WESTERN GIANT F1

Why Western Giant F1 became a staple in vegetable growing

When you enter an onion field, it's crucial to understand what you'll be dealing with for the next 90–100 days. With the "Western Giant F1," Sakata's Japanese breeding has focused on predictability. This is a classic salad onion with medium day length that forgives many agronomic mistakes. The biggest advantage for me as a farmer is its resistance to Fusarium. In high humidity conditions or in fields where the soil is already 'tired,' this hybrid doesn't turn into a liability.

Field performance

It is technologically easy to manage: at a recommended density of 1,000–1,100 thousand plants/ha, you get excellent marketable bulbs. The round shape simplifies mechanized harvesting; the bulbs are uniform and don't 'bounce' on the conveyor. The bronze scales are tight and hold well, which is critical for appearance during storage and transport. The white, juicy flesh inside is exactly what the end consumer values in salads.

• Maturity: 90 to 100 days. This allows for planning the harvest schedule without rushing.
• Immunity: significantly fewer losses due to Fusarium compared to local varieties.
• Planting: stick to the rate of 1.0–1.1 million plants/ha—this way, the bulb reaches its ideal size without the extra cost of thinning.

If you are looking for a hybrid for stable salad production with minimal risks of disease-related losses, this onion pays for itself 100%. It doesn't require any specific 'fiddling' during maintenance, and the yield of marketable produce is always predictable.