Onion Seed Production

KKSP mainly focuses on the production of short-day, short-to-intermediate and intermediate-day length onions.

The main production method of onion seed in South Africa is a two-year cycle, classified as seed–bulb–seed production. However, for some varieties, the seed–seedling–seed or seed–seed method can also be used.

Year 1 - Seed to Bulb Phase

JAN/FEB

Receiving stock seed

APR/MAY

Sowing stock seed

JUN/JUL

Vegetative development

AUG/SEP

Transplanting seedlings

OCT/NOV

Bulbing

DEC/JAN

Harvesting of bulbs

FEB/MAR

Bulbs in storage

Year 2 - Bulb to Seed Phase

APR/MAY

Transplant of bulbs

JUN - SEP

Vegetative growth

OCT/NOV

Flowering & seed set

DEC

Harvesting

JAN/FEB

Drying & pre-cleaning

MAR

Cleaning & packing

APR/MAY

Export

Year 1 - Seed to Bulb Phase

Jan - Feb (Year 1)

January/February

Receiving Stock Seed

The amount of stock seed needed is calculated on the following factors:

  • Stock seed germination
  • Stock seed TSW
  • Method of sowing

Apr - May (Year 1)

April/May

Sowing Stock Seed

  • Sowing can be done in either open-field or nursery
Sowing of stock seed - Onions
Onion seedlings in nursery

Aug - Sep (Year 1)

August/September

Transplant of Seedlings

  • All seedlings are being transplanted by hand
Trekker in open field with workers busy planting

Dec - Jan (Year 1)

December/January

Harvesting of bulbs

Onion Bulbs covered with straw
Onion Bulbs harvested
  • Bulbs are being placed in wind rows to dry and covered with straw to prevent sunburn
Onion Bulbs sorting
Onion Bulbs packed
  • Bulbs go over a packing line that creates the ability to sort and pack bulbs according to size, before being delivered to seed grower/bulb storage facility

Jan - Mar (Year 1)

January/February/March

Storage of bulbs

Onion Bulbs placed in storage
Fans being used for forced wind
  • Bulbs are stored on forced wind till transplant

Year 2 - Bulb to Seed Phase

Apr - May (Year 2)

April/May

Transplanting of Bulbs

  • All bulbs are transplanted by hand
  • Depending on the variety, a plant population of 150,000–170,000 bulbs is used per hectare

Oct - Nov (Year 2)

October/November

Flowering & Seed Set

Bees working on Onion flowers
  • Bees are used for pollination purposes

Dec (Year 2)

December

Harvesting

Harvesting of onion umbels
  • All harvesting is done by hand

Jan - Feb (Year 2)

January/February

Drying & Pre-Cleaning

Onion umbels being placed on forced wind
Preclean Machine at KKSP
  • Drying of umbels is carried out using forced air
  • Once ready, pre-cleaning is performed on the farm, and seed is delivered to the KKSP facility in bulk bags for final cleaning and quality control

Mar - May (Year 2)

March/April/May

Cleaning, Packing & Export

Packing can be done in either:

  • Polypropylene bags with plastic liners
  • Alpals
  • Octabins