How to grow onions in a greenhouse in winter and make money from it - a detailed business plan. Business ideas: growing onions. Simple business with good profit

Growing green onions is a universal activity and possible even with minimal investment. The profitability of a business directly depends on the volume of plants produced, and onions can be grown almost anywhere: on a windowsill in a residential building, in a greenhouse, in a garage, in a basement.

Technology for growing green onions - what kind of room should there be for growing green onions?

Growing onions, like growing onions, in closed equipped premises guarantees year-round income. In this case, human participation in the process is reduced to the simplest actions: primary processing of raw materials and collection of greenery.

Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, general growing recommendations should still be followed. This will reduce time costs and get a good harvest.

There are three characteristics that determine the ideal conditions for the growth of green onions:

Comfortable air temperature.
Sufficient room lighting.
High-quality soil irrigation.

The size of the business premises is also important, which affects the volume of products produced.

The room must be dry, not contaminated with mold or fungi and, if possible, light.

Here are possible room options for growing green onions:

Greenhouse

The simplest summer greenhouse is made of a wooden frame, which is covered on top with a thick plastic film. You can assemble such a structure yourself using available materials and tools.

In the warm season, greenhouses and greenhouses do not require additional lighting or heating. Natural air temperature and sunlight will be sufficient for plant growth.

Growing green onions in a greenhouse is the most environmentally friendly way, since such conditions are as close to natural as possible.

Basement and garage

An alternative to a greenhouse can be a basement or garage. However, these premises require additional preparation. The first step is to insulate them. The materials used are safe thermal insulators, for example, based on polyethylene foam or polystyrene foam.

The next stage is the installation of shelving. They can be purchased ready-made or made independently, for example, from wood. If necessary, such racks are disassembled and transported to a new location.

A good design for long-term use should be metal, for example, welded from a profile or pipes. Naturally, it will require more significant investments.

Growing green onions in a basement or garage requires the creation of the following favorable conditions:

Heating . For maximum onion growth, it is necessary to maintain a temperature range from +18 to +22 °C. Any devices can be used as heaters, but it is worth remembering that electrical devices will require significant energy costs;
Lighting . The brighter the light in the room, the richer the color of the onion feather. Therefore, if possible, the room should be equipped with fluorescent lamps;
Ventilation . The air in the basement or garage must be constantly circulated. It is advisable not just to install internal fans, but to organize the supply of fresh air from the street. This will give the plants a more comfortable environment and prevent the development of mold and mildew indoors.

Windowsill

The easiest way to grow onions is on a windowsill. A loggia is well suited for this. In the summer, no additional tricks will be needed, but in the winter, the loggia should be insulated and glazed. If the windows face north, you can arrange artificial lighting.

With good lighting and air temperatures from +23 to +27, green onions will grow 30 cm in approximately 2-2.5 weeks.

How to properly grow green onions for sale - features of planting material for growing green onions

Almost anything can be used as planting material: soil, sand, sawdust. There are options in which onions grow without soil and feed exclusively on water. This method is called hydroponics.

Earth and sand

This is the standard planting base for the plant. If you grow onions in a greenhouse on a plot of land, it is recommended to fertilize and loosen the soil.

Flaw: In all other cases, you will need to purchase special mixtures. The soil should be universal and have an acidity of 6 to 7 ph.

Sawdust

Sawdust is a cheap material. Their main property is looseness and the ability to retain moisture. However, this environmental material does not contain nutrients, so additional mineral fertilizers will be needed.

Plants planted in sawdust will not require too frequent watering. When cut, ripe green onions will remain clean (unlike those growing in soil mixture).

Sawdust has one drawback – with prolonged use, they begin to rot, and mixed with the remains of onion roots, they turn into compost and require replacement.

Growing green onions hydroponically assumes that the plant will be fed not from the soil, but thanks to the circulating medium supplied to the roots. This medium can be based on water or a solid porous substance that has excellent moisture retention and good air permeability.

Coconut fiber is ideal as a substrate. It is absolutely natural, capable of swelling greatly and accumulating water, while allowing air to pass through.

The system for planting onions must contain channels filled with a solid substrate or blown with an air-nutrient mixture. The bulbs are placed in these channels. As needed, an aqueous solution rich in minerals is released through the ducts.

The order of placing hydroponic layers is as follows:

Onion roots.
Organic substrate.
Net.
Nutrient solution.

The most important aspect of this growing method is high-quality aeration (air saturation) of the roots. Therefore, the mesh and nutrient solution should be placed at a distance of about 5 cm from each other.

The yield of onions growing hydroponically will be higher, and the cost of purchasing planting materials will be lower.

Equipment and appliances for growing green onions indoors

Growing onions for greens can be made as simple and convenient as possible by using various devices. For example, use professional phytolamps that stimulate plant growth as a source of artificial light.

Drip irrigation systems are perfect for watering onions in greenhouses. With their help, water consumption is noticeably reduced, and the liquid itself is evenly distributed throughout the planted area.

There are entire installations designed in the form of racks, into which light sources and containers for soil are built. Such equipment is already ready for use; all that remains is to place the onions in it and water it until the harvest is obtained.

There are commercially available hydroponic systems that work as follows:

On the water.
On the substrate.
On aeroponics (air).

This equipment can be used immediately; all that is needed is to purchase the raw materials and prepare the nutrient mixture.

Planting and growing green onions on a feather - how to grow green onions in winter?

