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Title: Transplant type as they affect onion production

Author
item Russo, Vincent

Submitted to: Proceedings of Horticultural Industry Show
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2004
Publication Date: 1/15/2004
Citation: Russo, V.M. 2004. Transplant type as they affect onion production. Proceedings of Oklahoma and Arkansas Horticultural Industry Show. 23:185-187.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Commercially produced bare-root onion (Allium cepa L.) transplants may not be uniform in size, and require a period following planting in which to begin regrowth. There is little information on how, when established in the field, plants developed from greenhouse grown onion transplants differ from those that develop from bare-root transplants. Development and yield for onions grown from bare-root transplants were compared to plants produced from transplants grown in single cells with volumes of 1.8 or 3.4 in**3 in seedling production trays in a greenhouse. Onion cvs. Texas Grano 1015 Y and Walla Walla were established in the field with commercially available bare-root transplants or with greenhouse grown transplants produced in trays. Bare-root transplants were heavier than greenhouse grown transplants which. From about 20% breakover onion bulb diameters did not increase sufficiently to justify delaying harvest. Yields of 'Walla Walla' were better than those of 'Texas 1015 Y' and yields from plants developed from seedlings grown in 3.4 in3 cells were similar to those from plants developed from bare-root transplants and better than those from plants developed from seedlings grown in 1.8 in**3 cells. Individual bulb weights were not affected by transplant type and averaged 7.5 oz. Individual bulbs for 'Walla Walla' from plants developed from bare-root transplants and those produced in 3.4 in3 cells were similar in weight, avg. 10.5 oz, and heavier than those from plants developed from transplants grown in 1.8 in3 cells, 8.5 oz. If economics of greenhouse production are acceptable this method using transplant trays with the larger cells can provide an alternative to the use of bare-root transplants.