Onion is one of Zimbabwe's most commercially important vegetable crops with year-round demand. It is grown under irrigation and has strong export potential to regional markets.
120
Days to Maturity
20–40 tonnes/ha
Typical Yield
Moderate
Water Need
Low
Drought Tolerance
Optimal Soil Types
pH Range: 6 – 7
Deep, well-drained sandy loam soils. Onions are sensitive to waterlogging which causes bulb rot. Avoid heavy clay soils.
Fertilizer: 2 Nutrich earthworm poop tea 20 Nutrich vermicompost 10 Compound C 5 Nutrich vermifoliar
Optimal Temp: 13–24°C
Rainfall: 0–600mm/year
Climate Zones
Drip or furrow irrigation at 20–25mm per week. Stop irrigation 2–3 weeks before harvest to cure bulbs in soil and improve storage life.
22°C
overcast clouds
Harare
24%
Humidity
17
km/h Wind
22–22°C
Min / Max Today
5-Day Forecast
Fri
23°
23°
Sat
31°
16°
Sun
32°
17°
Mon
33°
19°
Tue
34°
20°
Onion optimal climate: Temp: 13–24°C°C0
Planting Months
Harvesting Months
Planting Depth: Transplanted seedlings at 1–2 cm
Spacing: 30cm rows × 10cm plants
Material: Seedlings (6–8 week nursery) or sets
Provinces
Natural Regions
Symptoms: Silvery streaking on leaves, IYSV virus vector, stunted growth
Management: Spinosad or imidacloprid spray; blue sticky traps; rotate insecticides
Symptoms: Wilting seedlings, white maggots at bulb base
Management: Chlorpyrifos soil drench at transplanting; crop rotation
Symptoms: Stunted growth, deformed bulbs, root galling
Management: Crop rotation; Vermicompost to boost soil biology
Symptoms: Purple water-soaked lesions with yellow halo on leaves
Management: Iprodione or mancozeb spray; avoid wet foliage
Symptoms: Pale elongated patches on leaves, grey spore masses
Management: Metalaxyl + mancozeb spray; improve air circulation; avoid overhead irrigation
Symptoms: White fluffy mould at bulb base, plant collapse, black sclerotia
Management: Long rotation (8+ years); tebuconazole drench; do not move infected soil
Governed Product Guidance
Crop-specific product selection, application rates, mixing, timing and treatment guidance for Onion are available only through ZEF's governed production-agronomy workflow after country readiness and product/regulatory approval.
Fresh domestic market, regional export, processing (dehydrated onion, flakes), food service
Export Potential:
Cultivation Guide
Step-by-step guide tailored to Onion in Zimbabwe
Related Crops
Crops suited to similar climate zones or soil types as Onion
Soursop
Annona muricata
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Guava
Psidium guajava
Banana
Musa spp.
Garlic
Allium sativum
Beetroot
Beta vulgaris
Farmer Reviews & Ratings
No reviews yet
Be the first farmer to share your experience with Onion