Red Onion
Allium cepa
- Days to harvest
- 90–120 days
- Sunlight
- 5–7 hours/day
- Watering
- 1–1 per day
- Plant spacing
- 15 cm
- Minimum container size
- 20cm deep × 25cm wide
- Container-friendly
- 2 plants per container
- Estimated yield
- 100 kg / 100m²
- Life span
- annual
Climate Requirements
- Ideal temperature
- 25-32 °C
- Annual rainfall
- 1500-2500 mm
- Humidity
- 60-80%
- Heat tolerance
- moderate
- Drought tolerance
- moderate
Soil & Planting
Planting method
Direct seeding or transplanting
Soil requirements
Well-drained fertile soil
Companion Plants
- Carrotstrong
Classic companion pair: onion scent repels carrot rust fly; carrot scent repels onion fly
- Lettucemoderate
Onion deters aphids from lettuce; lettuce acts as living mulch between onion rows
- Beetrootmoderate
Onions repel pests from beetroot; both have compatible spacing and growth habits
- Kalestrong
Onion sulfur compounds deter cabbage worms and flea beetles from kale
Plants to Avoid Nearby
- Long Bean
Onion root exudates inhibit legume nitrogen-fixing bacteria; allicin compounds stunt bean growth
- Garden Pea
Onion allicin compounds inhibit pea nitrogen-fixing bacteria; stunts pea growth significantly
- Edamame
Onion root exudates inhibit soybean nitrogen-fixing bacteria; reduces edamame yield
- Groundnut / Peanut
Groundnut nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium suppressed by allium root compounds; reduces yield
Common Pests & Diseases
Common pests
Market Demand
Very high; Malaysia imports ~100% of supply (>RM1 billion/year); government actively promoting local cultivation via MARDI BAW varieties
Regional Notes
Malaysia imports nearly all onion supply; MARDI BAW-1, BAW-2, BAW-3 varieties developed for local cultivation; pilot farms in Kelantan, Pahang, Sabah; government targets 30% self-sufficiency by 2030
Sources
- Vegetable Growing Guide for Malaysia — DOA Malaysia · Last reviewed: 2026-04-12
Category: Alliums