Green onions can be successfully produced at any time of the year. However, this will entail considerable additional investments - at a minimum, you will need to organize heating and lighting. Even if you use a garage or basement for business, in which it is already necessary to install sources of artificial light, you will need heating devices.

If the volumes in the soil are relatively small, you can pre-treat the onions before planting. This will speed up the germination process several times.

The procedure is:

The bulbs are placed in a container and completely filled with cold water.
After one hour, all the water is drained.
Planting in the ground is carried out within a day.

To grow green onions in a greenhouse in winter, you should pay attention to the quality of the structure and organize favorable conditions inside it.

If you plan to run a business for the long term, it is advisable to build a greenhouse thoroughly:

The frame is made of metal or durable wooden profile.
Make the base of the greenhouse.
Coat all floors and structures with paint or primer.
Cover the greenhouse with durable polycarbonate film.

The growth rate of green onions directly depends on the ambient or room temperature:

At 12C ° Onions ripen for about four weeks.
At 17C ° – about 26 days.
At 20C ° – about 22 days.
At 22C ° – about 20 days.
At 25C ° – about 2.5 weeks.

It is better to grow green onions in the cold season using winter and frost-resistant plant varieties. They adapt better to lower temperatures and will be able to produce higher yields under less favorable conditions.

Is winter and summer cultivation of green onions profitable - the real reasons for selling an onion growing business

This business is considered quite profitable, but there are always parameters that can greatly influence profitability. Naturally, due to the unequal amount of mandatory expenses, summer and winter onion cultivation has noticeable differences.

In summer:

In the greenhouse – plants develop only due to sunlight. Auxiliary sources of heat and light are not needed.
In the basement and garage – heating devices are either not required at all, or must operate at minimum power (for example, in a cold basement).
On the windowsill – Green onions grow on their own using sunlight. The room temperature does not need to be adjusted.

In winter:

In the greenhouse – the structure itself must be made of more expensive and durable materials. Inside the greenhouse you need to create a comfortable microclimate using additional sources of heat and sometimes light.
In the basement and garage – higher quality thermal insulation materials may be required. You also cannot do without heating devices.
On the windowsill – if you use a loggia for growing onions, it will need to be glazed, insulated and, possibly, heated.

During the cold season, the market value of green onions increases, which compensates for the necessary expenses. An undoubted advantage is the possibility of longer storage of already cut greens. Not every activity is necessarily successful.

There are a number of reasons that may hinder the development of the business and prompt the owner to think about selling the business:

Lack of personal vehicles . If onions are grown in a greenhouse outside the city, and for marketing they need to be transported, one passenger car will not be enough. In this case, it is appropriate to use a small cargo transport, since the harvest volumes can be impressive, and the greens must retain their presentation and not be wrinkled. If there is no opportunity to purchase a vehicle, doing business can be very difficult.
Unprofitability . Growing onions in winter entails another cost item - lighting and heating. If your greenhouse, garage, or basement is located in an inconvenient location or in an area with high energy rates, the cost of maintaining the desired temperature can have a significant impact on profit margins.
Increase in price of raw materials . In a lean year, the price of onions increases greatly, which adversely affects the cost of green products.
Lack of market . Not every green onion producer has its own retail outlet for selling the grown product. Very often, finished products are sold in bulk at prices 1.5-2 times lower than retail prices. If supply exceeds demand, the purchase price may be reduced to an unacceptable minimum, making the business unprofitable.

Real business plan for growing green onions for sale

All initial potential costs can be divided into three categories:

Purchase or rental of premises/land.
Improvement of the premises (construction, insulation).
Technical equipment (racks, instruments, installations, containers).

These costs are in addition to regular expenses:

For the purchase of raw materials (bulbs, mineral fertilizers, water).
For transportation of finished products.
To maintain the necessary microclimate (lighting, heating, ventilation).
For workers' wages.

Not all points are mandatory, since the premises for growing onions may be owned, and additional labor will not be needed.

Business advantages:

Unpretentiousness to conditions and rapid plant growth.
Minimum financial investment.
Fast payback for small volumes.

Example of a business plan for growing onions in a greenhouse:

Growing onions as a business is quite a profitable business, since the need for this product is growing every day. Any variety can be grown; it will be in demand in the market. Sales are especially profitable in the cold season, when the summer season has ended.

Pros and cons of growing onions for sale
What documents are needed to open a business?
How to start an onion growing business?
How much money do you need to start a business growing onions?
How much can you earn from growing onions?
What equipment will help increase the onion yield?
OKVED code and licensing of this business
Popular technologies for growing onions

Caring for this crop does not require special education. The main thing is to study the necessary information in advance and take advantage of some expert recommendations. You can start a business with a small volume, you can limit yourself to your country greenhouse. To receive a stable income, over time you should expand production volumes and hire employees.

Pros and cons of growing onions for sale

Growing green onions as a business has its positive and negative sides. The advantages include the following:

small cash investments;
expenses pay off fairly quickly;
experts note a fairly high percentage of profitability;
products are always in demand on the market, as more and more people prefer to switch to a healthy diet;
The purchase price of products is always high.

Despite the numerous advantages, growing greens has disadvantages, which include the following:

Conditions are not suitable everywhere for favorable growing. If it is planned in the northern region, then you need to be prepared for additional costs associated with heating and lighting.
Excellent growth requires fertilizer, which is an additional cost.
For regular maintenance, it is better to hire labor, and this is also an expense.

In some cases, it is better to purchase a plot of land in a warmer region, go on business trips, but not maintain a greenhouse in the northern region. When planning a business, it is important to assess the demand for products in the region.

