W.B. Evans. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center

Muck Crops Branch, Willard, OH 44890

The 1998 green/bunching onion trial consisted of four plots each of 11 entries grown at the O.A.R.D.C. Muck Crops Branch in Willard, OH on a Linwood muck. Each plot contained 3 rows, 20 ft. long and 19 in. apart. Plots were spring plowed and fertilized with 700 lb. 16-8-26. Plots were seeded May 28 at 18 seeds/ft. Plots were sidedressed June 23 with 53 lb. N as calcium nitrate. Manganese (4 lb./acre) was sprayed on the foliage July 28. This difficult season was characterized by dry, moderately warm weather broken up every 30-40 days by flooding rains of 2-7 inches in 1-2 days. Despite this, little foliar disease was seen.

Each plot was harvested when most plants had reached marketable size. Plants from ten row feet from the center row were weighed, graded, trimmed to marketable size, and reweighed. The width (data not shown) and length of the white portion (shank) of 10 plants was recorded. Leaf diameter, color, and angle of attachment were described qualitatively from photographs taken after trimming.

The best overall onions were the Kincho and Ishakura selections. These produced a high percentage of marketable plants with few of the negative attributes other entries exhibited (Table 1). Leaves of Long White Sakata may be too thick, with too wide an angle of attachment for some markets. Long White Koshigaya may also be a good choice if long shanks are not needed by the market. Parade produced long shanks but also produced many unmarketable onions.

The following onions were included in the replicated trail but failed to produce significant numbers of harvestable onions: Hikawa (TS/SI), Iwai #2 (TS/SI), and Feast (AT). Data from these plots was not included in the analysis of variance.

Table 1. Green onion cultivar characteristics at harvest.