Grow green onions for sale. How to grow onions in a greenhouse in winter and make money from it - a detailed business plan. How to properly grow green onions for sale, features of planting material for growing green onions

Onions are a product rich in many vitamins and useful elements, from which most dishes are made. If you are thinking about onions not as a food product, but as a means of your income, you have come to the right place. Right now we will tell you how to start growing onions as a business, whether it is needed in our time, what damage it will cause to your income and how much it will bring, and how to organize a business in general.

Onions are considered the most popular product. Agree, all dishes contain onions (except for desserts, of course) and without them they do not taste the best. In addition, onions are very beneficial for health. Therefore, onions can be found in every home at any time of the year. Even if other vegetables can be replaced with something, this will not work with onions and replacing it with, for example, garlic will not work.

This is probably why growing onions is considered a profitable business. In addition, onions are not fussy and can be grown all year round. Also, no matter what variety you grow, it will still produce feathers. In summer they are not so popular and are very cheap, but in cold weather the price of green onions increases several times. The main thing is to take proper care of your cultivated crop so that the feathers look decent and have a bright and rich taste, just like in summer.

If we talk about the relevance of growing onions, hardly anyone will have any doubts about this. As we said above, onions are valued always and everywhere. Every year it is produced in huge quantities for further sale. In just a few months you will be able to join the business, set it up, study the market and find several sales channels where you will sell your product.

In such a case, the main thing will be proper organization sales. Don't think that you will find a buyer yourself. Think about what you'll have to go through before you have your first regular customers. By the way, you will have to look for them yourself. Maybe in the future people will contact you, but initially you must introduce yourself so that people know what you do and who to contact in such situations.

People who have fully integrated and adapted into such a business produce onions all year round: in the summer they grow them in open areas, in vegetable gardens, in the winter - in greenhouses.

Advantages and disadvantages of onion business

There are several subtleties that are present in any business, and this one is no exception.

Pros of growing:

  1. Fast. Onion cultivation has a short production cycle. This way, in just a month, you can get your products and start selling them.
  2. Easily. Caring for onions is not difficult. On average, for a site of 10*10 meters, a person only needs 1 hour of free time. That is, one person can cover large areas in a day.
  3. Unqualified specialists. Planting onions, processing them, watering them and harvesting them does not require any special knowledge, so anyone with any education can work with it.
  4. Great productivity. Depending on what technology you use, you can regulate the amount of future harvest. This means that you can install onion beds in several tiers, which will save space and increase productivity.
  5. Unpretentious culture. To grow onions, it only requires watering, lighting (about 15 hours a day) and the right temperature (about 15 degrees).
  6. Cheap. Investments as such are not required, only for the construction of a greenhouse. Plus, they pay for themselves quickly.
  7. Demand. As already mentioned, everyone always needs onions.

Minuses:

  1. Conditions. It is not possible to produce onions yourself everywhere, since not all conditions are suitable for growing this crop. If you live in the northern region, additional costs will be required to conduct light and heat.
  2. Plant nutrition. Such fertilizers will require additional costs.
  3. Staff. If you do not plan to do this business yourself, you will have to hire staff, which will also cost you money.

Onion seeds prices

onion seeds

Room for growing onions

You can grow onions in the summer in a simple garden plot, in open ground. However, in winter this will be impossible and then greenhouses and other sheltered premises come to the rescue.

Greenhouse

Building an ordinary greenhouse is not difficult. Besides, you can do this yourself. It is only necessary to assemble the structure from a wooden frame, cover it with dense plastic film– and your greenhouse is ready.

The greenhouse will not require additional lighting or heating - natural conditions will be sufficient.

We will tell you in detail how to build a greenhouse with your own hands.

Basement or garage

People often use a basement or garage as an alternative to greenhouses. Only here the situation is a little different and requires a different approach.

To begin with, such rooms need to be insulated using polyethylene foam or polystyrene foam. Then you should attach the shelving. You can buy them at the store or make them yourself from available materials.

Where to start an onion business?

