By Clint Thompson
Vidalia onion harvests are winding down across the Southeast Georgia region. Weather once again was a challenge for growers, with sporadic rain events recorded in the onion-producing counties, according to Cliff Riner, Vidalia Onion Committee chairman.
“We’ve been really blessed to have a lot of good weather as well as some rain challenges, but (two weeks ago) it was bright, sunny and cooler temperatures than normal. That’s been a blessing. We get worried about rain for onions, but we haven’t seen any really bad detriment to it at this point,” Riner said. “The crop still looks like it has good quality, and we’re in the process about as far along as we need to be right now. Maybe we can stay on schedule with harvest.
“It’s been dry enough in general that it’s not been too challenging. It’s offered a challenge, but nothing that’s overtaken us.”
According to the University of Georgia Weather Network , Vidalia, Georgia, received 4.41 inches of rain and 13 rainy days during April. That is more than 2022 (3.78 inches) and 2021 (2.91) by comparison.
Harvests continue to be on par with previous seasons and should be completed in a timely fashion – barring any significant rainfall in the future.
“Our goal is to finish up about the middle of May, about the 15th. I think we’re on schedule. I haven’t done the math to see if we’ll finish by that time, but we shouldn’t be much later than that if we’re past that. A lot depends on the next couple of weeks, if there’s rain or whatever,” Riner said.