Onions
Onions
Onions (Allium cepa) are a cool-season biennial crop typically grown as an annual. Dry bulb onions are harvested after the leaves have died back and the bulbs have fully matured. Green bunching onions are harvested while the leaves are still green and before the bulbs have developed. The terms 'scallion' and 'spring onion' are sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably for green onions. Scallions are onions that completely lack bulb formation, while spring onions have bulbs somewhat more developed than green onions.
Key Requirements
| Land | Low to Medium |
| Labor | High |
| Capital | Medium to High |
Take the HortBizQuiz to see how much Land, Labor, and Capital you have for your operation.
Markets
- Direct to Consumer
- Farmer's Market
- On-Farm Stands
- CSA
- Restaurants
- Auctions
Pests & Disease
Disease problems include bulb and neck rot, leaf blast, and purple leaf blotch. Onion maggot and thrips are the main insect pests of onions.
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
Challenges
- Need time to dedicate to season long weed management as onions do not compete well with other vegetation and will not shade out the competition.
- Onion planting and harvest is labor-intensive and hired labor is usually necessary.
- Onions have poorly developed root systems, plants will require supplemental moisture via irrigation.
Opportunities
- Onions prefer a soil high in organic matter with a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8.
- Varieties bred specifically for fresh consumption can be grown in Kentucky.
- Can be grown on raised beds covered with black plastic mulch to help manage weeds.