When you have decided on the premises and have firmly decided to continue selling your own grown onions, you need to think about registering the business. It is clear that without it you will only be able to sell onions to your neighbors or friends, and even then it is illegal. Registering a business will make it possible to supply the product to markets, shops, restaurants, cafes and other establishments.

The first step is to decide what form of business you will run. There are two of them: LLC or individual entrepreneur, each of which has its own nuances. You can register your business yourself by contacting the tax office of your area. Is it true a large number of It will take time to prepare the documents. But there is another way out - order registration through law firm, which will do everything faster, however, it will not be free.

Documents for registration

As mentioned above, there are two forms of business. Each of them has its own characteristics and its own documents.

Find out the exact list necessary documents To register your business, you can contact the tax office or a law firm.

Required budget to start a business

Start-up investments for an onion growing business include purchases of:

  1. Lamps for additional lighting (if you are not growing in greenhouses or with insufficient light) – 5,000 rubles.
  2. Wires – 1,500 rubles.
  3. Shelving – 6,000 rubles.
  4. Baths for shelving – 12,000 rubles.
  5. Desktop – 3,000 rubles.
  6. Irrigation equipment – ​​3,000 rubles.

Thus, to start work you will need 30,500 rubles. However, this price is not final, because each region may have its own prices.

Monthly costs:

  1. Purchase of soil – 3,000 rubles.
  2. Lighting – 700 rubles.
  3. Heating – 2,000 rubles.
  4. Watering – 1,500 rubles.

Total – 7,200 rubles per month for one harvest.

Profit

Start-up capital takes a bit of a toll when you don’t know what you’re getting into or what you’ll earn. If you already have a growing room at your disposal, you will need about 30,000 rubles.

In a small area (15-20 sq.m.) you can grow more than 50 kg in one harvest. Thus, in 4 harvests you will get more than 200 kg of onions. If you take 200 rubles for the cost of one kilogram of onions in winter, then for one harvest you will receive more than 10,000 rubles.

Onions are most in demand from October to April, when it is frosty outside. During this time you can earn more than 80,000 rubles. By extracting from your income the amount of your starting capital, you will receive about 50,000 rubles in net profit.

Table 1. Example of a business plan for growing onions

ParameterMeaning
Total area of ​​the plot100 sq. m.
Space occupied by bow75 sq.m.
Time for onions to ripenAbout 20 days
Wholesale price land9 rubles / 1 kg
Price of green onions per 1 kg15-70 rubles
Percent possible losses products0.32
Wholesale price for onions in summer time 35-55 rubles
Wholesale price for onions in winter180-250 rubles
Start-up capital budget70,000 rubles
Monthly income for 75 sq.m.20,000 rubles
Monthly income from 3,000 kg of onions150,000 rubles

Selection of planting material and technology for growing onions

Once you have registered your business and set up a growing room, you can begin the work itself.

Onion varieties

First, you must identify the main onion varieties that are suitable for growing.

  1. Onion. Not the most frost-resistant onion variety. It is best to plant it in autumn or late winter. It needs to be planted in small containers or boxes that can be rearranged.
  2. . To grow this type of onion, it is better to choose early-ripening varieties. Seeds are planted instead of bulbs. The onion turns out to be small, and after that it is not used.
  3. A variety that can survive severe frosts, so it can be planted at any time. It requires a lot of moisture, this must be kept in mind when watering.
  4. Quite a demanding variety in relation to feeding and fertilizers. It is not recommended to grow twice in the same soil. Frequent watering is not required.
  5. The most frost-resistant species. Grown in winter, preferably in December. You can’t keep it in the ground for more than a month, the feathers will be bitter.

Prices for onion

onion seeds

Onion growing technologies

  • Open ground

It is necessary to plant in open ground in the spring, when the frosts end. You can plant both onion bulbs and onion seeds.

Positive aspects of technology:

  1. No costs other than purchasing seeds.
  2. Easy to grow.

Negative sides:

  1. Planting can only be done in summer; no more than three crops will grow in one year.
  2. Large area occupied by onions.

