How to Propagate Red Onion? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods
The red onion is a type of onion that looks like a common onion on the outside and can be divided into cloves inside, but each clove has no membrane protecting it. It is grown mainly in the Northwest region, where it is fairly widespread, but it can also be grown in other regions. To grow it, you first need to propagate and raise seedlings before you can plant it on a large scale. At present, red onion propagation is mainly done through division of clumps, an asexual propagation method. Below, each method is introduced separately.
1. Seed selection and keeping seed stock
First, during the previous crop, before the aboveground part withers, start selecting seed plants when the bulbs are in the swelling stage. Choose some robust seed plants in good condition, then tie red string on them as markers, and manage them separately with more careful and thorough attention. After harvest, collect these seed plants together for processing and storage. Just place them in a ventilated spot, because they can be planted again in September. For planting, choose large bulb cloves.
2. Land selection and preparation
Choose flat land that is slightly higher than ordinary ground for planting. The soil should preferably not be heavy clay, and it must not be compacted. Under these conditions, apply farmyard manure to improve it, ideally making it a sandy loam that retains water and fertilizer well. The planting beds should be set up at a specification of 5 to 7 m long and 1 to 1.2 m wide. First plow the land, and you can plow it repeatedly several times, then break up all the soil into fine pieces, finally level the land, spray it with a chemical treatment, and plant three days later.
3. Planting
Before planting, the seed stems need to be sprayed with some chemicals to prevent and control diseases, such as 50% chlorothalonil or carbendazim diluted with water and sprayed on. Then separate the bulbs into individual cloves, and plant them with a spacing of 3 cm between plants and 4 cm between rows. However, you can also plant them freely; onions can be planted a bit denser. Insert the bulb cloves directly into the soil, generally pushing about two-thirds of the bulb into the soil and leaving the growing point exposed. Be careful not to insert them upside down, as they will not sprout and will rot. Then press the surrounding soil to firm them in place and prevent them from falling over.
4. Seedling stage management
After planting, water them, but there is no need to water every day, because the bulbs themselves contain a lot of water. Water about once every three days. Right after planting, there is no need to water. Then, after sprouting and emergence are uniform, when about 80% of the bulbs have sprouted, you can water once more. At this point they have basically left the stage of relying on the bulb for nutrients and water. While watering, apply a light fertilizer solution once, mainly a compound fertilizer. After direct planting, there is no need to thin the seedlings, but any that have not emerged should be replanted promptly so they catch up with the growth stage of the others.
The main propagation method for red onion is asexual division propagation. The above mainly introduces the red onion propagation process, hoping to give everyone some reference and help, so that it is of some help for your own planting. You are welcome to keep following other agricultural updates.