Siberia

Winter endurance: The «Sibir» onion from Bejo

The «Sibir» (Siberia) onion variety, developed by the renowned Dutch seed company Bejo, is a specialized solution designed for growers who prioritize early-season market entry. With a lengthy vegetative period of 260–270 days, this variety is not for quick turnover; it is a tactical choice for farmers practicing winter cultivation to secure early spring harvests.

Technical characteristics and grower insights

• Short-day adaptation: Being a short-day variety, it is specifically fine-tuned to bulb development under the light conditions of early spring, making it a reliable performer in temperate climates.
• Physical profile: The bulbs are perfectly rounded with a classic bronze skin and crisp white flesh. With a dry matter content of up to 10%, it prioritizes flavor and texture over long-term storage, which is perfectly suited for immediate market supply.
• Handling and harvest: Designed for manual harvesting, this variety ensures that each bulb retains its premium aesthetic quality, free from the bruising often associated with mechanical harvesting systems.

Strengths and Trade-offs: The primary advantage of «Sibir» is the timing. It hits the market when old stocks are depleted and new summer crops are nowhere near maturity. The tradeoff is the significant time investment in the field and the need for meticulous winter crop protection. This is not a "plant and forget" crop; it requires proactive management through the dormant season.

This variety is ideal for farms focusing on high-quality, early-season fresh produce for local or premium markets. By choosing Bejo's «Sibir», producers are effectively investing in a market gap, capturing value by providing fresh, high-quality onions exactly when demand outstrips supply.