  • Greenhouse method

Positive sides:

  1. Easy to grow.
  2. Greater profitability.
  3. A small area occupied by onions, which is achieved with the help of several tiers.
  4. Weather conditions do not affect cultivation.

Negative sides:

  1. Requires large starting capital.

  • Hydroponics

This method involves growing without soil, on water.

Positive sides:

  1. Greater profitability.
  2. Small area occupied by onions.
  3. No land costs.
  4. Weather conditions do not affect cultivation.
  5. Reducing the time it takes for a feather to mature to a decent appearance.

Negative sides:

  1. Price: hydroponics is not cheap, but this method is the most promising and is perfect for people who want to get serious about this business and make a lot of money from it.

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Growing onions as a business

In general, doing onions as a business does not have any mandatory instructions. However, in order to maintain the quality of taste, some recommendations must be followed.

What three factors determine the best conditions?

  1. Correctly selected temperature.
  2. Correctly selected lighting.
  3. Thorough soil irrigation.

There is another factor that affects the volume of grown products, this is the area of ​​​​the room in which the crop is grown.

Where to grow green onions

You can grow green onions almost anywhere you have space. Suitable for this:

  1. Greenhouse, cellar. These premises have already been discussed above.
  2. Windowsill. This method requires absolutely no effort. Just place the onions in the sunny side and wait for your harvest.
  3. Balcony or loggia. In summer, any room of this type is suitable. To grow onions on a balcony or loggia in winter, you will need to insulate and glaze it.
  4. Earth and sand are the most common base option for planting onions. If you grow onions in the ground in a greenhouse, you need to feed them and loosen the soil.
  5. Sawdust- the cheapest material. They are used in cultivation because they are responsible for loosening the soil and retaining moisture for longer. Onions that were planted in sawdust do not require frequent watering. When sawdust is used for a long time, it begins to rot and will therefore require replacement.
  6. Hydroponics. In this case, land will not be needed at all, since the onions will be fed by the circulating medium. With this method, coconut fiber is excellent for growing, as it swells greatly, which retains moisture.

Planting green onions in winter

The good thing about growing onions is that they can be produced in both summer and winter. Only in winter will large investments be required, at least light and heating.

If you do not grow a lot of onions, you can carry out the procedure for processing them. This will help the onions germinate and ripen faster.

You will find out how much money you need to invest in the business of growing onions in a greenhouse and how justified such a business idea is. Read about which technology for growing green onions works best.

Greetings to Startupoff readers!

Do you want to try your hand at agribusiness? A great business idea is to grow onions. Despite high competition, this business sector is highly profitable and promising, and does not require large start-up capital.

Why growing onions in a greenhouse is a good business idea

Do you doubt that your company is profitable?

Let me give you some indisputable evidence:

  1. Onions for seeds are sold at a price of 15-20 rubles per 1 kg, and the price of feathers in the off-season reaches 200 rubles. per kg.
  2. To open a business you do not need large start-up capital, and monthly expenses for purchasing seeds, heating and water are low.
  3. For sowing, a plot of land or summer cottage.
  4. This plant is unpretentious. The production technology does not require significant labor and monetary costs.
  5. If you plant an early ripening variety, the first profit will be in a month and a half. Varieties such as batun and heirloom onion produce good greens in 3-4 weeks.
  6. Stable demand all year round.
  7. 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.
  8. Sale fresh, dried and frozen.
  9. There are many distribution routes: vegetable markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, wholesale buyers, kebab shops, restaurants, cafes.

On my garden plot there is a small bed of spring onions.

It is perennial and requires virtually no maintenance. Tolerates southern winters well. After trimming it quickly produces new feathers. There is plenty of greenery from several bushes for our family. I am sure that greenhouse cultivation of onions and its well-established sales will bring a stable income.

Which variety to choose

All varieties of onions produce feathers, but greenhouse production has its own favorites. They produce a bountiful harvest, have excellent taste, retain freshness for a long time, and are easy to care for.

I'll tell you briefly about each of them.

