ZIMAGRIC RISING FESTIVE – the CHRISTMAS ONION Dr B.A. Campbell Soil Scientist CHARTER SEEDS Hi Everyone The festive season is upon us. Not Christmas, but the FESTIVE onion growing period. Festive Onion is an intermediate day Starke Ayres onion variety which is produced to target the market in the Christmas period. It was developed in Zimbabwe by Charter Seeds. Sown in July and transplanted in August it becomes a big, strong, vigorous plant with 12 – 14 dark green leaves and golden brown, pungent bulb, weighing 150g. The combination of the large attractive bulb and dark green leaves make it a best-selling green onion. The Zimbabwe Fundi on variety Festive is Charter Seeds’ Super Agronomist Stanley Forichi. Based in Gweru and working with Thy Name Nursery, Stanley produces an outstanding Festive crop every year. Charter Seeds grows Festive onion on a bed, i- 1.1m wide with 50cm between beds ii- 2 Spacings can be used on the bed: - either 1) 6 rows/ bed x 15cm apart, with in- row spacing of 6 - 7cm; - or 2) 10 rows/ bed x 10cm apart with in-row spacing of 10cm. The former option has 597, 045 bulbs/ hectare at a weight of 150g. At a weight of 150g, option 1 gives a potential yield of 90T/ ha (dry). The second option has 666,700 bulbs/ hectare. At a weight of 150g, option 1 gives a potential yield of 90T/ ha (dry). The second option has 666,700 bulbs/ ha this gives a potential yield of 100T/ ha (dry), but is very difficult to clear weeds by hand. Soil pH should be close to 6.8 with adequate calcium and magnesium. Soil analysis must be used to determine fertilizer applications. A top dressing of 200K/ ha should be given at the two (2) leaf stage , followed by another top dressing of 200K/ ha four (4) weeks later. Soil preparation is critical for onion production. Soil should be loose and well drained to 76cm depth, with a good tilth. The Charter Seeds soil preparation technique is recommended. Onion Festive has a good resistance to Downy Mildew (Peronospora destructor), but the grower will have to control ?..? Thrips (Thysanoptera) and Purple Blotch (Early Blight – Alternaria porri). Thrips will be a serious problem this year for all crops. There is big wheat crop in the ground and Thrips over-winters in cereal crops, before moving to summer crops and flowers. Even trees like Jacarandas are susceptible. With irrigation soil water must be kept close to field capacity from the onset of bulbing. Festive onion is available in 100k packs! Limited stock available visit us at 73 Ridge road Avondale Harare or any of our sales reps nationwide. Contact us on 0719599253/0714123115/0775708920 for any assistance. #farming #charterseeds #festiveonion #seedsofsuccess