How to Grow Welsh Onions for High Yield? Latest Planting Techniques and Method Tutorial
The Welsh onion is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Allium in the family Amaryllidaceae, also known as four-season onion, big-head onion, soft onion, etc. It is a variety of the common onion, originally from western China and the Syria area of western Asia, and is now widely cultivated throughout our country. As an indispensable table seasoning vegetable, it has extremely high cultivation value. Let us take a look together at the high-yield cultivation techniques for Welsh onions!
Growth Habits of the Welsh Onion
The Welsh onion prefers cool conditions, has strong cold resistance, and does not demand high light intensity. The suitable temperature for growth is 12-23°C. Under high temperatures above 25°C and strong light, the aging rate accelerates, yields are low, and quality declines. At low temperatures below -5°C, growth is slow. In spring and autumn, the plants grow luxuriantly and tiller vigorously. It can grow normally in clay and sandy soil, showing wide soil adaptability. Its root system is shallow, and it is not tolerant of drought or waterlogging, so the soil is required to be moist with good irrigation and drainage conditions. In terms of fertilizer input, apply sufficient organic fertilizer, apply heavy nitrogen fertilizer, and increase potassium fertilizer.
Propagation Techniques for the Welsh Onion
1. Division propagation: The division time for Welsh onions is from early April to around the end of June in spring and from early August to the end of December in autumn. Division is not possible in seasons of high temperature or severe cold. Before division, first dig up the old plants from the field, leave them for several days, then divide them into clumps, with 7-8 plants per clump, and plant them in the field at a row spacing of 22 cm and a plant spacing of 12 cm. After planting, water continuously 2-3 times (once a day) to promote establishment.
2. Sowing and raising seedlings: Although seed-bearing varieties of Welsh onion can also be propagated by division, generally the seeds are first grown into seedlings and then transplanted into the field; after they have fully grown, they are then divided. Spring sowing starts in late March and can be done in batches until late June; autumn sowing starts in mid-August and can be done in batches until late October. Before sowing, prepare the land finely, then broadcast the seed, press down the soil after sowing, and cover with wheat straw to prevent rain from causing soil crusting that affects emergence. The sowing rate is 5 kg per mu. When the seedlings grow to 15-18 cm, they can be transplanted.
Cultivation Techniques for the Welsh Onion
1. Land preparation and fertilization: Welsh onions require deep, loose, and fertile sandy loam soil. Plow the land deeply, apply 4000 kg of high-quality farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, mix it evenly with the soil, make beds 2 m wide, rake the bed surface level, and open furrows in the beds 6-7 cm deep. For early-maturing cultivation, the row spacing is 20-25 cm; for ordinary cultivation, the row spacing is about 40 cm.
2. Timely planting: To plant Welsh onions, first prepare bulb seed balls, separate the bulbs one by one, and sun them for 1 day. About 50-60 kg of seed balls are needed per mu. For early-maturing cultivation, plant 2-3 seed bulbs per hole, with a hole spacing of about 15 cm. For ordinary cultivation, plant 3-4 seed bulbs per hole, with a hole spacing of 20-25 cm. Plant them in the furrows, cover with soil after planting, with the bulbs 6-7 cm from the soil surface, and water after covering with soil.
3. Field management: Field management for Welsh onions mainly consists of topdressing, along with intertillage weeding, watering and irrigation, and earthing up for blanching. Topdressing is mainly with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer. Starting when the plants grow to 12-13 cm, apply topdressing once a month, for a total of 3-4 times. Water once a month, and appropriately increase the frequency of watering during drought. After the second topdressing, begin earthing up, for a total of 2-3 times. Generally, earthing up is carried out together with topdressing, that is, earthing up after topdressing. The depth of each earthing up should not be too deep, and it is best not to cover the white part of the scallion.
4. Timely harvesting: Except in the hot summer, Welsh onions can be harvested in early summer, autumn, and early winter. The specific harvest time varies with variety and cultivation form. You may harvest only the leaves, and after each harvest, apply 1 topdressing. You may also pull up the whole plant, wash off the soil, tie into small bundles, and sell on the market.
Pest and Disease Control for the Welsh Onion
1. Downy mildew: Use 300 g of “Xin Gaozhi Mo” emulsion per mu, dilute with 230-250 kg of water, and spray evenly, with an interval of 7-10 days, for a total of 2-3 sprays.
2. Black mold: Spray with 50 kg of 0.1% copper sulfate or 1% lime water or 0.1% potassium permanganate solution.
3. Purple blotch: Spray with a 0.5% aqueous solution of 80% zineb, or spray with a 0.1% aqueous solution of 50% thiophanate-methyl, or prepare Bordeaux mixture with copper sulfate, quicklime, and water at a ratio of 1:1:200 and spray, using 50 kg per mu.
4. Root maggots: Apply 5 kg of methamidophos powder per mu, or 3.5 kg to 4.5 kg of 2.5% trichlorfon powder, or apply 2.5 kg of phoxim granules into the soil.
5. Red spider mites: Use 3000-3500 times dilution of Manguangling or 2500-3000 times dilution of Hongbaiman Jue for control.