seedlings emerge. But summer temperatures are relatively high and rainfall is relatively heavy, so we must be prepared for waterlogging prevention and drainage. At the same time, after rain, cultivate in time to avoid soil compaction. Welsh onion roots are relatively weak, so the humidity in the planting site should be kept at at least about 75%. When the weather is not particularly dry, basically no excessive watering is needed; it is only necessary to strengthen management of soil permeability in the field and weed control.

6. Pest and disease control

The most common pests and diseases of Welsh onion are purple blotch, onion rust, soft rot, as well as thrips, leaf miners and moth pests. These three common diseases are basically caused by excessive humidity in the field combined with relatively high temperatures, triggering fungal growth in the field and infecting the whole Welsh onion plant. Generally chlorothalonil, mancozeb solution and copper hydroxide can be used for control, while water management and temperature regulation in the field should be strengthened. The pests harming Welsh onion growth can be sprayed and killed with imidacloprid, abamectin and emamectin benzoate.

The above is Tuliu.com's introduction to the planting time and planting methods of Welsh onions. In northern China's Welsh onion production areas, seedlings are mostly raised and transplanted; in the main production areas of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, autumn sowing is mostly used, but it must be strictly controlled that seedlings have no more than 3 leaves before winter. South of the Yellow River, spring sowing is mostly used, and sowing should be done promptly when the soil temperature reaches 7 degrees C.