Co 1, Co 2, Co 3, Co 4 and MDU 1, Co (On) 5 (free flowering and seed setting type) are commonly cultivated.

1) Soil
Red loam to black soils with good drainage facilities is highly suited for onion cultivation. It performs well at a soil pH range of 6-7 and a mild season without extremes of heat and cold.

2) Season
Sow the medium sized bulbs during April – May and October – November. It requires sufficient soil moisture during its growing period but heavy rains during bulb germination and bulb formation affects the crop growth.

3) Raising seedlings and transplanting
This is the most common method practiced for irrigated crop as it results in high yield and large size bulbs. In plains, seeds are sown during October-November for a rabi crop. In hills, seeds are sown from March to June. Seeds are first sown in well prepared nursery beds of 90-120 cm width, 7.5-10.0 cm height and convenient length. Ratio between nursery area and main field is about 1:20. Seed rate varies from 8 to 10 kg/ha. Seedlings of 15 cm height and 0.8 cm neck diameter are ideal for transplanting and this is achieved in 8 weeks. However, it varies from 6-10 weeks depending on soil, climate and receipt of rain. There is a practice of topping seedlings at the time of transplanting if seedlings are over-grown.

4) Seed Rate
1000 kg/ha is required. Medium sized bulbs are to be chosen for planting. Seeds @ 8kg/ha.

5) Preparation of field
Plough the land to a fine tilth and form ridges and furrows at 45 cm spacing. Sow the bulbs on both the sides of the ridges at 10 cm apart.

6) Irrigation
Irrigate at the time of planting of seedlings and third day and later at weekly intervals. Withhold irrigation 10 days before harvest.

Leaf spot
Spray Mancozeb 2 gm/lit or Copper oxychloride 2.5 gm/lit and add Teepol 0.5 ml/lit to the spray fluid.

Basal rot
Seed or bulb treatment with Trichoderma viride, @ 4g/kg and basal application of T. viride,@2.5kg/ha along with VAM 12.5 kg/ha.

(Or)
Follow the following IPM practices for pest and disease management
Growing two rows of maize as barrier crops around field border.

Selection of healthy onion seed bulbs.

Bulb treatment –Pseudomonas fluorescens (5 g/kg) + Trichoderma viride (5 g/kg)

Soil application of P.fluorescens (1.25 Kg/ha) + T.viride (1.25 kg/ha) + AM Fungi (VAM) (12.5 kg/ha) + Azophos (4kg/ha) + Neem cake 250 kg/ha.

Installation of Yellow sticky traps 12/ha for thrips and leaf miner trapping.

Installation of Pheromone traps 12/ha for cut wrom (S.litura).

Spray application of P.fluorescens (5 g/l) + Beauveria bassiana (10 g/l) on 30 DAP.

Spray application of Azadairachtin 1% (2 ml/l) on 40 DAP.

Need based application of Profenophos (2 ml/l) or Dimethoate (2 ml/l) or Triazophos (2 ml/l) for thrips/leaf miner/cut worm management.

Need based application of Tebuconazole (1.5) ml/l) or Mancozeb (2 g/l)/Zineb (2g/l) for purple blotch disease management.