kenthefarmer
Lister
When it comes to bulb onion farming, one of the most critical decisions is whether to grow your own seedlings or buy them ready-made. Personally, I have always leaned towards growing my own nursery. Here’s why.
Cost-Effectiveness
Growing your own bulb onion seedlings is significantly cheaper than buying them. A kilogram of high-breed onion seeds costs between Ksh 30,000 and Ksh 45,000, and with the necessary products for sowing (like manure and irrigation systems), you’ll spend about Ksh 10,000 more. This means you can prepare a nursery with 250,000 to 300,000 seedlings for just about Ksh 55,000.
On the other hand, buying seedlings will cost you Ksh 1 per seedling. If your farm requires 250,000 seedlings, that’s a staggering Ksh 250,000 – or Ksh 300,000 for 300,000 seedlings. The difference in cost is clear. Why spend four to five times more when you can prepare your own nursery at a fraction of the price?
Assurance of Seed Variety
When you sow your own seeds, you are 100% certain about the variety you’re growing. There was a scandal on Facebook a while back involving a guy who sold a lot of seedlings labeled as high-breed. Unfortunately, one day, his annoyed workers secretly recorded him sowing open-pollinated varieties (OPV) while marketing them as high-breed. The workers, frustrated by delayed payments, posted the evidence online, exposing his deceit. Imagine investing so much in your farm only to find out that your seedlings are of low quality.
By sowing your seeds yourself, you eliminate any doubts about what you're planting. You can trust your processes and ensure you’re growing the exact variety best suited for your market and farm.
Better Adaptation to Soil and Climate
Seedlings grown in your nursery are already accustomed to your soil and climatic conditions. This reduces transplant shock significantly, ensuring your onions thrive after transplanting. On the other hand, seedlings purchased from another location might not adapt well to your farm’s unique conditions, leading to poor growth or even losses.
Moreover, transporting seedlings from one location to another exposes them to physical damage. Onion seedlings are fragile, and even the smallest mishandling can result in significant losses. Growing your own nursery ensures the seedlings are handled with care throughout their growth phase.
Control and Quality Management
When you prepare your nursery, you have full control over the process. From seed selection to soil preparation, watering, and disease management, everything is under your watchful eye. This level of control ensures healthier seedlings that are better suited for transplanting. You can also experiment with techniques like trimming, which strengthens the seedlings and makes them easier to transplant.
In contrast, when you buy seedlings, you’re at the mercy of the seller’s methods. You have no way of knowing if they used proper techniques or handled the seedlings with care. The risk of buying weak or diseased seedlings is always there.
The Joy of Self-Sufficiency
There’s something deeply satisfying about watching your seeds germinate and grow into strong, healthy seedlings. It’s a testament to your effort and dedication as a farmer. This sense of ownership motivates you to put even more care into the process, ultimately leading to better results.
While buying seedlings might seem like a convenient option, the cost, risks, and lack of control make it less appealing. Growing your own bulb onion nursery is not just cheaper but also ensures quality, adaptability, and peace of mind. For me, I’d rather invest in seeds and nurture my seedlings than gamble on someone else’s integrity or methods. Farming is all about minimizing risks and maximizing returns, and growing your nursery is one sure way to achieve that.
~village investor
Cost-Effectiveness
Growing your own bulb onion seedlings is significantly cheaper than buying them. A kilogram of high-breed onion seeds costs between Ksh 30,000 and Ksh 45,000, and with the necessary products for sowing (like manure and irrigation systems), you’ll spend about Ksh 10,000 more. This means you can prepare a nursery with 250,000 to 300,000 seedlings for just about Ksh 55,000.
On the other hand, buying seedlings will cost you Ksh 1 per seedling. If your farm requires 250,000 seedlings, that’s a staggering Ksh 250,000 – or Ksh 300,000 for 300,000 seedlings. The difference in cost is clear. Why spend four to five times more when you can prepare your own nursery at a fraction of the price?
Assurance of Seed Variety
When you sow your own seeds, you are 100% certain about the variety you’re growing. There was a scandal on Facebook a while back involving a guy who sold a lot of seedlings labeled as high-breed. Unfortunately, one day, his annoyed workers secretly recorded him sowing open-pollinated varieties (OPV) while marketing them as high-breed. The workers, frustrated by delayed payments, posted the evidence online, exposing his deceit. Imagine investing so much in your farm only to find out that your seedlings are of low quality.
By sowing your seeds yourself, you eliminate any doubts about what you're planting. You can trust your processes and ensure you’re growing the exact variety best suited for your market and farm.
Better Adaptation to Soil and Climate
Seedlings grown in your nursery are already accustomed to your soil and climatic conditions. This reduces transplant shock significantly, ensuring your onions thrive after transplanting. On the other hand, seedlings purchased from another location might not adapt well to your farm’s unique conditions, leading to poor growth or even losses.
Moreover, transporting seedlings from one location to another exposes them to physical damage. Onion seedlings are fragile, and even the smallest mishandling can result in significant losses. Growing your own nursery ensures the seedlings are handled with care throughout their growth phase.
Control and Quality Management
When you prepare your nursery, you have full control over the process. From seed selection to soil preparation, watering, and disease management, everything is under your watchful eye. This level of control ensures healthier seedlings that are better suited for transplanting. You can also experiment with techniques like trimming, which strengthens the seedlings and makes them easier to transplant.
In contrast, when you buy seedlings, you’re at the mercy of the seller’s methods. You have no way of knowing if they used proper techniques or handled the seedlings with care. The risk of buying weak or diseased seedlings is always there.
The Joy of Self-Sufficiency
There’s something deeply satisfying about watching your seeds germinate and grow into strong, healthy seedlings. It’s a testament to your effort and dedication as a farmer. This sense of ownership motivates you to put even more care into the process, ultimately leading to better results.
While buying seedlings might seem like a convenient option, the cost, risks, and lack of control make it less appealing. Growing your own bulb onion nursery is not just cheaper but also ensures quality, adaptability, and peace of mind. For me, I’d rather invest in seeds and nurture my seedlings than gamble on someone else’s integrity or methods. Farming is all about minimizing risks and maximizing returns, and growing your nursery is one sure way to achieve that.
~village investor