Will primed onion seed kickstart this spring?

The contrast between the onion fields in the Netherlands is great. The rows of onions are already clearly visible in some fields, while others will only be sown this week. Despite the low temperature, there are positive sounds throughout the Netherlands about onions that have been sown. Primed seed in particular shows what they have been treated for.

The growers on the Boerenbusiness Croptour are lucky, just like their colleagues, with the good sowing conditions and the amount of moisture this year. Unfortunately, the growth of the seed onions has not really taken off yet. The sowing seed has problems with germination due to the mild spring weather. However, the differences between the plots are large.

Primed seed shows itself
This season so far clearly shows why growers choose primed seed over unprimed seed. Primed seed should germinate faster at a low temperature as soon as it comes into contact with moisture. Due to the low temperature recently, primed seed is a lot further in development than unprimed seed.

Grower Martijn Derikx from Ysselsteyn confirms that: "There are 2 plots here that were sown at the same time. One plot with normal and the other plot with primed seed. The plot with primed seed is now growing almost 14 days ahead of the other plot. " 

Many growers wonder whether you can also see the faster emergence in the barrels, after all, it must yield some extras. In addition, primed seed must be kept moist if the germination process is to take effect. It is also possible that onions return earlier, because the crop is on top for longer. Another fact is that the crop is catching up with the rapid emergence during the season.

The pictures below show the difference between primed and unprimed seed, 21 and 23 days old.

For Martijn Derikx, the choice between sowing seed is easy: "The question is, of course, how the crop will develop later in the season, but that lead at the start ensures more positive effects. Due to the uniform emergence, crop protection is easier to carry out and I might be able to save on spraying, because the crop is up so quickly. It's difficult to measure something like that, but I see the added value in it." 

Looks a little better
Dirk Binnema from Eenrum (Groningen) saw the added value of primed seed last year and is going to see how it goes this year: "Last year I saw a significant difference in emergence. It was not visible during the growing season, but once at the harvest looked a little better on the eye, and with primed seed, the advice is to sow a little less units, which also makes a difference."

Harmjan Hospers from Nagele (Flevoland) uses normal seed and is satisfied with that: "Previously we also had primed seed, until we used normal seed again. The difference was minimal, although the conditions must of course also be suitable for primed seed. That was not necessary last year. As soon as the seed has been moist and has become dry, it is left for primed seed. The germ dies and does not start again," Hospers experiences.

Jesse Torringa

Jesse is an editor at Boerenbusiness and focuses in particular on the arable farming sector, including grain and onions. He also closely follows the fertilizer market. In addition, Jesse works on an arable farm in Groningen with seed potatoes as the main branch.

j.torringa@boerenbusiness. Nl

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