Leek

Externally, leeks resemble garlic. It produces wide, short leaves and has a pronounced but delicate taste. Good for salads and fresh consumption. From a bed of 9 square meters it produces 20 kilograms of feathers. Suitable for year-round greenhouse cultivation. Grows well in open ground and greenhouses.

Batun

It can be perennial or annual. Produces wide, tubular, succulent feathers. The taste is sweetish and delicate. The feather is tender throughout the growing season. Sown by seeds. In the first season, the plant takes root and gains strength.

Active fruiting begins in the second year. The variety tolerates frost well and is suitable not only for open ground, but also for greenhouse and greenhouse cultivation. Gives arrows with seeds. It sows itself in the ground.

shallot

This is a branched variety with pronounced greenery and small bulbs. The variety is suitable for forcing in a greenhouse and growing on a windowsill. It is planted on greenery three times a year: in spring, autumn and summer. Gives an early harvest. The feather is soft and juicy throughout the growing season. The shooter does not. Planted with bulbs.

Egyptian

This variety has underground and aerial bulbs. It is called multi-tiered because new bulbs grow on its arrows, from which a young plant develops. It does not have a dormant period and bears fruit consistently all year round. Unpretentious. Grows well even at 10-12 degrees Celsius. Frost-resistant, suitable for cold regions.

Plant several varieties at once in a greenhouse. The range of your products will be wider, and your yield will be more stable.

Which growing technology works best?

Greenhouse production of onions is based on several technologies. All of them are simple, save energy and time, and do not require the use of agricultural technology.

Actively used methods of year-round cultivation of this plant:

  • growing on sawdust;
  • hydroponics;
  • using shelving to increase usable space.

Using them, you will end up with onions grown at home without a greenhouse, in a warm barn, garage, basement or other utility room.

Onions in sawdust

The porous structure of sawdust absorbs moisture well and also releases it well. It is loose and provides the rhizomes with the necessary amount of oxygen. These are the main advantages of the method. Before using sawdust, they are doused with boiling water to disinfect them.

The bulbs are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. Sawdust is poured into flat, shallow containers, and the bulbs are laid out on them. Water the prepared “bed” with warm water. To germinate onions faster, cover the rack with film.

Hydroponics method

The method is based on a system of planting plants without soil in water enriched with nutrients. To grow, you need a hydroponic setup. The costs of its acquisition are more than offset by a stable harvest and ease of maintenance.

Agronomists consider hydroponic cultivation of dill, strawberries, vegetables the most convenient and effective method year-round cultivation.

Growing on multi-tiered racks

Multi-tiered shelving structures save space and increase harvest volumes. They provide good heating of crops in winter. Shelves make it convenient to water plants, making it easier to harvest and plant new crops.

To make shelving use wooden boards or metal fittings, corners. Installation of structures is carried out during the installation of the greenhouse. The structures can also be installed in an already equipped room.


With this growing method, possible nuances should be taken into account: uneven lighting, different soil temperatures and lack of drainage

How to grow onions in a greenhouse in winter - a detailed business plan

A business plan is your insurance against unnecessary expenses. It is necessary to analyze each stage of business development, calculate business profitability, and calculate start-up costs. Planning will help you weigh all the pros and cons of the project, find where and how to sell the products.

The business plan includes choosing a growing technology, installing a greenhouse and equipment, and searching for buyers. Let's consider each of the planning stages in more detail.

Stage 1. Construction of the greenhouse

To start, all you need is a small polycarbonate greenhouse that will fit on your garden plot. Make a foundation in it for greater structural strength and better soil heating, install an irrigation, heating and lighting system.

The purchase of equipment and installation of a greenhouse complex is the largest share of costs at the start. But without creating conditions for plants, you will not get high yields.

Don't have substantial start-up capital? Assemble the greenhouse yourself without hiring specialists. Instead of a sprinkler system, use a regular watering hose. Assemble the racks from scrap materials.

Rational use of solar heat will help you save on heating costs. Use drawings and diagrams from the Internet. Adapt finished drawing frame for your site.

