20 Best Onion Variety To Grow In Kenya

Best onion variety to grow in Kenya

Onion farming in Kenya has gained significant momentum due to its high profitability and adaptability to various climatic conditions.

Best Onion Varieties To Grow In Kenya

With the right choice of onion varieties, farmers can achieve substantial yields, leading to better market returns.

This article highlights the 20 best onion varieties to grow in Kenya based on their yields, characteristics and the benefits and challenges associated with each variety.

20 Best Onion Varieties To Grow In Kenya

1. Red Creole

Red Creole onions are renowned for their adaptability and robust nature. They thrive in various climatic conditions, making them a popular choice among Kenyan farmers. With a yield potential of 20-25 tons per hectare, Red Creole onions are highly productive. They are resistant to many common onion diseases, ensuring a healthier crop.

  • Pros:
    • Disease-resistant
    • Good storage quality
    • High yield
    • Adaptable to various climates
    • Uniform bulb size
    • Early maturing
    • Suitable for long-term storage
  • Cons:
    • Requires regular watering
    • Moderate drought tolerance
    • Average market price

2. Red Bombay

Red Bombay onions are highly sought after in the market due to their appealing color and size. They offer a yield of 25-30 tons per hectare, making them a profitable variety. However, they are susceptible to fungal infections, requiring careful disease management.

  • Pros:
    • High market demand
    • Good storage life
    • Large bulb size
    • Attractive color
    • High yield
    • Early maturing
    • Suitable for various dishes
  • Cons:
    • Susceptible to fungal infections
    • Requires disease management
    • Average drought tolerance

3. Red Pinnoy

Red Pinnoy onions are known for their consistent bulb size and high disease resistance. With a yield potential of 30-35 tons per hectare, they are a top choice for farmers looking for high productivity. However, they require specific soil conditions to thrive.

  • Pros:
    • High disease resistance
    • Consistent bulb size
    • High yield
    • Good market price
    • Early maturing
    • Adaptable to various climates
    • Resistant to pests
  • Cons:
    • Needs specific soil conditions
    • Requires regular fertilization
    • Moderate water requirement

4. Red Passion

Red Passion onions are favored for their early maturity and suitability for export markets. They yield 30-35 tons per hectare and have a high market value. However, they require fertile soil to achieve their full potential.

  • Pros:
    • Early maturing
    • Good for export
    • High yield
    • Attractive color
    • Disease resistant
    • High market value
    • Suitable for various climates
  • Cons:
    • Requires fertile soil
    • Needs regular fertilization
    • Moderate drought tolerance

5. Red Star

Red Star onions are known for their uniform bulbs and resistance to bolting. They offer a yield of 25-30 tons per hectare and are favored for their consistent size and quality. However, they require careful pest management.

  • Pros:
    • Uniform bulbs
    • Resistant to bolting
    • High yield
    • Good market value
    • Early maturing
    • Attractive color
    • Disease resistant
  • Cons:
    • Requires careful pest management
    • Needs regular watering
    • Average drought tolerance
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6. Jambar F1

Jambar F1 onions are a hybrid variety known for their fast growth and high market value. They yield an impressive 35-40 tons per hectare, making them one of the highest-yielding varieties. However, they require high nutrient input to achieve these yields.

  • Pros:
    • Fast growing
    • High market value
    • High yield
    • Disease resistant
    • Consistent bulb size
    • Early maturing
    • Good for fresh market
  • Cons:
    • Needs high nutrient input
    • Requires regular watering
    • Moderate drought tolerance

7. Texas Grano 502 PRR

Texas Grano 502 PRR onions are popular for their sweet flavor and suitability for the fresh market. They yield 30-35 tons per hectare and are known for their large bulb size. However, they are sensitive to drought and require consistent watering.

  • Pros:
    • Good for fresh market
    • Sweet flavor
    • High yield
    • Large bulbs
    • Early maturing
    • Disease resistant
    • High market value
  • Cons:
    • Sensitive to drought
    • Requires consistent watering
    • Moderate pest resistance

8. Yellow Granex

Yellow Granex onions are favored for their mild taste and popularity for fresh consumption. They yield 25-30 tons per hectare and are known for their uniform size. However, they have a short storage life.

