Onion Farming in Zambia: 2022 Update 9 (Sep 14): Onions are Bulbing and Necks are Falling

We return to Westgate 1 Block A, where our Texas Grano onion crop that was sown back in Feb and transplanted mid-April is now in its last stages before harvest.
The video shares a detailed look at how and why onions form bulbs, and how we look after the crop as it nears the end of the cycle.

[@eugeneliswaniso5528]

I can see the passion you have , as you share. Love this channel, so valuable.

[@mondofarms4343]

Thank you so much 😊

[@freddykandjeo6824]

Learning from Namibia 🇳🇦💪🙏

[@mondofarms4343]

Welcome aboard.

[@simontyrrell8866]

Hi Chisha another great film, you are getting really good at growing onions! I well remember earlier harvests. Hope you make a good return. Thanks, as always (from Simon in Hertfordshire UK)

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks Simon. Appreciating your support.

[@Lawrenco1000]

Always insightful Mondo Farms

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks Ba Mwewa

[@hyuttt557]

Congratulations. Am happy following you from Kenya🇰🇪

[@mondofarms4343]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@giftmungula6346]

Following you from Malawi 🇲🇼. I wish I knew about your farm when I was living in Chongwe to visit. Thanks for the lessons.

[@mondofarms4343]

Most welcome

[@tatendacletomudimu4465]

Very informative 👏🏻👏🏻😎

[@mondofarms4343]

Glad it was helpful!

[@namurianenterprise4956]

Hi chisha you doing great job

[@mondofarms4343]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@hanaali7582]

Very detailed and informative . Thanks alot. Keep the good work up

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks, will do!

[@CharityBuumba]

We are learning a lot from you pls guide can i do a nursery of onion now especially that we arr likely to have early rain and heavy in southern pronvice

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks, Ba Charity.
We haven't grown any onion since the big crop back in 2022, so my memories are getting rusty.
From your question, I assume you will be growing your onion rain fed. The rain season nowadays can be quite challenging with some dry spells. Better to consider some irrigation for backup.
Another important main decision is whether it will be
1) sold as fresh during rain season or
2) sold as dry after the rain season.

[@michaelsichilongo8572]

Great job Sir

[@mondofarms4343]

Thanks 😊

[@presidentoffreeworld]

Good work with the onion crop. What is your take on the precision planter, you have faced some challenges with it twice, is it worth it for direct planting. Been looking at buying my self a unit from Alibaba but want a solution that can do direct planting without the need to transplant/thinning, or i am expecting too much from the planter. Could be great to hear your experience since you have used it in the field.

[@mondofarms4343]

The crop planter has been a great time-saving tool.
Yes, we did take some time to learn how to use it properly, but we are much better with it now.
The learning curve takes some time because planting is not something we do every week.
We even did some practice runs by placing it on a tent and checking the pace of walking needed for a particular spacing. Hint, once the guys get a bit tired after a while, you lose some quality of spacing.
So in summary, just got thw machine and then have tour team put a lot of effort into learning how to use it optimally.
Be patient. This is farming after all. The old saying about it being like a marathon...

[@allcreationandnature447]

Your videos are so educative. do you allow people to visit your farm? I would love to visit and learn more from there.

[@mondofarms4343]

We try to help from time to time.
You can find our contacts on Facebook and our website at www.mondofarms.zo.zm.
But due to work pressures, our primary sharing is via this channel.

[@kennydepaiva4861]

When exactly we should stop giving water to the plants?

[@mondofarms4343]

Like most things in agriculture, it's not an exact science.
We monitor the plant growth as described and adapt how we give them water and nutrients as we go along.
Water application is also affected by weather.

[@enoslungu7891]

What are the advantages of small bulbs over big bulbs?

[@mondofarms4343]

There are different market preferences. Some people like small bulbs, and others prefer bigger ones.

[@enoslungu7891]

@@mondofarms4343 Thank you

[@asampanasimon9136]

all the way from Ghana, I will like to know about you weed control method because i realize no weeds at all on your farm{onions}

[@mondofarms4343]

Hi there. Your question made me smile.
Yes, we do have weeds in our fields. Weeds are inevitable where a farmer provides water and nutrition to crops.
We just work very hard to get rid of them through manual and chemical methods as appropriate.
For manual weeding, we employ a large workforce, especially the ladies that go through the fields again and again. It's a labour cost that is worthwhile for us as we benefit from improved crop health and higher yields.

[@asampanasimon9136]

very grateful sir, I am taking a lot of notes and inspiration from you right from your very first video @@mondofarms4343

[@rayjil7435]

Can you prevent/control onions going to flower?😁

[@PaulvanNieuwenhuyzen]

You are getting Flower/seed Bulbs when you sow to early.
When the little plants then get some frost they think they are in the second year where the make seeds.
An Onion is a plant that normally grows 2 years, 1ste year to make a good plant and enough onion bulb to get over the winter, and the 2the year they make the seeds.
So to avoid the problem of seed bulbs/flowers, is to put your seeds in the ground when the soil is warmer, for Europe that is april may.

[@rayjil7435]

@@PaulvanNieuwenhuyzen Thanks, I will consider this, Still some bulbs go to seed flower while the same batch bulbs produce good onions.

[@mondofarms4343]

Great question and ably answered by the other viewer. Thanks

[@PaulvanNieuwenhuyzen]

@@rayjil7435 It is not necessarily so that all bulbs directly become seed flowers by a little frost. But when it is real cold temps most of the Onions react like this, it is in there natural programming.