Abstract
Dry bulb onions are a minor crop in Minnesota, grown mostly by small-scale market farmers. Most onions are grown as transplants, likely due to the shorter growing season and easier weed control. We undertook a study to understand yield potential of four direct-seeded (unpelleted) onion varieties, and the impacts of between-plant spacing at a single population on onion yield, size, and size variability. Four onion varieties were seeded on 9 April using a Jang JP6 push seeder in one of three row arrangements: four evenly-spaced rows, two double-rows, or three rows with seeds scattered in the middle row. All were sown at the same population (200,000 viable / acre). Experimental error was too large to make conclusive statements about the impacts of row size on yield, but bulb size was slightly smaller in the three-row arrangement. Bulb size variability was not impacted by row arrangement or variety. ‘Killington’ averaged slightly lower yield than ‘Saddleback’. We found direct measurement of bulb diameter to be more negatively correlated to the number of marketable bulbs than a weighted average of bulb diameter categories. We found direct-seeded onions to produce adequate marketable yield in southern Minnesota, provided sufficient weed control and irrigation.
Keywords
Allium cepa L., scatter shoe, push seeder, coefficient of variability, weighted mean size
DOI
10.5703/1288284318561
Date of this Version
2-6-2026
Recommended Citation
Rohwer, Charlie and Hosch, Jesen, "Yield and Size of Direct-Seeded Onions in Southern Minnesota with Three Row Arrangements" (2026). Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports. Paper 294.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5703/1288284318561