Stage 2. Selecting and purchasing seeds

Buy material for sowing (onion sets, seeds) only in specialized stores or in greenhouse complexes. Use planting sets and seeds to obtain stable harvests throughout the year.

Carefully inspect the seed. The bulbs must be strong, without rot and characteristic odor. Seeds are the same size, without a white or grayish coating.

Stage 3. Soil preparation

Onions are not picky about soil. It is desirable that it be moist, loose, and contain additional food. Add sand to the soil for growing it to loosen it, as well as pre-prepared or purchased compost and wood ash. Ready soil pour into boxes on racks, level and moisten.

Don't know what to choose: sawdust or soil? Watch a video comparing the yield on sawdust and on soil:

Stage 4. Growing greens

The soil should be moist, but not overwatered. Excessive moisture will cause the bulbs to rot. The dry period will slow down the growing season. Onions love light and warmth, but cannot tolerate heat. Monitor the optimal temperature level in the room.

Stage 5. Sales of finished products

Properly organized sales of products is the key successful business. Sell ​​your grown crops at local vegetable markets. Visit supermarkets, establishments Catering, offer your product to wholesale buyers.

To sell greens at the market "from hand" you will not need documents for trading. To rent a retail outlet at the market, sell in supermarkets and grocery stores, you need to register with the state tax service.

Open an individual entrepreneur or peasant farm. OKVED code 12.1 - entrepreneurship in agriculture(growing beets, cucumbers, seedlings for sale and other types of agricultural business) and 12.2.- growing greens. Taxation is 6% according to the Unified Agricultural Tax.

How much money do you need to invest to start a business - the main expenses

Business expenses are divided into one-time expenses (for example, the initial purchase of equipment) and ongoing ones, which arise monthly.

Main expense items:

  • installation of a greenhouse frame;
  • purchase of equipment for lighting, heating, watering;
  • agricultural equipment;
  • packaging containers;
  • taxes;
  • rent for trading place On the market;
  • expenses for transport, advertising.

As the business develops, wages for workers and rent for land will be added to expenses. The amount of expenses depends on the scale of production and the conditions in which you are starting a business.


A detailed business plan is the basis for starting any business

A table calculating the costs of opening a 50 sq.m. greenhouse. meters on a hydroponic system will help you calculate the start-up costs of starting your own business:

Type of expenses Approximate amount, rub.
1. Fluorescent lamps 8 900, 00
2. Electrical wires, 100 meters 3 000, 00
3. Laying, installation, lighting adjustment 3 000, 00
4. Installation of two floors of shelving 11 888, 00
5. Bathtub for shelving 29 720, 00
6. Development of a useful surface for planting material 9 000, 00
7. Hydroponic technologies for irrigation, without the use of automation in operation 23 800, 00
8. Other Installation Items 17 800,00
Total: 107 108, 00

Forcing onions into feathers in a greenhouse - 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 on the Internet as much as possible suitable look business, read different business plans and here it is - the decision to start forcing onions. After all, according to advisers from the Internet, this is a miracle business where you can make good money in short time with a small area. 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 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.

In order 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 to 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 wiring 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 forcing 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 the 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 required amount 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. Tired of watching how far from onion business the authors distort reality, risking your blood, the gullible novice onion growers. 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, public utilities etc.

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 wholesale market 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 icons below social networks, click and share with friends.

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

And as a bonus, a video of how I peel green onions after harvesting

Reading time: 11 minutes. Published 11/16/2019

Growing green onions is a generally accessible activity and possible even with minimum 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, as well as, 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, you should still observe general recommendations on cultivation. This will reduce time costs and get a good harvest.

There are three characteristics that determine 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 infected with mold or fungi and, if possible, light.

Let's give possible options premises 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 as possible to natural ones.

  • Basement and garage

An alternative to a greenhouse can be a basement or garage. However, these premises need additional training. 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:

  1. Heating . For maximum onion growth, you must follow temperature regime within the 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;
  2. 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;
  3. Ventilation . The air in the basement or garage must be constantly circulated. It is advisable not only to install internal fans, but also to organize the supply of fresh air from the street. This will give the plants more comfortable conditions 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 winter period, 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 ecological material does not contain nutrients, so additional mineral fertilizers.