  • Pros:
    • Popular for fresh consumption
    • Mild taste
    • High yield
    • Uniform size
    • Early maturing
    • Attractive color
    • Good market value
  • Cons:
    • Short storage life
    • Requires regular watering
    • Moderate disease resistance

9. Rio Bravo

Rio Bravo onions are known for their high disease resistance and large bulbs. They yield 30-35 tons per hectare and are favored for their consistent quality. However, they require intensive management to achieve these yields.

  • Pros:
    • High disease resistance
    • Large bulbs
    • High yield
    • Consistent quality
    • Early maturing
    • Good market value
    • Resistant to pests
  • Cons:
    • Requires intensive management
    • Needs regular fertilization
    • Moderate drought tolerance

10. Red Tropicana

Red Tropicana onions are adaptable to various climates and offer good storage quality. They yield 25-30 tons per hectare and are known for their attractive color. However, they require regular irrigation.

  • Pros:
    • Adaptable to various climates
    • Good storage quality
    • High yield
    • Attractive color
    • Early maturing
    • Disease resistant
    • Consistent bulb size
  • Cons:
    • Needs regular irrigation
    • Requires careful pest management
    • Moderate drought tolerance

11. Red Hunter

Red Hunter onions are known for their tolerance to drought and good market price. They yield 20-25 tons per hectare and are favored for their robust nature. However, they are susceptible to certain pests.

  • Pros:
    • Tolerant to drought
    • Good market price
    • High yield
    • Early maturing
    • Disease resistant
    • Attractive color
    • Consistent bulb size
  • Cons:
    • Susceptible to certain pests
    • Requires regular fertilization
    • Moderate water requirement

12. Super Star

Super Star onions are known for their uniform shape and high market demand. They yield 25-30 tons per hectare and are favored for their consistent size and quality. However, they require fertile soil to achieve their full potential.

  • Pros:
    • Uniform shape
    • High market demand
    • High yield
    • Consistent size
    • Early maturing
    • Attractive color
    • Disease resistant
  • Cons:
    • Requires fertile soil
    • Needs regular fertilization
    • Moderate drought tolerance
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13. Yellow Bermuda

Yellow Bermuda onions are known for their early maturity and sweet flavor. They yield 20-25 tons per hectare and are popular for fresh consumption. However, they are less resistant to diseases.

  • Pros:
    • Early maturing
    • Sweet flavor
    • High yield
    • Popular for fresh consumption
    • Attractive color
    • Good market value
    • Consistent bulb size
  • Cons:
    • Less resistant to diseases
    • Requires regular watering
    • Moderate pest resistance

14. White Creole

White Creole onions are known for their good processing quality and high market value. They yield 20-25 tons per hectare and are favored for their robust nature. However, they need specific growing conditions to thrive.

  • Pros:
    • Good for processing
    • High market value
    • High yield
    • Consistent bulb size
    • Early maturing
    • Disease resistant
    • Attractive color
  • Cons:
    • Needs specific growing conditions
    • Requires regular fertilization
    • Moderate drought tolerance

15. Red Wing

Red Wing onions are known for their long storage life and resistance to diseases. They yield 25-30 tons per hectare and are favored for their consistent quality. However, they require high maintenance.

  • Pros:
    • Long storage life
    • Resistant to diseases
    • High yield
    • Consistent quality
    • Early maturing
    • Good market value
    • Attractive color
  • Cons:
    • Requires high maintenance
    • Needs regular fertilization
    • Moderate drought tolerance

16. Red Stone

Red Stone onions are known for their uniform size and high market price. They yield 20-25 tons per hectare and are favored for their attractive color. However, they are susceptible to fungal diseases.

  • Pros:
    • Uniform size
    • High market price
    • High yield
    • Attractive color
    • Early maturing
    • Disease resistant
    • Good for fresh market
  • Cons:
    • Susceptible to fungal diseases
    • Requires careful pest management
    • Moderate water requirement

17. Shanty Red

Shanty Red onions are known for their high market value and good storage quality. They yield 25-30 tons per hectare and are favored for their attractive color. However, they require careful pest management.

  • Pros:
    • High market value
    • Good storage quality
    • High yield
    • Attractive color
    • Early maturing
    • Disease resistant
    • Consistent bulb size
  • Cons:
    • Needs careful pest management
    • Requires regular fertilization
    • Moderate drought tolerance

18. White Grano

White Grano onions are known for their sweet flavor and suitability for salads. They yield 20-25 tons per hectare and are popular for fresh consumption. However, they have a short storage life.

