Propagation of Onion through Rhizomes

Onion is a biennial plant that is grown for its edible bulb. The plant is propagated through various means such as seeds, sets, and transplants. However, the most common method of propagation is through rhizomes. Let's discuss the propagation of onion through rhizomes in detail.

What are Rhizomes?

Rhizomes are modified stems that grow horizontally underground. They are capable of producing new shoots and roots at nodes along their length. Onion plants produce rhizomes during their vegetative growth phase.

Propagation of Onion through Rhizomes

The propagation of onion through rhizomes involves the following steps:

1. Selection of Rhizomes: The first step is to select healthy and disease-free rhizomes from mature onion plants. Rhizomes should be firm, plump, and not too thick.

2. Preparing the Soil: The soil should be well-drained, rich in organic matter, and have a pH between 6.0 to 7.0. The soil should be tilled to a depth of about 6 inches and compost or well-rotted manure should be added.

3. Planting the Rhizomes: Rhizomes should be planted about 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart. The planting should be done in rows with a distance of 12-18 inches between the rows.

4. Watering: After planting, the soil should be watered well. The soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged.

5. Maintenance: Onion plants grown from rhizomes require regular maintenance such as weeding, fertilizing, and watering. The plants should be watered deeply once a week during dry periods.

6. Harvesting: Onion plants grown from rhizomes take about 120-150 days to mature. The bulbs should be harvested when the leaves start to turn yellow and fall over. The bulbs should be cured for 2-3 weeks before storing.

Conclusion

Propagation of onion through rhizomes is a simple and effective method. It ensures that the new plants are genetically identical to the parent plant, which is important for maintaining the desired characteristics of the onion variety. With proper care and maintenance, onion plants grown from rhizomes can produce high-quality bulbs.

Most common seedling are used for propergation and seeds were used to make seedling so seeds is correct answer as far as Rhizome are used in ginger etc