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, it is allowed to flow through the ducts water solution, rich in minerals.


The order of placing hydroponic layers is as follows:

  1. Onion roots.
  2. Organic substrate.
  3. Net.
  4. 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 onions in it and water it until the harvest is obtained.

There are commercially available hydroponic systems that work as follows:

  1. On the water.
  2. On the substrate.
  3. 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 air temperature environment or premises:

  • 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 market price 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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 your profit margins.
  3. Increase in price of raw materials . In a lean year, the price of onions increases greatly, which adversely affects the cost of green products.
  4. Lack of market . Not every green onion producer has his own outlet for the sale of grown goods. 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 items are mandatory, since the premises for growing onions may be owned and attract additional labor will not need.

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:

Name Options
Land area 100 sq. m.
Effective area 75 sq.m.
Average growth period of green onions 3 weeks (21 days)
Volume of grown products for 1 month 350 – 550 kg green feathers
Wholesale cost of planting material 8 RUR/1 kg
Cost of 1 kg of green feather from 10 to 60 rub.
Possible losses of green crops (due to climate, weather, etc.) 30%
Wholesale cost of selling 1 kg of onions in summer 30 50 rub.
Wholesale cost of selling 1 kg of onions in winter 200 rub.
Amount of onions sold per day by large producers 1000 – 3000 kg
Amount of onions sold per month by average producers 1500 kg
The amount of starting capital required to start a business 100 – 150 thousand rubles.
The amount of monthly profit at the very beginning of the business when using an area of ​​75 sq.m. 20 thousand rubles.
Monthly profit for growing 3000 kg of onions per month 150 thousand rubles.

The profitability of a business for growing onions in a greenhouse is about 30% in winter and more than 50% in the warm season

This difference is explained by the costs of heating and renting a greenhouse. Depending on the scope of the activity, a business can pay for itself in a period of several months to several years.

Even at the business planning stage, it is necessary to take care of the market for finished products. This point can be decisive in assessing the profitability of the entire business. Even with the most modest investments, the profit margin depends on the ability to profitably sell the grown green onions.

  • Fixed expenses
  • Sales of green onions
  • Business opening technology

We present to your attention a business plan (feasibility study) for opening a greenhouse facility for growing green onions with a total area of ​​500 square meters. m. This is a small greenhouse complex that can actually be located in the conditions of a personal subsidiary plot.

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

Let's start by calculating the financial costs of organizing the project. According to some reports, it costs about 4,000 rubles to build one square meter of a greenhouse with partial automation and microclimate. Accordingly, the construction of a greenhouse measuring 500 square meters. m. will cost 2 million rubles. In addition, it is worth taking into account the costs of purchasing planting material (50 thousand rubles), registration of a land plot (150 thousand rubles), connecting communications (100 thousand rubles) and purchasing a car for transporting grown products (500 thousand rubles .). Thus, the minimum investment to open a business will be 2.8 million rubles.

Fixed expenses

The main expenses of a greenhouse farm for growing green onions are related to payment wages and energy costs. To ensure normal operation, the farm needs: 2 greenhouse workers (planting, cutting, packing plants), 1 handyman, accountant (can be outsourced), driver (product delivery). The wage fund for such a team is at least 100 thousand rubles per month or 1.2 million rubles per year. Next is electricity. It takes an average of 246 kW/hour per year to illuminate one square meter of greenhouse space. For 500 sq. m. will take about 123,316 kW/hour per year. At a price of 6 rubles per kW/hour, annual electricity costs will be 739,896 rubles. Approximately 16,500 cubic meters are consumed for gas heating. meters per year (for a greenhouse of 500 sq. m.), which in monetary terms corresponds to 32,871 rubles of funds spent. Other expenses are associated with the purchase of packaging material, fertilizers, seeds, costs of renting a land plot (if the plot is not owned), and payment of taxes (STS). Approximately, this costs about 1.4 thousand rubles per square meter. For a greenhouse measuring 500 sq. m. will require 700 thousand rubles per year. Hence, the total annual cost of maintaining the greenhouse is 2.64 million rubles.

