Growing onion sets

Bill Kerr discusses what onion sets are, and how and when to produce them to obtain the maximum financial benefit.

- BILL KERR

Onion sets are pickled onion-sized bulbs that are planted in February in short-day areas. They can be harvested before winter when prices are at their highest in South Africa, especially for producers in cool, short-day areas like the Highveld. They also give farmers an onion crop they can sell over a very long period.

Onions are conventionally harvested after winter in South Africa, which is the traditional marketing period in short-day areas.

By planting early- and late-maturing short-day varieties together with sets, you can be marketing from June to December, and even longer if your onions are harvested in November and held over in storage for later marketing.