  • Pros:
    • Sweet flavor
    • Good for salads
    • High yield
    • Early maturing
    • Attractive color
    • Good market value
    • Consistent bulb size
  • Cons:
    • Short storage life
    • Requires regular watering
    • Moderate disease resistance

19. Red Dynasty

Red Dynasty onions are known for their high yield and good disease resistance. They yield 30-35 tons per hectare and are favored for their robust nature. However, they require high nutrient input to achieve their full potential.

  • Pros:
    • High yield
    • Good disease resistance
    • Consistent bulb size
    • Early maturing
    • Attractive color
    • Good market value
    • Resistant to pests
  • Cons:
    • Needs high nutrient input
    • Requires regular watering
    • Moderate drought tolerance

20. Yellow Sweet Spanish

Yellow Sweet Spanish onions are known for their large bulbs and high market value. They yield 25-30 tons per hectare and are favored for their sweet flavor. However, they need specific soil conditions to thrive.

  • Pros:
    • Large bulbs
    • High market value
    • Sweet flavor
    • Early maturing
    • Attractive color
    • Good for fresh market
    • Disease resistant
  • Cons:
    • Needs specific soil conditions
    • Requires regular fertilization
    • Moderate drought tolerance
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Best Onion Variety To Grow In Kenya FAQs

  1. What are the best onion varieties to grow in Kenya?
    • Some of the best onion varieties to grow in Kenya include Red Creole, Bombay Red, Texas Grano, Tropicana F1, Red Passion F1, Red Pinnoy F1, Jambar F1, Red King F1, Red Comet F1, and Neptune F1.
  2. Which onion variety is best for high yield in Kenya?
    • The Tropicana F1 variety is known for its high yield potential in Kenya due to its adaptability to various climatic conditions and resistance to common onion diseases.
  3. What is the best onion variety for long storage in Kenya?
    • Red Creole is a preferred variety for long storage because of its excellent keeping quality and resistance to sprouting.
  4. Which onion variety has the best resistance to diseases in Kenya?
    • Red Passion F1 is known for its strong resistance to common onion diseases, making it a reliable choice for Kenyan farmers.
  5. What is the best onion variety for early maturity in Kenya?
    • Bombay Red is favored for its early maturity, typically ready for harvest in about 90 to 100 days, allowing farmers to achieve quicker returns.
  6. Which onion variety is most suitable for dry areas in Kenya?
    • Texas Grano performs well in dry areas due to its drought resistance and ability to thrive with minimal water.
  7. What is the best onion variety for fresh consumption in Kenya?
    • Jambar F1 is popular for fresh consumption due to its mild flavor and attractive bulb size, making it ideal for salads and culinary use.
  8. Which onion variety is best for export from Kenya?
    • Red King F1 is highly sought after for export due to its uniform size, attractive red color, and long shelf life, making it appealing in international markets.
  9. What is the best onion variety for planting during the rainy season in Kenya?
    • Neptune F1 is well-suited for the rainy season as it can tolerate wet conditions and has good disease resistance, ensuring a stable yield.
  10. Which onion variety is best for both fresh and storage purposes in Kenya?
    • Red Comet F1 is versatile, suitable for both fresh consumption and storage, providing farmers with flexibility and reducing post-harvest losses.

Conclusion

Choosing the best onion variety to grow in Kenya is crucial for achieving high yields, disease resistance, and marketability.Varieties like Tropicana F1 and Red Creole offer specific advantages such as high yield potential and long storage life, respectively.

Understanding the unique characteristics of each variety helps farmers select the most suitable options for their specific growing conditions and market needs.

Best Onion Varieties To Grow In Kenya
Healthy eating fresh, organic vegetable salad with ripe fruit generated by artificial intelligence

For instance, Bombay Red is ideal for early harvest, while Texas Grano thrives in dry areas. Export-oriented farmers might prefer Red King F1 for its attractive appearance and shelf life.

Meanwhile, Jambar F1 and Neptune F1 cater to fresh consumption and wet-season planting, respectively. Red Comet F1 provides versatility, suitable for both fresh use and storage. By selecting the right onion variety, Kenyan farmers can optimize their production, meet market demands, and enhance profitability

John Munyiri

Hi, I'm John Munyiri, the founder of SimbaGreenHouse. I've independently tested greenhouse kits for over 10 years, My Goal is to hopefully helps others choose the right greenhouse type and accessories.

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