| Estimated Cost |
$500 – $3000 per acre |
| Market Outlets |
Food services, wholesale grocery, farmer’s markets, roadside stands |
| Market Potential |
Good |
| Yield Potential |
300- 1000 50lbs sacks/acre |
| Profit Potential |
$0 to $1,200 per acre |
| Adapted Areas |
Statewide and near population centers |
| Labor Requirements |
Two men per acre, more at harvest, very labor intensive at harvest |
| Equipment Requirements |
Tractor, shredder, disk, bedder, planter, herbicide sprayer, insect/disease sprayer, cultivator, weeder or harvest blade and trailer |
| Soil Requirements |
Sandy loam or silty clay loam with internal drainage |
| Water Requirements |
Good quality water for 2 to 4 acre inches per acre per week |
| Minimum Size |
1/2 to 1 acre |
| Risk Factor |
High |
| Other Limiting Factors |
Cold winter, seed stems, rains at harvest, increasing import competition and limited volume accepted at local market. Concenterated labor for transplanting in December and January; need to cotract for transplants in July. |
| Comments |
Day length sensitive with regard to bulbing. Specific varieties perform differently in each section of Texas. Variety selection critical. |