What documents are needed to open a business?

Business can have different sizes. This business activity can be conditionally divided into the following types:

Small greenhouse business. The scale of onion production for greens is reduced to maintaining 1-2 greenhouses. If activities are planned on such small scales, then registration is not required. To conduct such a business, it is necessary to prepare a certificate confirming the existence of a plot on which greens are grown, and resolve the issues of connecting communications - here it is important to work out all the options, to provide for the possibility of preferential tariffs. A small business will bring in a small but stable income.
Medium greenhouse business. It is larger-scale and implies the presence of a large number of greenhouses, but it will not require a lot of labor resources. For activities of this scale, it is necessary to register the business with the relevant authorities and obtain special permits to conduct activities. You will have to monitor the maintenance of the accounting database, draw up and send the relevant documents to the regulatory authorities.
Large greenhouse business. Enterprises of this type have a large number of greenhouses and labor. Mandatory registration of an activity such as an LLC or CJSC is required, and a package of documents must be registered with all higher authorities. Such an enterprise must regularly transfer taxes and contributions to regulatory authorities. Income from the sale of onions for greens directly depends on production volumes. To receive a stable and high income, it is necessary to expand the scale of production and look for additional wholesale buyers.

How to start an onion growing business?

The onion growing business can have different scales. You can do it in the following ways:

Growing green onions in an apartment. Such a business does not require large expenses, but it is better to have free space so that you can grow greens in the cold season. For these purposes, it is best to use boxes, bottles, boxes and other accessories that are convenient for plant growth.
Growing onions for feathers at their summer cottage- This is an excellent option for doing business in the summer. There is much more space on the site than in the apartment, but business is relevant only in the summer. If you plan to grow onions year-round, then in the off-season the plantings should be moved to a warm room. To grow greens in this way, you will need boxes; they can be arranged in several rows. Do not forget that green feathers are cheaper in summer than in winter, so you will have to increase production volumes.
Business of growing onions in a greenhouse. This type of activity is considered the most successful. It is more profitable to maintain greenhouses in the southern regions. If production is planned in the north, then do not forget that you will have to incur additional costs for electricity and heating. When maintaining a greenhouse, the entrepreneur will not depend on the season or weather; the products grow all year round.

How much money do you need to start a business growing onions?

Growing green onions as a business is an activity that requires certain investments. The amount of expenses depends on the region in which the business activity is conducted. As the personal experience of a large number of entrepreneurs shows, growing in the southern and middle zones is much more profitable than in the north.

First of all, investments are needed in the land itself. Before purchasing, it is important to determine the scale of the planned activity.

If a person wants to put production on stream, then it is important to purchase a fairly large plot of land on which it will be convenient to locate everything necessary for the activity.

After purchasing a plot, it is best to formalize your business. In this case, all activities will be legal, and you will not have to worry about inspections or any other problems.

To grow greens, you need to purchase equipment. For this purpose, it is best to buy greenhouses. They allow the crop to grow in favorable conditions. Funds will be required to purchase specialized care equipment. There is no need to save on the cost of the material from which the greenhouse is made. The better and stronger it is, the better the conditions for growth.

After purchasing all the equipment, you need to think about buying planting material. In this case, the savings will not be beneficial, so it is wiser to turn to trusted suppliers who are popular in the market. When an entrepreneur is confident that his products are of high quality, the number of buyers will constantly grow. In the future, the seedlings for planting can be grown independently.

How much can you earn from growing onions?

Growing onions for greens is a highly profitable business activity. With the right approach, you can have up to 1 million rubles. income per month from several acres of land. In addition to onions, you can grow dill, parsley, and basil. Many city dwellers love such plants; greens are added when cooking to add a piquant taste to dishes.

If significant funds have been spent on business activities, then there is no need to fear that they will take a long time to pay off. The first net profit can be obtained approximately 6 months after opening a business. Such products are always in demand, so the payback will be quick.

The onion business will be initially successful if you approach the matter wisely. It is important to think through everything down to the smallest detail: how the plants will be grown, what kind of care is required. Only in this case can you achieve success in this type of business activity.

What equipment will help increase the onion yield?

In order to grow onions all year round, getting a good harvest, regardless of weather conditions, daylight hours and other factors, experts recommend using greenhouses. These structures can be built independently or purchased collapsible structures. The first option is much cheaper, but if you have never held a hammer and a hacksaw in your hands, then it is better to purchase a ready-made greenhouse.

Inside the structure it is necessary to create ideal conditions for growing onions:

Heating the greenhouse. If technical capabilities allow, you can join the heating system of your home. Another option is a “potbelly stove”, electric heaters or gas convectors.
Irrigation system. Be sure to install a water container that should always be full.
Lighting. In the cold season, when daylight hours are very short, in order to ensure normal growth and development of plants, it is necessary to take care of lighting.
Ventilation. Be sure to consider the possibility of ventilation in your greenhouse.

Growing onions in open ground is much easier. In this case, it is necessary to make a system for watering the plants and take care of their protection from sudden changes in air temperature.

OKVED code and licensing of this business

Commercial activities related to the cultivation of onions, according to the all-Russian classifier, fall under the category with OKVED code 01.12.1.

Important point! If you are preparing paperwork for an onion growing company, keep in mind the fact that for this line of business activity no special permits or licenses required.

