Early start to 2025 onion season, drought plays a role

The start of sowing onions in the Netherlands and Belgium is going a lot smoother this spring than in the past two years. Thanks to favourable weather conditions, growers in both the north and the south of the country are busy. However, the dry conditions in some regions bring challenges.

The first seed drills were already running in the last week of February, which is early compared to previous years. In the Netherlands, a handful of growers were the first to start, followed shortly afterwards by others thanks to the favourable weather. Although the night temperatures were relatively low in recent weeks, the soil proved to be easy to work after the frost of last winter.

Since the beginning of March, the pace has increased considerably. According to estimates by De Groot and Slot, the sown area in the Netherlands is now between 50% and 60% and this is increasing daily. In Belgium, this percentage is around 40%. There are clear differences per region. If we look at the north, a lot of sowing work has already been done in Groningen and it is estimated that around 50% of the area is already in the ground. In Friesland, this percentage is slightly lower and sowing was limited until the beginning of this week, partly due to the soil type. In Flevoland, however, the sowing machines are running at full speed. In southern Flevoland, around 75% of the area has already been sown, while in North Holland around 50% has been sown.

If we look at the South of the Netherlands, we see that in North Brabant, Zeeland and South Holland, progress is great. The frost period has ensured that the soil is easily workable, so that contractors are already finished in some places.

Drought poses a challenge
Despite the rapid progress, drought is a problem in some areas. According to Tom Langenberg, account manager of De Groot en Slot, the sowing conditions in eastern Flevoland are generally good, but it is becoming very dry in the upper areas. "Precipitation is limited and humidity remains low. Some growers have seized their chance and sown, while others prefer to wait for rain. Then the soil is moister, which makes the seed more stable."

Wendy Hilhorst, account manager in North Holland and southern Flevoland, agrees with this problem: "What was sown last week and where no significant rain fell, the seed is not in solid ground in some places. Irrigation will still be necessary there."

The consequences of the drought are also becoming visible in the south of the Netherlands. In North Brabant, Zeeland and South Holland the first irrigation reels have already been spotted. In addition, some plots with onions are struggling with a shortage of moisture.

Germination and first sprays
The first sprouts can now be found on the earliest sown plots, which indicates a rapid emergence. Nevertheless, many plots need a light rain shower. Some growers in the south who received some rain last weekend have already carried out a first spraying of soil herbicides on their onions.

Outlook
Although the season has had a flying start, the precipitation forecast remains a crucial factor. Growers who have not yet sown prefer to wait for rain to be able to work under better moisture conditions. For the already sown plots, irrigation will be necessary in some places to ensure an even emergence.

The 2025 onion season has been going well so far, but the coming weeks will remain exciting for growers in the Netherlands and Belgium.