When is the best time to grow onion seedlings?

Green onion is a very common home-cooked side dish. Few people grow it and the market demand is stable. Generally, in an environment with a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, when the accumulated effective temperature reaches 140 degrees Celsius, it usually takes about 7 to 10 days for green onion to unfold from sowing to the first true leaf. Let’s learn together when is the best time to grow onion seedlings?

When is the best time to grow onion seedlings?

The planting of green onions is divided into two main periods: spring sowing and autumn sowing.

Spring sowing: It is recommended to sow and raise green onions after the Waking of Insects in spring, which is around mid-to-late March. This period was chosen because the climate is gradually warming up, but not too hot, which is conducive to the healthy growth of green onion seedlings . If sowing is too early, there may be temperature fluctuations, especially cold waves in spring, which may make it difficult for the onion seedlings to germinate normally; sowing too late may result in insufficient growth cycle of the onion seedlings, affecting subsequent transplanting work.

Autumn sowing: The autumn sowing time is generally selected from late September to early October. This time period can be fine-tuned according to the specific local climate conditions. Green onions grown through autumn sowing can be transplanted in the spring of the following year.

In the process of raising green onion seedlings, the following matters need to be paid attention to:

The nursery site should be selected in an area with rich soil and convenient drainage, and avoid continuous planting of the same crop.

Before sowing, seeds should be treated as necessary, such as soaking in hot water or using disinfectants, to increase germination rate and reduce disease risk.

After sowing, the temperature and humidity of the seedbed need to be maintained at an ideal state. Usually the temperature of the seedbed should be controlled between 20℃ and 25℃ to ensure good germination effect.

During the seedling stage, timely management is required, including timely watering, fertilization, and prevention and control of diseases and pests.

Key points for growing green onions

1. Selected varieties

Look for varieties of green onions that have plentiful yields, are more disease-resistant and have a spicy taste, such as chicken leg green onions and tall white greens.

2. Plot selection

It is not advisable to plant green onions continuously, and rotation with crops of the same family such as garlic and leeks should be avoided to avoid affecting their growth. On the contrary, crop rotation or intercropping with crops such as cabbage and eggplant is more suitable. Choosing a plot of land with rich organic matter, deep soil and good drainage will help grow green onions with a spicy taste and unique flavor.

3. Land preparation and fertilization

Before planting, apply 5,000 kg of mature farmyard manure and 50 kg of high-phosphorus and high-potassium compound fertilizer per mu, spread them evenly on the bed surface, deep plow the land to 20 to 30 centimeters, and dig trenches in preparation for planting.

4. Planting

In the central and southern plains, the best planting period for green onions is usually from late June to early July. When using the transplanting method, water the plants thoroughly 2 to 3 days before transplanting to keep the soil moist for easy transplanting. When transplanting, pay attention to the depth of the onion seedlings to ensure that the heart leaves are not buried and are exposed 7 to 10 cm above the ground. Adjust the planting density according to soil fertility, set the row spacing to 70 cm and the plant spacing to 5 to 8 cm.

5. Field management

After planting, the old roots of the green onions will quickly rot, and new roots and new leaves will grow. The focus of early management is to promote root development, pay attention to waterlogging prevention and soil loosening. After the beginning of autumn, as the temperature drops, onions enter a vigorous growth period and require increased water and fertilizer supply. During the period from the Beginning of Autumn to the White Dew, water appropriately and apply "leaf-attacking fertilizer" to promote rapid leaf growth. After the White Dew, green onions enter the stage of green onion white formation. At this time, quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer should be used mainly to keep the soil moist. After the Frost, as the weather turns cooler, watering should be reduced and stopped 7 to 8 days before harvest to improve the storage quality of the onions.

On the whole, the time for raising green onion seedlings should be flexibly determined according to the local climate and seasonal changes. The best time for spring seedlings is mid-to-late March, while autumn seedlings are suitable from late September to early October.