Popular technologies for growing onions

Residents of rural areas prefer to grow onions from sets. This method allows you to obtain finished products very quickly. But for this it is necessary to carefully sort out and treat the planting material with special means. The main condition for obtaining a good harvest using this technology is the presence of an open area that is well lit and blown by winds.

In addition to the above technology, you can grow onions from seeds (the process takes a lot of time and there are often losses) or obtain greens from large onions. The choice of the optimal method for growing these useful plants depends on your desire and the availability of the necessary resources.

In the last few years, non-GMO products have been considered a real shortage. Thanks to developed agriculture in our country, domestic consumers strive to purchase natural products grown without the use of chemicals. The demand for such products is determined by a number of the following factors: environmental cleanliness and harmlessness, a wealth of vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

The only drawback is the minimum shelf life. If you follow the technology and fulfill the prescribed requirements for caring for plants, this type of business activity will bring significant profits at minimal cost.

Modern agronomists have developed 2 main approaches to growing crops:

growing in a greenhouse;
cultivation in open ground.

It’s easy to guess that the first method will allow you to get a good harvest with minimal time. At the same time, this option involves the construction of a greenhouse, equipment of an irrigation system, appropriate lighting, delivery of nutrient soil, etc. An important point in this matter is the choice of an onion variety (hybrid) suitable for greenhouse cultivation.

Literally 5 years ago there were two types of greenhouses - covered with polyethylene film and glass. The development of modern technologies has added one more material to this list - polycarbonate. If we consider the option of growing as a year-round business, it is worth choosing the last option.

It should be understood that a polycarbonate greenhouse is not a cheap pleasure, but in terms of practicality and efficiency it has no equal.

As for heating, the most common option is wood stoves or solar panels.

How many greenhouses do you need to start a business? Experienced agronomists say - at least three. This will allow for cyclical production: in the first, sowing is carried out, in the second, green shoots are monitored, and in the third, the harvest is harvested.

The simplest and most accessible method of growing onions is open ground. To implement this project, you will not have to build expensive greenhouses or equip a heating and irrigation system. All that is required is to rent a plot of land and start growing crops in accordance with the prescribed technology.

Despite the simplicity of the method, growing in open ground has a number of disadvantages:

seasonality of business (May-June, September);
poor soil quality can significantly reduce yield;
unfavorable weather conditions will prevent normal plant growth.

Variety selection

Allowed to plant onions in the form of seeds and bulbs. Greenhouses are characterized by growing greenery (feathers) from bulbs. Using seeds for similar purposes is a low-efficiency solution. Despite intensive care, the sprouts are weak and grow more slowly. As for the bulbs, they grow many times faster, the harvest has a beautiful presentation and has good taste.

Manufacturers from the Netherlands managed to achieve a high-quality selective effect. Recommended varieties:

Red Baron;
Yellow Dutch;
Exhibition;
Spirint F1;
Margnit F1.

The Japanese varieties Nubukka Green and Nagaoka King are not inferior in quality, but are more affordable in price. Among the products of the German breeding farm, for obtaining early greens, it is worth choosing the Stuttgater Riesten variety.

To obtain a rich harvest and organize a highly profitable business, special attention should be paid to the process of selecting types and varieties of planting material, as well as methods of cultivation at certain times of the year.

Knowledge of the basic biological characteristics of onion varieties and the requirements for their growth conditions guarantees maximum yield and, as a result, good profit.

For example, onions are not intended for growing indoors in the autumn-winter period. At this time he is in deep peace. Any species is particularly demanding of light. Perennial varieties are optimal for planting in the fall; they do not require dormant periods (slime, multi-tiered, chives). November is optimal for planting onions. Shallots are beneficial for planting in December.

Planting and care measures

The soil for planting onions must be prepared in advance. Characteristic features: looseness, fertility. The crop produces higher yields on fertilized soil. It is recommended to add the following fertilizers to the soil mixture before planting (per 1 m2):

potassium chloride – 15 g;
superphosphate – 30 g;
manure – 5 l.

If we consider the option of planting with bulbs, then from September to October the planting material should be placed in boxes at a distance of a centimeter from each other. If sowing is carried out in early March, the distance should be increased to 4-6 centimeters.

Caring for onions is not difficult; the plant is unpretentious. The greenhouse owner will need:

for the entire growth period, make one fertilizing (a solution of ammonium nitrate 30 grams per 5 liters of water is suitable);
onions love a lot of water, so it is necessary to provide abundant watering;
strictly observe the temperature regime (at night - at least +12°C, during the day - at least +20°C);
despite the need for abundant watering, control the level of soil moisture to prevent rotting of the bulb;
eliminate drafts in the greenhouse.

It is important to cut green onions on time. The optimal indicator is a leaf length of 28-30 cm.

Product sales channels

It is important to remember that greens are a perishable product, the sale of which must be carried out immediately. Therefore, you should take care of the channel for selling the goods even before it is planted. Green onions are in great demand among the population, so it is advisable to open a point in the market. In order to diversify the assortment, you can sell other greens.

The most profitable option for a large manufacturer is to sell greens in bulk.

To do this, it is recommended to conclude contracts for the supply of onions with large retail outlets, catering establishments, shops, etc.

Some people, wanting to get fresh greens directly from the garden, can purchase them directly from the manufacturer. To effectively distribute your offer, it is recommended to place an ad in the newspaper and create advertising on the Internet.

Costs and profitability

It would be optimal to build a polycarbonate greenhouse with an area of 100 square meters (this is a relatively small room of 5x20 meters) with a two-tier shelving system. The greenhouse must be equipped with a lighting, heating and watering system. The total cost of equipping the environment for growing products will be 150 thousand rubles.

