When to Start Sowing Onion Seeds? A Detailed Guide to the Best Timing
Onion, a vegetable with a pungent odor, is grown in every part of our country. And because of its high nutritional value, it is also very popular with many people. When growing onions, the seedling-raising work is very important, and when raising seedlings we first need to determine the right time for onion seedling raising. So when is the best time to start sowing onion seeds? Below, the editor will give you a brief introduction. Let's take a look!
1. Seedling-raising conditions
Onion is a vegetable that likes to grow in a cool, dry environment, and its heat tolerance and high-temperature tolerance are relatively poor. Onion seeds can germinate at a temperature of about 4 degrees, but the optimum germination temperature is generally around 16-17 degrees. It must not be too high; if it exceeds 25 degrees, the growth rate will drop noticeably. During the growth of onion seedlings, the soil must be kept moist, and the soil pH should also be kept at around 6; it must not be saline-alkaline. Onion is a vegetable of the green-plant vernalization type; when its seedlings grow to a certain size, they can vernalize normally under suitable temperature and time conditions.
2. Seedling-raising time
When determining the sowing time for onions, we must first base it on the region. Because climates and environments differ greatly from region to region, the sowing time will also differ. For example, if onions are grown in South China, sowing is generally needed around the time winter is approaching. If they are grown in the Yangtze River basin, autumn sowing is mainly used. However, if conditions permit, they can be grown year-round in greenhouses. Be sure to control the sowing time well and avoid sowing too early or too late, which would affect the growth and yield of onions.
3. Making beds and fertilizing
Then we must also pay attention to making the beds well. The bed height for onion seedling raising should be kept at about 1.5 m, and the width should be controlled at about 27 cm. After making the beds, level the bed surface, then apply an appropriate amount of fertilizers such as superphosphate per mu. Also apply sufficient decomposed farmyard manure as a base fertilizer, then after the onion seeds emerge, spread an appropriate amount of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer together with watering, generally mainly urea, to ensure the normal growth of onion seedlings. At the same time, pay attention to controlling underground pests; along with land preparation, apply an appropriate amount of phorate and evenly turn it into the soil, then level it.
4. Sowing at the right time
After leveling the bed surface, sowing can begin. First water, then evenly broadcast the seeds on the soil, then cover with a layer of nutrient soil about 1 cm, to ensure uniform emergence. After sowing, if poor soil moisture prevents onions from emerging normally, spray water appropriately to promote emergence. The seeds can also be pre-germinated; the method is similar to that for other vegetable seeds. Only by ensuring the emergence rate of onions and the survival of seedlings can seedling raising be done better.
The above is a brief introduction to when to start sowing onion seeds. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!