Consider the onion: caramelized, sautéed, sweated, or raw, home cooks and chefs alike recognize it as indispensable in the kitchen. The third most consumed fresh vegetable in the United States behind potatoes and tomatoes, onions are also a crucial part of a diversified vegetable farmer’s crop plan. They may be humble in appearance but, when grown organically, onions can catch an impressive price at market—up to 65% more than an equivalent conventional onion. . . . But, we all know there’s a good reason for that. Slow maturing, onions spend a long time in the field, making them susceptible to excessive weed growth; they require high fertility; and they demand extra storage space for curing. With all these challenges, it’s important to plan your onion crop accordingly. Here’s a snapshot of how an organic farmer can make a great margin on onions: Purchase new seeds. Allium seeds lose their vitality more quickly than almost any other seed. This means it is not a good idea to save onion seeds for multiple years in a row and expect the germination you need. Starting with new, professional quality seeds will give you the best results in the long run. Diversity is your friend. If you want to maximize your sales, maximize your offerings. Plan for successions of scallions to hit the market with early spring alliums; then make sure you have some fresh bunching types like Cabernet F1 in the rotation for midsummer harvests. Rounding out the season with reliable red and yellow storage types like Red Carpet F1 and Cortland F1 will make sure your displays always looks fresh, and will ensure that your customers know they can count on you for reliable onions in every season. Weeds are your enemy: get out ahead, and stay ahead. Many commercial farmers choose to plant onions in plastic mulch or biodegradable alternatives to minimize the required hours of cultivation needed to keep weeds from establishing competitive growth. A preferred option for some is to start with a stale seed bed and mulch with straw or other organic materials, or even to opt for a living mulch between beds, like medium red clover or white clover. Whatever your method of weed suppression, it is essential to plan for dedicating some time to mechanical or hand cultivation, no matter what. Onions have very shallow roots, so eliminating weeds early in their maturity and using the gentlest method possible while maintaining efficiency is key. How and when to feed. Onions require heavy amounts of available nutrients, especially nitrogen and potassium, to form hearty, juicy bulbs. To maximize your soil fertility and minimize your external inputs, plan your crop rotation so that onions follow an overwintered nitrogen-fixing legume cover crop like hairy vetch. Side dressing with blood meal, compost, or organic fertilizer every two weeks in the early stages of growth will help with bulb development. Watering is also an essential part of “feeding” your onion crop; onions grow best when they receive ~3” of water each week during the growing season, but make sure they are in well-drained soil – conditions that are too wet can result in rot and/or leaf blight. Sell them at their worth. Don’t hesitate to sell these babies at their true value. Especially if you’ve invested time and money into responsible crop tending techniques, be sure you’re marketing them appropriately and, if you sell direct to consumers, take the time to explain to your customers why your onions are superior to the generic grocery store item they could get for less than $1.00 per pound. Don’t forget: onions rely on day length to form bulbs. Depending on your region’s latitude, you may need to select long-day, short-day or intermediate-day onions for best results. Read more about day length and plant growth here, and select the right varieties for your region.