While most Georgians are hustling to finish last-minute shopping
for the holidays, Vidalia onion farmers are planting
the last of their fields and checking them twice.
"Right now, most everything looks good," said Reid
Torrance,
Tattnall County Extension Service director. "The majority
of growers will be through planting before Christmas, which is
a little ahead of schedule."
Except for some damaging, warmer-than-normal weather in
November,
the tiny onion plants are well on their way to a fruitful
spring.
They just have to get through winter first.
New Year, Less
Onions
Because prices have been so low recently, Vidalia onion growers
are planting less of the crop in hopes of improving market
prices.
So there won't be as many onions on the market next year,
Torrance
said.
Georgia growers usually plant about 15,000 acres of the crop.
Tattnall County farmers grow about half of those. This year,
Torrance
said, he expects farmers to plant about 1,000 fewer acres than
last year.
"The growers would like to see a reduction in acres,"
Torrance said. "These guys need a good year to put some
money
in their pockets. Farmers have barely broken even on prices over
the past few years."
In an average season, fresh-market prices usually start high,
then drop as the harvest continues. Over the past few seasons,
however, Georgia farmers have produced an abundance of
onions.
This oversupply has lowered the price farmers get, said George
Boyhan, a horticulturist with the University of Georgia College
of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences. Barring any adverse weather, though,
there should still be plenty of onions for shoppers next
year.
Extreme Weather
Tough
The onions don't mind some hard winter weather. But high winds
and extreme temperature swings can damage the crop.
Onions take the hardest hit when temperatures drop into the low
teens after a spell of warm, sunny days. The onion is 90 percent
water. Low temperatures can cause the water in the tender onion
cells to freeze and rupture.
The Vidalia onion crop hasn't minded the extended drought that
has gripped the state, either. In fact, the onions like it
dry.
"The drought doesn't much affect the onion," Boyhan
said. "Dry conditions keep disease pressure down." Vidalia
onions
are planted under irrigation.
Sweet Treat Available
Now
Shoppers don't have to wait until spring to enjoy fresh Vidalia
onions, though. Small Vidalias, sold as salad onions, are in
grocery
stores now.
The junior-sized onions are planted in early August. They are
then harvested until December, before they become mature. The
onions are good in stir fries and salads.
"You can grow a lot of salad onions on a small number of
acres," Torrance said. "It's a nice niche market for
some growers."
Mature Vidalia onions are harvested in mid-spring, mostly in
April.
Controlled-atmosphere storage allows growers to extend the time
they can market the crop. But even the stored onions don't last
far past September, Boyhan said.
Published on 12/12/00
Sweet Crop Gets Ready for Winter
CAES News
Three graduate researchers honored in 20th year of E. Broadus Browne Awards
For the 20th consecutive year, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences hosted the prestigious E. Broadus Browne Research Awards competition, resulting in three new graduate students being honored for their outstanding efforts in research and communication. In recognition of former Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station Director Edmund Broadus Browne, the annual competition highlights some of the best graduate research from departments within the college and challenges contestants with an oral presentation.
CAES News
UGArden celebrates 15 years of growing community, fighting hunger
The UGArden student farm will celebrate 15 years of service to the Athens community this spring with two major events: a Community Day on May 3 and an upscale Garden Gala on June 7. UGArden is a 10-acre student-run farm at the University of Georgia that produces organic produce through sustainable practices. The farm provides fresh food to Athens-area families, conducts research and offers hands-on education to students. It was founded by students in 2010 with support from the Department of Horticulture in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
CAES News
Did you know you can grow: Mayhaw
Georgia, traditionally known as the Peach State, is famous for its peaches, pecans and peanuts. But thanks to its mild climate, the state also supports a variety of uncommon and exotic fruits. In a new series inspired by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension publication, “Minor Fruits and Nuts in Georgia,” we’ll highlight lesser-known fruits that thrive in Georgia and can be grown in home gardens. This month, we’re kicking things off with a tree that produces a fruit many may not know — the mayhaw.
CAES News
Investing in rural America through integrative precision agriculture
Meet George Vellidis, director of the University of Georgia's Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. UGA launched the institute in 2022 to leverage interdisciplinary faculty expertise and industry ties to advance this field. “As researchers, it’s easy for us to work as individuals to solve a particular task,” said Vellidis. “But when we work together to look at problems from different perspectives, we come up with optimal solutions for even bigger challenges.”
CAES News
Lady Belle wins 2025 Flavor of Georgia food product contest
A baked good secured the top spot at the 2025 Flavor of Georgia food product competition, beating out a record 173 products submitted in 12 categories. Sunday Dinner Gritscuits, produced by Lady Belle, are French gougeres, or cheese puffs, stuffed with macaroni and cheese flavored grits with collard greens and smoked turkey. Lady Belle is a French-Southern fusion microbakery specializing in handcrafted Parisian style macarons, Belle (Signature) Macarons and savory Gritscuits.
CAES News
CAES to honor new graduates at convocation ceremony May 8
As the academic year winds down, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is preparing for its spring 2025 convocation, to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Classic Center in Athens. “Convocation presents a unique opportunity for students to reflect on all they have achieved during their college careers,” said CAES Dean and Director Nick Place.