The average cost of purchasing onion sets is 200 rubles per kilogram. To fill the greenhouse you will need about 50 kg. The total cost of seeding material is 10 thousand rubles.

For fast and high-quality growth of onions, fertilizer will be required. On average, for each square meter the cost of a fertilizer complex will be 30 rubles, which in terms of the total square footage of the sowing area will be 30 thousand rubles.

Let's summarize all the costs. Taking into account the information presented above, you will need:

Greenhouse equipment – 150 thousand rubles.
Onion sets 50 kg – 10 thousand rubles.
Fertilizers – 30 thousand rubles.
Costs of water, electricity, etc. – 10 thousand rubles.
Total: 200 thousand rubles

From the start of planting to the collection of onions ready for sale, an average of 2 months will pass. Productivity is 9 kg per m2, which means that from 100 sq. m after 2 months you can collect 900 kg. The average selling price of onions is 40 rubles per 1 kg. It is easy to calculate that the proceeds from the sale of the harvest will bring 36 thousand rubles.

It's time to talk about an additional method of making a profit - selling green onions. In 2 months you can get 0.8 kg of greenery per square meter, recalculated for the entire plot - 80 kg. At a price of 170 rubles per 1 kg, you can earn 13,600 rubles from the entire green harvest.

Total, in 2 months from a greenhouse of 100 sq. m income will be 49.6 thousand rubles. The entrepreneur will begin to make a profit after the fifth planting and sale of onions. The payback period of the project is by the end of the first year.

Video material about growing products

The video shows a detailed story about the construction and equipment of a greenhouse for growing greenery in winter and summer:

In contact with

Classmates

Green onions are very good for health - even children know this.

Green feathers contain the entire group of vitamins B, as well as A, C and E. These greens are used in the preparation of many dishes.

The business of growing onions in a greenhouse in winter can be an excellent source of income, as it has many advantages:

This is a profitable business, because you can buy onions for seeds for 15 rubles per 1 kg, and you can sell feathers for 200 rubles. for 1 kg.
This business does not require large initial capital, and monthly expenses for seeds, heating and water are low.
This plant is unpretentious, so the technology for producing green onions does not require large labor and monetary costs.
If you plant an early ripening variety, the first profit can be received in a month and a half.

It is possible to grow feathers for sale in a greenhouse all year round, and the harvest can be harvested 7-9 times in a year.

Initial costs

It is important to first draw up a business plan for growing onions in a greenhouse in winter.

It should cover the following points:

construction of a greenhouse;
selection, purchase of seeds;
growing greens;
sales of products.

Any business requires investment, so when drawing up a business plan you need to know in advance the amount of necessary expenses.

It is very important to have initial (start-up) capital.

So, the upcoming costs in rubles:

Building materials and construction of a heated permanent greenhouse of 20 sq.m will cost approximately 60 thousand.
It is necessary to prepare the soil for planting seeds: loosen it, apply fertilizer - 5000.
Monthly costs: water supply, heating – 5000 per month.
It is very important to purchase quality seeds. You will need approximately 80 kg per 20 sq.m. Good bulbs can be bought wholesale in bags of 15 per 1 kg. That is, all seed material will cost 1200.

Construction of a greenhouse structure

It is better to build a greenhouse from durable polycarbonate, since it has low thermal conductivity, unlike glass.

It is imperative to equip heating and watering systems and make artificial lighting:

fluorescent lamps,
UV lamps.

The cheapest way to heat is with gas. The presence of main gas is already a good reason to grow greens in a greenhouse for sale.

In other cases there is also a way out:

they make steam heating from an electric boiler;
use electric heaters;
stoves are installed.

To save space, seeds are planted in boxes placed on racks in tiers of 60-70 cm so that they have enough lighting.

Of course, growing onions in a greenhouse in winter requires additional artificial light.

Seed selection

In order for the greens to be of high quality, it is important to buy good planting material.

The optimal size of planting bulbs is 4 cm in diameter; these are the seeds that give the best results:

the greens grow dense and juicy;
a lot of green feather comes out.

For forcing, varieties that have early germination are needed.

Especially good:

Multi-tiered,
Shalott and Batun,
Parade.

Strong, healthy bulbs should be left in warm water for 12 hours to speed up forcing.

The Parade variety was developed by Dutch breeders; it produces tasty and beautiful greens. It does not form a bulb, and all its strength goes to forcing the feather.

This variety recovers quickly, and new feathers will soon grow on the cut.

The yield of the Parade variety is up to 8 kg of green products per square meter, while the average yield of the usual Shallot and Batun varieties is 4 kg from the same area per harvest.

Cultivation care

With a well-established business, you can sell products all year round.

This is a heat-loving plant, but it feels good when the temperature drops to +5°C.

There are different technologies for growing feathers, but in general the agricultural technology of this crop is simple.

It is important to water, loosen the soil, and apply fertilizers on time.

In the video you can see the features of growing green onions.

Plants should be watered in winter with warm water at a temperature of 30 degrees.

Harvesting

To ensure that the feathers have a good appearance, they are cut off when they reach a length of 30 cm.

The fact is that they grow at different rates, so they must be cut off selectively.

Greens in bunches of 40-50 g are packed in film to give it a marketable appearance.

It is important to take into account the buyer’s requirements, for example, when selling to restaurants or cafes, packing in bundles is not necessary.

