How much do Welsh onion seeds cost? A detailed guide to growing methods

The Welsh onion, also known as green onion, four-season onion, and "peacemaking herb", is a biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Allium in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is grown very widely in northern China, with production areas mainly distributed across the northwest, northeast, and north China regions. It holds an extremely important position in China's vegetable production, with its cultivated area accounting for 10% of the total vegetable sowing area. Let's take a look at Welsh onion seed prices and growing methods below!

How much do Welsh onion seeds cost?

The price of Welsh onion seeds varies greatly depending on the variety. For example, Yamamoto Kongo high-yield, high-quality stiff-stalk Welsh onion seeds cost about 240 yuan per box, and non-splitting-leaf Japanese imported Welsh onion seeds cost about 320 yuan per box. For raising Welsh onion seedlings, use fresh seeds from the current year, sowing 3-4 kg per mu, which can provide transplants for 6-8 mu of land. If stored seeds from one year prior are used, the seeding rate should be increased by more than double; seeds stored for more than two years can no longer be used.

Growing conditions for Welsh onions

1. Temperature: The Welsh onion originated in semi-cold zones and produces high yields and good quality in cool and warm climates. It has strong cold tolerance, can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C, and its seedlings can safely overwinter at -10°C. It can tolerate high temperatures of up to 45°C.

2. Light: The Welsh onion does not have high requirements for light intensity, and its requirement for day length is neutral. As long as vernalization is completed under low temperatures, it can bolt and flower normally regardless of day length.

3. Water: The leaves of the Welsh onion are tubular and covered with a waxy layer, giving it drought resistance and enabling it to reduce water evaporation and tolerate drought. Its root system has no root hairs and poor water absorption capacity, so water supply must be sufficient during every growth stage for it to grow vigorously.

4. Soil: The Welsh onion itself is not strict about soil requirements, but its root mass is small, it has no root hairs, and its fertilizer absorption capacity is poor. To achieve high yields, soil that is loose, deep, fertile, well-drained, and rich in organic matter must be selected.

Variety selection for Welsh onions

1. Spring planting and autumn harvest: Generally seedlings are raised in March-April, transplanted in May-June, and harvested in October-December. Varieties are required to grow quickly, tolerate heat and rain, and produce high yields. Options include Puwei Star No. 3, No. 4, Minghui, and Xin Guanjun. Varieties with small leaves are generally not chosen.

2. Spring planting and winter harvest: Generally seedlings are raised in March-May, transplanted in June-July, and harvested from December to January of the following year. Varieties are required to have good market quality, a high marketable rate, strong low-temperature tolerance, and high yields, such as Yudu Welsh onion, Star No. 2, Mingmen, Changfeng Welsh onion, and Fengyu Yiben.

3. Summer-autumn planting and spring harvest: Generally seedlings are raised in May-September, transplanted in September-November, and harvested in May-July of the following year. Varieties are required to be resistant to bolting, disease-resistant, high-yielding, and suitable for delayed harvesting, such as Puwei Changxia, Chunhuo Wanchou, and Mingjiang Wanchou.

4. Winter planting and spring-summer harvest: Generally seedlings are raised in September-October, transplanted in November-December, and harvested in May-July of the following year. Varieties are required to tolerate low temperatures, resist bolting, have strong disease resistance, and be suitable for delayed harvesting, such as Puwei Changxia, Chunhuo Wanchou, Mingjiang Wanchou, Star No. 2, and Fengyu Yiben.

Growing methods for Welsh onions

1. Sowing time: Climate conditions differ between north and south across the country, so sowing times also vary. The best time is determined by the size of the seedlings before overwintering. If they are too large, they easily pass through vernalization and bolt in the following spring; if too small, they cannot overwinter safely. The standard for pre-winter seedlings is to grow to the two-leaf-one-heart stage.

2. Preparing the seedbed: The seedbed should be selected on land that is level, fertile, close to a water source, and easy to drain. Plow shallowly and harrow finely. Apply 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu as a base fertilizer, and at the same time apply 2.5 kg of carbofuran and 0.5 kg of carbendazim powder per mu to kill underground pests and pathogens.

3. Sowing method: Before sowing, first take out the covering soil from the bed, then irrigate the bed with enough water. After the water has seeped away, mix the seeds with sandy soil and broadcast them twice in the bed, then cover with soil to a thickness of 1.5-2 cm. The seeding rate for a seedling-raising field is 1.3 kg per mu, which can provide transplants for 3-5 mu.

4. Timely transplanting: Summer-sown Welsh onions are transplanted in early to mid-September, and autumn-sown Welsh onions are transplanted in March-April of the following year. Use a row spacing of 80 cm and a plant spacing of 1.5-2 cm, and transplant in furrows. Before transplanting, first grade the onion seedlings strictly, then treat them with chemicals to eliminate root maggots and ensure a full stand.

5. Reasonable watering: After transplanting Welsh onions, the key management focus is promoting root growth, so watering should be controlled. Drain after rain to prevent waterlogging, and prevent root rot, yellow leaves, and dead seedlings. If continuous rain occurs after transplanting, it will cause root rot and dead seedlings, so timely drainage is necessary. In case of high temperature and drought, water to lower the temperature.

6. Timely topdressing: After the Start of Autumn, apply a "leaf-promoting fertilizer", with 1500-2000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 20-25 kg of superphosphate per mu. After White Dew, apply a "plant-promoting fertilizer" twice in combination with watering, each time applying 15-20 kg of urea and 10-15 kg of potassium sulfate per mu.

7. Timely hilling: Hilling is an important measure for softening the leaf sheaths, preventing lodging, and improving the yield and quality of the white stalk. From the Start of Autumn to before harvest, generally hill three times. Combine the first two hillings with intertillage, banking the ridge soil into the onion furrow, and after the End of Heat, fill the furrow level.