Popular Commercial Onion Varieties in India
Onion cultivars are classified according to seasonal adaptability, bulb skin color, and storage capability.
Selecting region-specific cultivars adapted to local photoperiod and temperature regimes prevents premature bolting and split bulbs.
- Rabi varieties (Bhima Kiran, Bhima Shakti, N-2-4-1): Dark red, high pungency, exceptional 5 to 6 month storage shelf life
- Kharif varieties (Bhima Super, Bhima Red, Agrifound Dark Red): Fast-maturing cultivars adapted for monsoon growing
- White varieties (Bhima Shubhra, Agrifound White): High total soluble solids (TSS) preferred for industrial onion dehydration
Raised Nursery Bed Sowing and Seed Rate
Onion seedlings are delicate and require raised nursery beds equipped with good drainage to prevent damping-off fungal disease.
Incorporate well-decomposed vermicompost into the nursery soil and sow treated seeds in shallow furrows.
- Seed rate: Approximately four to five kilograms of certified seed per acre of transplanted field
- Raised beds: Prepare nursery beds ten to fifteen centimeters high and one meter wide with fine tilth
- Seed treatment: Treat seeds with Thiram or Trichoderma viride to prevent damping-off (Pythium and Rhizoctonia)
Seedling Hardening, Transplanting, and Mandi Marketing
Seedlings are ready for field transplanting when they reach pencil thickness, approximately forty-five to fifty days after sowing.
Withhold irrigation for a few days prior to uprooting to harden seedlings, and trim long leaf tips to reduce transpirational shock.
Growers can track live wholesale onion prices and arrival trends across major mandis on the KisanPe Mandi Rates portal.
- Hardening & trimming: Withhold water 3 days before uprooting and trim top foliage by one-third before planting
- Field spacing: Transplant on raised beds or flat beds at fifteen centimeters by ten centimeters spacing
- Mandi rates: Check live wholesale onion rates across regional mandis on the KisanPe Mandi Rates dashboard
Official source
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Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (ICAR-DOGR) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
How much onion seed is required to transplant one acre of land?
Approximately 4 to 5 kilograms of certified onion seed is required to raise enough nursery seedlings for one acre of field transplanting.
How old should onion seedlings be before transplanting into the main field?
Seedlings should be 45 to 50 days old and have reached approximately pencil thickness before field transplanting.
Which onion varieties have the longest storage life?
Rabi varieties such as Bhima Kiran, Bhima Shakti, and N-2-4-1 possess high dry matter and store well for 5 to 6 months.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
More Seeds, Crops & Cultivation guides
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