With good care, the yield reaches 80-90 kg per 20 sq.m., if you grow Shallot or Batun.
If you grow the Parade variety, the yield will be 160 kg per 20 sq.m.

Sales of goods

It is necessary to approach the issue of marketing greens responsibly, since this is a perishable product.

Products must be sold as soon as possible after collection.

Wholesale and retail chains may be interested in green onions.

It makes sense to offer greens:

owners of market outlets;
to restaurants, street kebab shops;
at wholesale centers;
shops.

This business should be started with small volumes. For the first time, a greenhouse with an area of 20 sq.m. will be enough.

It makes sense to first study demand and find customers, and then expand production. Profitability

Initial costs for a greenhouse, fertilizers and seed material are approximately 70 thousand rubles.

Income from the sale of 80 kg of greens every 1.5 months is 16,000 rubles at a price of 200 rubles. for 1 kg, if you grow a regular variety such as Batun or Shallot.

But if you grow the high-yielding Parade variety, then 160 kg will grow per 20 sq.m., worth 32,000 rubles. You can harvest eight times in a year, which will range from 128,000 to 256,000 rubles.

That is, after just six months, green onions will fully cover all expenses and will then begin to generate net profit, of course, minus the monthly costs of light and water.

In contact with

Forcing onions into feathers in a greenhouse is a profitable business not for the lazy. A banal story - “I’m tired of working for my uncle and I want to work for myself, especially since I have my own free plot. On which either there is already a greenhouse, or you can build one.” Then it's a matter of technology. Find the most suitable type of business on the Internet, read different business plans and here it is - the decision to start forcing onions. After all, as advisors from the Internet say, this is a miracle business where you can make good money in a short time with a small space. Profitability is off the charts, which means it’s time to get down to business.
Yes, you are definitely right about the last one. Now is that cherished time when it’s really time to start putting onions to the feather. Forcing onions is carried out in the cold season from the head of a multi-primed onion, which is produced in the same summer, as well. The growing time for onion feathers depends on the region. On average, forcing onions lasts for several months - September, October, November, December, January, February, March and even April.

If you decide to force onions, then read my article to the end. And perhaps this idea will leave you. Or maybe, on the contrary, it will stimulate you to action. I have been engaged in pen forcing for more than five years, and everything I write and advise is supported by personal experience.

The video shows a harvest of green onions that is ready for harvest. Such results await you too.

Is forcing onions into feathers suitable for me?

I’ll immediately explain the nuances of dividing this point into “worth it” or “not worth it.”

if you have your own plot of land that is owned
Do you live on this site or is it as close as possible to you?
the site is guarded and has all the necessary communications: electricity, water, gas (optional)
there is a greenhouse on the site
if there is no greenhouse, but there is free finance for its construction
there are available funds to purchase the first batch of planting material
you have people who are ready to help at any time
you don’t work for your “uncle” or are ready to be fired
do you have personal transport
you are not a lazy person

Not worth it:

the plot is planned to be rented
the area is further than 10 km from you
there is no electricity or water on the site
Do you plan to hire transport?
Do you plan to borrow or borrow money for the greenhouse and the purchase of planting material?
you work for your “uncle”, but you’re afraid to take risks and quit
They are ready to help you only for “adequate” wages
you are a lazy person

I think the idea is clear and many will agree with this. It turned out that most of the points “not worth it” coincide with the position, it is better to abandon this idea. It will bring nothing but loss, debt and disappointment. If everything is fine and you decide that forcing onions into feathers suits you in all respects, read on.

Photo: Forcing onions onto a feather

To start growing green onions, your greenhouse must be properly equipped. Since onions are expelled to a greater extent in winter, it should have as little heat loss as possible. The better the coating of the greenhouse for forcing onions, the lower the cost of its maintenance. There is no need to overpay for air heating. Well, this is logical, I won’t focus on this.

Racks are largely responsible for controlling growth during the process of forcing onions. They must be there. What you construct them from depends on you and your financial situation. This nuance should be taken into account based on the understanding that first of all the air in the greenhouse is heated, and then the earth. The latter heats up much longer. But if the onion is forced to grow on racks, then the onion receives heat much faster and begins to germinate. Then you can always control the growth of green onions. If you need to speed up the distillation, add more heat. If you slow down growth, you lower the temperature. Of course, you will be able to resort to such manipulations with a bow on a feather only after a while, having gained the necessary experience.

Personally, I recommend making racks for forcing feathers in two tiers. But if there is a real problem with the space in the greenhouse, you can do it in three, and sometimes even in four. It is worth considering that the more tiers, the less clearance between them. The onion will not have enough light and will be faded. What will affect the demand and price at . Artificial lighting of each tier is of course justified, but it incurs additional costs for installing the lighting itself. Thereby increasing the cost of grown green onions. Make sure that the racks are not too wide. The wider the rack, the harder it will be to plant onions. Speed when planting seedlings and harvesting green onions plays an important role in the process of forcing onions into feathers. The central rack, which can be approached from all sides, is made wider, and the side wall racks are narrower - at arm's length.

Photo: Rack for forcing onions

Heating for forcing onions

The main process of forcing onions into feathers takes place at temperatures from +11 to +25. The temperature depends on the availability of the heating source. Definitely, the gas boiler in the greenhouse is the leader in these indicators. But not everyone has the opportunity to supply the gas itself to the greenhouse. Personally, I have a Buleryan in my greenhouse - an air heating stove. And with the right approach, it copes quite well.

