White Onion (Allium cepa | Short-Day Variety)
A highly profitable bulb crop well suited to Zambia’s climate and both the local and export market. Yield potential ranges from 20-40 tonnes per hectare depending on variety, fertilisation, and good agronomic practices.
- Days to maturity: 90–135 days from emergence, depending on growing conditions
- Temperature: Soil temperatures of 15-25°C for germination; 18-22°C for vegetative growth; 25-28°C for optimal bulbing
- Day length: Short-day varieties requiring 10-12 hours of daylight must be used in Zambia, long-day varieties will not bulb
- Soil: Well-drained soil at least 20 cm deep with a pH of 5.5–6.8
- Spacing: 5–10 cm between plants in rows
- Lifespan: Annual crop, replant each season
- After harvest: Curing takes 2–4 weeks and can be done in the field or in a shed to extend shelf life
- Crop rotation: Do not plant onions more than once every four years in the same field to reduce disease risk
Yields will vary depending on soil quality, rainfall, irrigation, variety selection, and farm management practices.