Download greenhouse business plan

Sales of green onions

The sale of green onions, according to the business plan, will be carried out in several ways:

  • Make wholesale deliveries to retail grocery stores and retail chains. To work with stores, large volumes of production and high-quality packaging of goods (for example, in stretch film) are required.
  • Offer green onions to wholesale resellers. In this case, the price will be slightly lower, but there will be no need for packaging the goods and less headaches with sales.
  • Supply the product to processing industries and catering enterprises (cafes, restaurants).

How much can you earn by growing green onions?

Green onions are a profitable plant. From one kilogram of planting material (bulbs) you can get up to 2 kilograms of green onions. Some technologies (for example, bridge planting) make it possible to place up to 800 bulbs on one square meter. On one square meter you can grow up to 5 kg of green onions in a month. Accordingly, from 500 sq. m. production output will be about 2500 kg per month. The wholesale price of green onions in the spring and winter is 150 rubles. per kilogram. Thus, the revenue of the greenhouse farm, subject to 100% sales of all grown products, will be 375 thousand rubles. For the year, taking into account non-seasonal summer period(income is 2 times less), you can earn up to 4 million rubles. The profit of a greenhouse farm for growing green onions, according to business plan calculations, will be: 4,000,000 - 2,640,000 = 1,360,000 rubles. With such indicators, the project pays for itself in just over two years. Business profitability is 51%.

We recommend download greenhouse business plan, from our partners, with a quality guarantee. This is a full-fledged finished project, which you will not find in the public domain. Contents of the business plan: 1. Confidentiality 2. Summary 3. Stages of project implementation 4. Characteristics of the object 5. Marketing plan 6. Technical and economic data of the equipment 7. Financial plan 8. Risk assessment 9. Financial and economic justification of investments 10. Conclusions

Step-by-step plan for starting a green onion growing business

  1. Conducting a situational analysis of the greenhouse business in the region.
  2. Market research.
  3. Drawing up a business plan.
  4. Purchase of greenhouses, arrangement of warehouses.
  5. Business registration.
  6. Purchase of seed material.
  7. Preparation of equipment.
  8. Starting a business.

How to choose equipment for business

To grow green onions, it is necessary to equip the room with instantaneous water heaters, with the help of which warm watering of the plants will be carried out. It is ideal when the crop is grown on purchased soil using fertilizers. For lighting you will need ultraviolet light lamps. All equipment can be purchased in specialized stores. Many offer discounts for bulk purchases. You can shorten the growing period for greens and increase productivity by using the aeroponics growing method. The technology will require special equipment costing about 4 thousand rubles. for 1 sq. m. It is advisable to use it for areas over 100 sq. m. m. Don’t forget about equipment for packaging finished products. It is easier and more profitable to purchase devices in online stores.

Which OKVED code to indicate when registering a business?

  • 12.2 - entrepreneurship in the field of agriculture.
  • 12.1 - growing vegetables.

What documents are needed to open a business?

Growing green onions for your own purposes is not commercial activities. But if you engage in a business of growing greens, you will need to register with the tax service. To legalize your activity, it is enough to register an individual entrepreneur by providing a photocopy of your passport, an application and a receipt for payment of the state duty.

Which tax system to choose

For a business growing green onions, it is best to apply the Unified Agricultural Tax of 6%.

Do I need permission to open?

Running a greenhouse business does not require licensing or certification.

Business opening technology

You can grow onions for greens in glass, polycarbonate or film greenhouses. Glass greenhouses are much more expensive, but allow you to grow greens year-round. Film greenhouses are most often used by entrepreneurs in initial stage business. Polycarbonate greenhouses are the golden mean for growing. The modern device is durable, durable and allows you to grow crops in the cold season. Onions can be grown in 2 ways: from sets and seeds. The choice of agricultural technology depends on the equipment and the desired result.