Growing Onions in Haiti



Growing Onions in the Tropics

 

There are two main types of onions, based on the daylight hours required for bulbs to form. Short-day varieties start forming a bulb when days are about 13 hours of sunlight; long-day varieties don't form a bulb until days are 14-16 hours long. For both types, bulb growth is slowed or stopped during hot, freezing or dry weather. Near the equator, where days are 12-13 hours long throughout the year, long-day onions will never form a bulb; and in Canada, where days are 14-20 hours long during the growing season, short-day onions will not be successful.  The seeds you find in the southern United States will be short day varieties.  Seeds in Haiti are questionable since well-meaning missionaries carry in all sorts of seed, many which will not grow in the tropics.  Short day onions tend to be milder in taste but will not store as long as the long day variety.  The Vidalia onion is a short day variety.

 Short day onions almost always must be started from seed.  Seed should be started in December/January and then transplanted in February/ March to the garden. I have found that planting the seeds in trays or beds inside the shade house to be equally successful.  If you use a tray, don’t use an insert just fill with planting soil and sow the seeds in the tray.  Scatter the seed and cover them with about ¼ “of soil and water liberally.   After the plants reach 3 to 4 inches in height, they can be transplanted to beds either in the shade house or outside beds. Extreme hot temperatures and drought will prevent good heads forming.  The beds should be loose soil and the onions plants should be set about 4 inches apart, onions don’t like close company.  Don’t keep the beds damp but water a couple of times per week.  If for some reason the heads do not develop or are small, don’t worry, green onions also taste great. 

 If you can get onion sets, which are long day onions, into Haiti they make wonderful green onions in a very short period.   They will not make large heads but as green onions they are a wonderful addition to Haitian cooking. 

 Hours of day light for Port au Prince will reach 13 hours about May 15, reach a peak of 13 hours and 15 minutes June 20 and decline again to 13 hours at the end of July.

 

Good Shepherd Ministries Quatzeltenango, Guatemala

 

 

 

Ron Lusk and Ben Frey completed a second greenhouse for Grossman's Good Shepherd Ministries in March 2016.  The original greenhouse has been producing food for the past 4 years and the pictures below show that it is still in use.  The location is 8,000 feet up in the mountains so a greenhouse rather than a shade house is needed.  The conditions were chilly and windy with a little rain mixed in.  In addition the PVC is slightly smaller in diameter so the ends had to be constructed of wood rather than PVC.  

 

 

 

 

 

News from the Baker's in Atrel, Haiti

 

We are always excited and encouraged to hear from missions or individuals using one of our shade houses.  This note and picture are from the Baker family.

From Deborah Baker

Thought you might enjoy seeing how great the shade house is growing. We have had great success with the shade house. Beets, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, green peppers and zucchini have all done well. So, well that we have been able to share vegetables with others. Many people stop and look at the garden and are amazed that these vegetables are able to grow here.  We are excited to see how this interest in growing vegetables will develop. Thanks again for blessing us with this shade house.