When Is the Right Time to Plant Scallion Seedlings? A Complete Guide to Cultivation Methods

Common scallion seedlings include Welsh onion seedlings, onion seedlings and so on, so when is the right time to plant them? How are they cultivated? Generally, they are sown in simple solar greenhouses, broadcast on flat beds, and young green scallions come to market from March to May. Let's take a detailed look below.

When is the right time to plant scallion seedlings?

(1) From January to March, sow in simple solar greenhouses, broadcast on flat beds, and young green scallions come to market from March to May.

(2) In mid-to-late March, sow in small arched tunnels, broadcast on flat beds, and young green scallions come to market in June. They can also be transplanted in early to mid-June, and harvested for market or stored for winter from October to November.

(3) In early April, sow and raise seedlings in the open field; in mid-to-late June, transplant densely in wide beds, overwinter in the open field; in March to April of the following year, remove the flower buds; and from April to May, green scallions come to market.

(4) From July to August, sow and raise seedlings; from September to early November, transplant and plant densely (plant spacing 3 cm); overwinter in the open field; in March to April of the following year, remove the flower buds; and from May to July, green scallions come to market.

(5) In mid-to-late September, sow and raise seedlings; the seedbed overwinters in the open field; and in March to April of the following year, young green scallions come to market.

(6) In mid-to-late September, sow and raise seedlings; transplant in mid-April of the following year; harvest green scallions for market from July to August; or transplant in June and harvest for market and winter storage from October to November.

(7) From late August to early September, sow in solar greenhouses; cover the greenhouse in mid-October; and young green scallions come to market from December to February of the following year.

How are scallion seedlings cultivated?

1. Seeds: Choose new seeds with good varietal characteristics, black kernels and a glossy sheen. Sow 2 kg per mu, enough to plant 4 mu.

2. Microbial agent: Jinbaobei Genmiao Zhuang can significantly promote rooting in scallion seedlings and enhance the root's absorption and anchoring capacity. It is mainly used during the seedling stage of scallions, garlic and other crops, mixed into nutrient soil, or applied by irrigating the beds, dipping roots, or spraying on leaves during planting, transplanting and the mid-to-late growth stages. It can raise soil temperature, promote early germination, and help weak seedlings become strong ones. At planting and transplanting, it speeds up seedling recovery and rooting, brings plants into the high-yield period earlier, prevents excessive vegetative growth, extends the harvest period, and improves disease and stress resistance.

3. Sowing: Raise seedlings on a sunny plot. The most ideal is a plot that previously grew fertile legumes, solanaceous fruits or cucurbit vegetables. Apply 5000 kg of decomposed barnyard manure per mu, form flat beds 80 to 90 cm wide, with 30 cm between beds so that soil can be pressed over the film. Sow in early March when the soil temperature reaches 2 to 3°C. Soak and sprout the seeds before sowing. Irrigate the bed until the water seeps down, then scatter the seeds, and after sowing cover with plastic film 90 to 100 cm wide.

4. Management: About 10 days after sowing, the seedlings begin to emerge. Pull the film taut, prop it up 10 cm high on both sides with bamboo strips or pagoda tree twigs, and pack soil firmly around the edges. When the seedlings are 6 to 9 cm tall, thin them to 3 cm square spacing, apply 1000 to 1500 kg of human and animal manure per mu along with irrigation water, and gradually remove the film to switch to open-field management. When the seedlings are 12 to 15 cm tall and again 15 days before transplanting, apply one topdressing of chemical fertilizer each time, with 10 to 12 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu each time. Pull weeds promptly.

5. Pest and disease control: At the seedling stage, spray with an equal-ratio Bordeaux mixture of 1:1:200, or 655 zineb, or 75% chlorothalonil 600 times dilution to control purple blotch; use cabbage leaf infusion mixed with 90% trichlorfon 400 times dilution and place it in the field at night to trap and kill cutworms.