The greenhouse must have the possibility of ventilation. The humidity should not be too high. And coupled with air stagnation, this is a strong blow to the green onion harvest. Onions on feathers categorically do not tolerate stagnant air. It must circulate constantly. An ordinary household fan directed at an angle of 45 degrees relative to any wall will help to cope with this task. It consumes little energy, so it's not expensive. If there is no circulation in the greenhouse, at the stage of forcing the onion feathers 2/3, with 100% certainty the green onion feathers will begin to... This is especially noticeable at corners.

Do you want to tickle your nerves?..., do not open the windows and doors, suddenly the heat will go away. At the same time, tell me later in the comments what came of it.
Fresh air should be supplied to the greenhouse twice a day, morning and evening. To do this, just open the door and window for five minutes. In cold weather, just the door, with the fan on for about 10 minutes. There is no need to worry about heat, oxygen heats up very quickly. So, forcing the onions to the pen will proceed as normal.

Photo: Equipping a greenhouse for forcing onions

Water for watering onions

There are no requirements here as such. there should be, but how you implement it depends on you. However, I will give some recommendations. If you watched my videos, you noticed that I have two water containers. A plastic “Eurocube” for 1 cubic meter of water and a plastic barrel for 200 liters. In the first one, I have regular water, which is filled immediately after watering. This allows the water to warm up before the next watering. In the second, I dilute potassium permanganate and phytosporin for preventative watering. They are connected to each other by routing plastic pipes, on which taps for adjustment are installed.

Multi-bud onion on a feather for planting

The key to the very profitability of a business is the variety of onions. There are some characteristics of onion varieties that must be suitable for the requirements of onion forcing. Experienced bowmen strive to use a multi-blade and multi-nest bow on a feather. To achieve the goal, some roam the vast expanses of our vast country in search of a supplier, others take risks and order suitable varieties remotely from other regions. I do not recommend you start with such risky actions.

To begin with, I advise you to buy onions for feathers at the nearest wholesale markets or bases. You can also use popular message boards. They often offer to buy a multi-bud bow for a feather at a good price. There are some popular varieties that make pressing onions more profitable. This is achieved by increasing the percentage of feather output per square meter. Thus, a correctly selected multi-bladed bow on a feather will increase your profits. The top three that I recommend finding and buying onions for feathers are the varieties Karatalsky, Rostov local, Stuttgarter Riesen, Egyptian and Chalcedony. I wrote a separate note about these varieties, which I recommend reading -.

Photo: Multi-bud bow on a feather
There is also a variety of multi-germ onion for a feather - Rostov. But to what extent I’m telling the truth, I don’t know. I only came across this variety once. Judging by the appearance and reviews of fellow onion growers I knew, whom I asked, it was him. The result is simply excellent. Unfortunately, I never came across it again. But, if you suddenly come across this bow, take it without hesitation. Of course, don’t forget to look at the quality of the bulbs. The onion must be intact, without signs of rot. When cut, it is healthy, juicy and white. The presence of blackness and softness of the root bottom indicates contamination of the planting material. You can’t take such an onion even by the “hat of crackers”. Having contaminated a greenhouse with one batch of onions, you can sometimes forget what it means to force onions to grow for the entire season.

The caliber of the bow per feather in turn affects the landing speed. If you take a selection of onions with a caliber of 2-4 cm, the feather will be thin and it will take longer to plant. And if you buy an onion on a feather with a caliber of 5-10 cm, the feather will be thicker and plant it faster.

Preparing and soaking onions

Before you start planting, you need to prepare the onions. After all, you want the onions to be forced onto the feather evenly, right? There is nothing complicated. The main thing is to trim the neck of the onion and soak it before planting. It is best to trim the neck of the onion by 1/4 - 1/3 with a knife and without regret. Thanks to this, the onion feather will begin to grow more evenly. Even if at this moment you damage the already green buds of the green onions, don’t worry. A few weeks before harvest, you will forget that the tips of the onion feathers were damaged. All wounds will heal and the presentation of the onion will be excellent.

Photo: Soaking onions After the onion is all trimmed, just before planting. It is advisable to do this in warm water with the addition of potassium permanganate. The water when soaking should not exceed +50 degrees. Warm water and potassium permanganate will additionally disinfect planting material. And the warm water itself will contribute to the additional awakening of the onion and start the formation of the root system. You can soak the onions from an hour to a day. It all depends on the planned speed of feather forcing. The faster the preparation and planting of the onions is carried out, the faster the forcing of the onions will begin.

Substrate for forcing onions

Forcing onions into feathers can be done on any available substrate. Substrate is a kind of soil into which onions will take root. The main and most popular include: of course, garden soil itself, crumbly compost or humus, as well as sawdust. Beginner onion growers should, of course, start growing green onions on ordinary soil or humus. Yes, it is dirty and you will have to try to work cleanly, but for sure. And when you gain experience, you can switch to sawdust. Then the forcing of the onion feathers will proceed in a clean mode.

The substrate is poured onto the shelves. The thickness of the layer is usually 5 cm. That is, the sides on the shelves should not exceed more than 6 cm. 5 cm of substrate and 1 cm as a support for the outermost onion. So that while the onion is without roots, it does not roll down. Of course, you can make the layer thicker, but this does not justify the labor costs. The thicker the layer of substrate on the racks, the heavier it will be after each watering. Onion roots with a thickness of 5 cm are more than enough for the normal process of forcing the feather. It is advisable to place a film under the substrate. But I don't kiss you. In some places, it is advisable to pierce the film with a small nail or knitting needle, thereby forming very small holes. This will allow excess moisture to “leave” and not stagnate when watering.

