When is the best season to plant green onions?

There is a difference between green onions and the scallions that we usually eat. Green onions are mainly consumed in the northern region and are larger in size. The common way to cook them is to cut them into strips or eat them raw with sauce, stir-fry lamb with green onions , etc. Let’s learn together what is the best season to plant green onions?

When is the best season to plant green onions?

1. Spring

Spring sowing is usually carried out from March to April, and the onions sown during this period grow faster.

2. Autumn

Autumn is also a suitable season for the growth of green onions, especially after the temperature drops, the growth cycle of green onions will be extended, and the sowing time is usually from September to October.

How to grow green onions

1. Seedling raising and sowing

When sowing green onions in spring, it is advisable to choose sandy soil with good drainage, loose and fertile soil. Apply an appropriate amount of decomposed farmyard manure and superphosphate to the land, then carry out shallow plowing and fine harrowing to ensure that the soil is flat, and make a seedling bed with a width of 1.5 meters and a length of 10 meters. When sowing, you can use the scattering method. First, spread a layer of fine soil on the bed surface, and then cover it with another layer after sowing, with a thickness of about 1 cm. Water gently after sowing to keep the soil moist. If possible, cover with dome mulch to retain heat and moisture, and promote rapid emergence. During the germination period, pay attention to adjusting the soil moisture, irrigate appropriately during droughts, prevent water accumulation during rainy periods, and keep the soil moisture at around 65%. Seedlings will emerge about 15 days after sowing in spring. Water thoroughly before emergence to facilitate emergence.

2. Green onion seedling management

When the onion seedlings grow to 5 cm in height, if the density is too high, thinning should be carried out, keeping the seedling distance about 3 cm, and manual weeding should be carried out at the same time. After thinning, as the onion seedlings enter a vigorous growth period, they require a large amount of water and fertilizer, and the irrigation frequency should be appropriately increased. During the entire seedling period, top dressing is required 2 to 3 times. Animal manure and urea can be used, with about 3 kg of urea used each time. During the high temperatures of summer, use shade nets to lower the temperature. If pests and diseases are found, use chlorothalonil and dichlorvos spray to prevent and control them in time. When the onion seedlings grow to 35 to 40 cm in height, they can be transplanted and planted. Stop irrigation 10 days before planting to enhance the adaptability of the onion seedlings. Water thoroughly before transplanting to facilitate operation.

3. Land preparation and planting

To avoid continuous cropping, choose a plot of land where onions have not been planted in the past two years, apply 3,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure or 50 kg each of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer and superphosphate, and plow 30 cm deep to ensure that the fertilizer and soil are evenly mixed. Dig trenches for planting, with a depth of 20 cm and a distance of 70 cm. When transplanting, remove diseased and weak seedlings. Before transplanting, treat the roots and stems of onions with 1000 times diluted 50% Xinliuling emulsifiable concentrate for 10 minutes to kill onion maggots. Spring-sown green onions are usually planted in mid-July, with a spacing of 5 cm between plants, and about 20,000 plants planted per acre. After planting, cover with decomposed weeds, and then bury with soil up to the fork of the outer leaves of the onion seedlings. After lightly pressing it down, water along the ditch.

4. Field management

Including water, topdressing, tillage and soil cultivation, and pest and disease management. After planting, irrigate in time according to weather conditions. In late August, as the onions enter their vigorous growth period, the demand for water and fertilizer increases. Combined with weeding, apply 25 kg of urea per mu and irrigate once every 5 days. Top dressing is done twice, with nitrogen fertilizer being the main fertilizer in the initial stage, applying 1,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 100 kg of wood ash, or 20 kg each of ammonium sulfate and urea. During the peak growth period of onion, apply 60 kg of triple compound fertilizer or 90 kg of enzyme fertilizer, and apply again after 20 days. Soil cultivation should start 30 days after planting, once every 15 days, for a total of 3 times. Pay attention to matching the height of soil cultivation with the growth of the scallion to avoid damaging the leaves. In terms of disease and pest control, use 1000 times diluted 75% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder for spraying 2 to 3 times once a week. For pests such as leafminers, fall armyworms and red spiders, use dichlorvos spray for control.

In general, whether you choose to sow in spring or autumn, you generally need to decide based on local climatic conditions and market demand.