At what age can onion seedlings be transplanted?

The edible part of onion is the fleshy bulb, which has a spicy taste. It is rich in volatile sulfides, vitamin C, protein, phosphorus and other nutrients. It can enhance the body's ability to resist disease and increase appetite. It is a vegetable that people like to eat. Many people want to grow onions. So how big can the onion seedlings be transplanted? Let’s take a look below.

1. How big should onion seedlings be before they can be transplanted?

Onion seedlings are best suited for transplanting when they are 50-55 days old. At this time, the seedlings are easy to take root and resume growth quickly after transplanting. The seedling diameter is 5-6 mm, the seedling height is about 25 cm, and it usually has 3-4 true leaves. The period from the time when the seedlings are slowly grown after transplanting to around the time of the first watering to promote seedling growth is the most prone period for onion virus diseases. Thrips, leaf miners and root rot also begin to occur sporadically. We must take into account the characteristics of the disease and do a good job of preventing and treating it with the right medicine.

2. How to transplant onion seedlings?

1. Prepare the transplanting site: Choose an area with full sun and well-drained soil. A few weeks before transplanting, apply organic fertilizer or compost to improve soil texture and provide nutrients.

2. Prepare onion seedlings: Onion seedlings need to be cultivated in advance before transplanting. They are usually sown indoors and transplanted when the seedlings grow to about 15-20 cm in height. Make sure the seedlings have healthy green leaves and roots.

3. Transplanting the seedlings: On the day of transplanting or the day before, water the soil in the transplanting area to moisten it. Dig small holes in the soil large enough to accommodate the roots of the onion seedlings, usually 10-15 cm apart.

4. Transplanting Seedlings: Carefully remove the onion seedlings from the container or seedbed, making sure to keep the root system and seedlings intact. Place the seedling in the small hole dug in advance so that the roots of the seedling are completely embedded in the soil.

5. Cover and compact: Gently fill the soil back around the onion seedlings, making sure the base of the seedling is slightly buried under the soil. Use your palms or fingers to gently compact the soil to ensure the seedling is standing firmly.

6. Watering and moisturizing: After transplanting, water thoroughly to ensure good contact between the soil and the roots. After that, maintain appropriate humidity but avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot.

7. Provide a suitable environment: Onions generally require moderate temperatures and full sunlight throughout the day to grow. Control weed growth and fertilize and weed when necessary.

Note: If the soil conditions are poor, you can spray plant growth promoters or rooting agents after transplanting to help the onion seedlings grow and take root better.

Finally, the transplanted onion seedlings need to be weeded, watered and paid attention to disease and pest control in a timely manner to ensure healthy growth. Onions are ready to harvest about 75 to 90 days after transplanting.