Planting a bow on a feather using the bridge method

Planting a bow on a feather using the bridge method is the most tedious and monotonous process. The bridge method of planting onions on a feather is to place the bulbs in beds side by side. As closely as possible, selecting the bulbs so that there is as little empty space as possible between the bulbs. When first planting, it takes too much time. But this is at first when you become fixated on correctness. With experience, the selection of bulbs is automatic and the speed of planting onions increases significantly. This method of planting onions for growing green onions can significantly save usable space in the greenhouse. The usable area is the designated area where you plan to harvest onions. This concept does not include paths and other areas for servicing onion racks.

Photo: Bridge method of planting onions on feathers

Calculation of onion feather yield per 1 square meter

When planting onions, you can calculate in advance the required amount of planting material. As experience shows, 1 sq.m. requires 1 bag of onions. The big red bag is Chinese. Depending on the type of onion, one bag contains from 25 to 30 kg of onions. With a bow caliber per feather of 5-8 cm and proper placement, about 400 bulbs fit per 1 square meter. Exactly like in the bag. I don’t claim to be the basis, but this is exactly the kind of landing arithmetic I get. And as a rule, it’s true. Error +- 10% of the planned amount of onions for planting. Which is negligible. Thus, using the bridge planting method and certain varieties, the yield of green onions per 1 square meter varies from 25 to 60%. Where 25% is the yield from a single-bud onion, and 60% is the yield from a multi-bud onion (three rudiments or more). 60% is of course not the last indicator; some onion growers have a slightly higher “ceiling”. But this is already an exception to the rule.

My words probably upset you quite a bit, that there is no 150 or 300% pen yield, as 99% of articles by would-be charlatan authors on various sites promise. Sorry, it's boiling. I'm tired of watching how authors who are far from the onion business distort reality, risking your, gullible novice onion growers, blood. Moreover, they steal my photographs and insert them into articles. Okay, we can talk about this endlessly. Let's get back to the topic. For a more realistic figure, factor into your business plan an average exit rate of 45%. You can rely on this figure and predict black profits.

Example of calculating output and income

I hope it’s clear to you how to calculate how many green onions can be obtained from 1 sq.m (1 sq.m of area = ? kg of onion turnips * 45% yield = ? kg of onion harvest * ? rub. = ? black profit). Example: 1 sq. sq. = 30 kg * 45% = 13.5 kg. * 100 rub. = 1350 rub. Where 1350 rubles is black earnings from 1 square meter. Black earnings are the amount from which expenses for the purchase of planting material, fuels and lubricants, greenhouse maintenance, utilities, etc. were not deducted.

There is nothing complicated in the process of forcing green onions. All that remains is to take care of the planting and wait for the green onion to grow. Care means timely watering and spraying of onions. Including the addition of phytosporin. Inspection of racks and prompt removal of rotten or infected bulbs. Maintaining a stable temperature in the greenhouse. Ventilation and air circulation.

When the onion has taken root and the feather has begun to grow, you can regulate the forcing of the onion feather at a certain time using temperature. The feather of green onions lends itself very well to “training”. If you need to keep the onion growing, it is enough to lower the temperature in the greenhouse. But not lower than +8 degrees. This often happens when you need to hit a holiday or wait for an increase in the price of onions. For the same reasons, you can speed up the growth of onion feathers. To do this, the temperature in the greenhouse increases and the onions grow faster. Forcing onions into the feather lasts until a certain length of green onions. It should be 40-50 cm. This length is taken into account not from the top of the onion, where the feather comes from, but from the level of the substrate.

Harvesting and packaging green onion harvest

Definitely the most enjoyable activity. And so, when the length of the bow satisfies us in full, the forcing of the bow onto the feather has reached its final stage and it’s time. If you keep the onion short, you will always sell it very successfully. Freeloaders and resellers love 25-30 cm green onions. But in this case, you are a loser, and they are in “chocolate.” If you start forcing the feathers beyond 50 cm, then the onion is no longer considered marketable. You can sell it successfully only if you are a complete monopolist, or for various reasons there is a shortage of green onions. Which practically never happens.

Photo: Green onion harvest
The process of harvesting green onions is as follows. Along the surface of the substrate, the onion is cut at the root with a knife. Placed in boxes and taken to the sorting table. Next, take the onion and cut it almost near the root bottom. Then you hold the onion feather with one hand, and the onion itself is pulled together with the other. Here you have ready-made green onions in your hands. All that remains is to remove the vile transparent and slippery film from the turgor. Turgor is the stem of green onions, the very white part of the feather. If this film is not removed, after a few hours it will begin to dry out and a brown edge will appear. What spoils the presentation of green onions. All these procedures are carried out with each bulb.

After the onions are peeled, you need to package them. The packaging depends on you and those who will receive it from you. You need to either agree on this in advance, or look at the wholesale market to see how their onions are packaged. And pack it the same way. For example, I pack green onions in newspapers, 1 kg each. and place it vertically in a banana box (banana box).

Well, I laid out all my thoughts and I hope you will find my note and my experience useful. If you’ve read to the end, you’re persistent and I’m sure you’ll succeed in forcing onions onto a feather.

If I went somewhere around answering your questions, I will add in the comments. Ask questions.

By the way, I will be grateful to you if you liked the note, there are social network icons below, click and share with your friends.

Thank you all for your attention and good luck with your business in forcing green onions!