Chapter 12. Onion, Leek, and Chive Production in Florida
Peter J. Dittmar, Eugene J. McAvoy, Richard N. Raid, Pamela Roberts, Hugh A. Smith, Xavier Martini, Johan
Desaeger, Joseph W. Noling, Shouan Zhang, and Lincoln Zotarelli
Botany and Planting
Onion - Allium cepa, Alliaceae (Amaryillidaceae)
Leek - Allium ampeloprasum
Chive - Allium schoenoprasum
Bunching onion -
Table 11.1. Planting information for onion and allies.
Planting dates Seeded Transplanted
North Florida Mid Sept - mid Nov Nov - Jan
Central Florida Oct Dec - Jan
South Florida Oct Dec - Jan
Planting information
Distance between rows (in) 14 - 18 14 - 18
Distance between plants (in) 3 - 4 4 - 6
Seeding depth (in) 0.25 - 0.5 -
Seed per acre (lb) 3 - 4 1
Days to maturity 100 - 130 100 - 1302
Plant populations (acre) 149,343 112,123
Cultivars
Table 11.2. Onion and leek cultivars.
Onion
Dawn (H) Savannah Sweet (H)
Granex 33 (H) Sweet Caroline (H)
Pirate (H) Sweet Harvest (H)
Plethora (H) Sweet Success (H)
Prowler (H) Vidurra (H)
Red Hunter
Bunching Onion
Perfecto Blanco Tokyo Long White White Portugal
Leeks
Jolant Megathon Verina
King Richard Tivi
Lancelot Tornado
Chives
Staro
H=hybrid
Table 12.3. Herbicides approved for managing weeds in onion. (continued)
Labels change frequently. Be sure to read a current product label before applying any chemical.
Active ingredient Trade name MOA
lb. a.i./A product/A code Crops Weeds controlled / remarks
*** PREEMERGENCE ***
Bensulide (Prefar) 4 E 8 Dry bulb vegetables: onion, garlic,
shallot
Annual broadleaf and grass control. Incorporate or irrigate 1 to
2 in. deep within 36 hr. of application. Consult label for rotational
restrictions.
5.0 - 6.0 5 - 6 qt.
Bromoxynil (Buctril) 2 EC 6 Onion (dry bulb) Broadleaf weeds. Preemergence is restricted to muck soils
containing greater than 10% organic matter. Apply at least 3 to 4
days prior to emergence. Weeds should not exceed the 4-leaf stage,
2 in. in height or 1 in. in diameter.
0.25 - 0.38 1.0 - 1.5 pt.
(Buctril) 4 EC
0.5 - 0.75 pt.
Carfentrazone (Aim) 1.9 EW 14 Onion, garlic, leek, chive, shallot Apply as a preplant burn down for emerged broadleaf weeds. Use
crop oil concentrate, methylated seed oil, or nonionic surfactant at
recommended rates. Maximum rate of 0.096 lb. a.i./A per season.
No pretransplant interval.
up to 0.031
(Aim) 2.0 EC