How to properly water onions in open ground and in a greenhouse

Onions are a very ancient crop, known for more than 5 thousand years. The rules for its breeding have already been thoroughly studied, but still summer residents do not always get good harvests. The requirements for watering and nutritional conditions for this crop vary at different stages of growth, depending on the purpose of cultivation: for turnips, for forcing greens, for obtaining seedlings. Let's look at these nuances in our article today.

General rules and regulations for watering onions

Onions are a stable and non-capricious crop, but for normal growth they need a suitable place for planting and an optimal watering regime.

Why water onions

The vegetative parts of a plant are on average 90% water. The size of the bulbs directly depends on the timeliness and amount of watering. To increase organic mass (both turnips and greens), onions require a lot of nutrition. Water provides plants with access to nutrients, which must arrive regularly and evenly.

Lack of moisture serves as a signal to stop the vegetative process and begin ripening of the bulbs.

When and how often

The moisture schedule is especially important at the stages of root formation, growth of leaf mass and the bulb itself.

After planting, the plant is actively watered. During this period, soil moisture is maintained within 70%. Once the bulbs have reached optimal varietal size, Watering is reduced, and at the ripening stage is stopped completely.

Important! Water for irrigation is taken warm.Do not use fresh well or tap water without prior infusion. The approximate norm is a bucket of liquid per 1 m2 of planting. This volume is adjusted based on precipitation and soil conditions.

When forcing onions, onions are moistened throughout the growing season.

How to water correctly

Proper watering ensures constant, uniform soil moisture to the depth of the root system without the formation of a soil crust and stagnation of moisture. Methods for irrigating onions are gentle: sprinkling (for greens), between rows (for turnips), drip method.

In the open ground

Atmospheric and soil processes significantly affect the moisture schedule of vegetable beds. The need for the next watering is determined by checking the condition of the soil at a depth of several centimeters.

Attention! It is important to avoid getting any liquid on the bulbs to prevent them from rotting. Regulating the water pressure will prevent the soil from being washed away.

Irrigate vegetables in the morning or evening, not in hot weather. This will prevent burns on the leaves and rapid drying out of the soil. Warm water is used (+17…+18°C).

In the greenhouse

Cultivation of onions in protected soil conditions is practiced year-round, mainly for forcing high-quality, abundant greenery (for feathers). In addition to the usual onions, perennial varieties are used: leeks, spring onions, shallots and others.

Onions are planted more densely on feathers than on turnips. Water the crop from a watering can (sprinkling) with warm water as the soil dries. Usually they moisten less often than in the open air (in dry weather), since in greenhouses there is less ventilation and constant air humidity is maintained. In some greenhouses, onions are grown hydroponically.

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is the most effective method because:

• prevents the risks of waterlogging and soil erosion;
• significantly saves water resources, including reducing wastewater losses;
• allows dosed application of fertilizers;
• protects bulbs and feathers from burns and getting wet;
• maintains good soil indicators: mineral composition, looseness, etc.

Simultaneously with drip irrigation, fertigation is carried out (the crop is fed with liquid fertilizers).

How to water at different stages of the growing season

The main secrets lie in varying watering rates at different stages of growth.

Before boarding

Before planting onions, the soil is spilled to a great depth with a double dose of liquid. It is advisable to use not just water, but a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.

With such abundant watering, the seedlings are planted the next day, when the soil reaches optimal moisture.

During early spring planting, when there is still a lot of natural moisture in the ground, pre-planting irrigation of the bed is not necessary.

Immediately after landing

After planting the seed, the soil is moistened to start the growing season. Even with autumn planting before winter, the seedlings must take root before retiring until spring.

At emergence and during the period of active growth

For onions, it is important that the feeding layer of soil at a depth of 10 cm remains evenly moistened.

Attention! The main thing in determining the need for watering is the dryness of the soil in the root layer. It is unacceptable to allow cracks to appear on the surface of the earth.

In the open air, the frequency of irrigation is determined depending on weather conditions (in the absence of rain - 1-2 times a week). The greenhouse is watered once every 10 days.

Bow on feather

The feathers are formed juicy if there are enough nutrients in the bulb. Water the crop abundantly throughout the entire period of green growth (taking into account the temperature conditions in the greenhouse). At temperatures around +15...+20°C, water moderately, once a week, on average 3 liters per 1 m2. With a significant increase in air temperature (more than +25°C), both the frequency of humidification (once every 4-5 days) and the volume of liquid (3-4 liters per 1 m2) are increased.

Before harvest

The intensity of watering is reduced when the peak of growth processes has passed. A signal for a decrease in moisture is the lodging of tops in 30–40% of plants. There is no need to stimulate the growth of new leaves. During this period, nutrients move from the green mass and concentrate in the bulb. When the feathers begin to actively turn yellow and dry out, stop watering completely.

How to water a large onion

The peculiarity of irrigating grown onions is associated with the need to protect the already formed heads from getting wet. Rain and root methods of moistening plantings are replaced by watering techniques between rows.

The soil in onion plantings is loosened superficially so as not to damage the roots lying in the top layer.

Danger of overfilling

Despite the increased need for water on onions, at certain stages of growth it is important not to overdo it with hydration.

Attention! Excessive watering, especially on heavy soils, contributes to the development of rot in plants.

If there is excess moisture, the bushes are affected by powdery mildew, the bulbs crack, and wet areas appear on them. When the first signs of damage appear, stop irrigation.

When to stop watering

For full ripening of the bulbs 1-2 weeks before harvesting watering is stopped (from about the end of July - beginning of August).

The time to collect green feathers comes when they reach the required length. In this case, they stop moistening the crop 2-3 days before the planned cutting, so that the feathers do not deteriorate from the liquid.

How and why to water onions with a nutrient mixture

Onions extract a large supply of nutrients from the soil, so fertilizing irrigation has a beneficial effect on them.

Salty water

Gardeners often fertilize onion plantings with salt water. It is affordable and economical, and salt not only contains elements beneficial to the crop, but also repels harmful insects (for example, onion flies).

To protect and feed the plants, water them with salt water no more than 3 times per season with an interval of 2-3 weeks. For the solution, take 200–300 g of salt per bucket of water. They pour at the root.

Important! Frequent watering with salt water deteriorates the quality of the soil and makes it salty. To neutralize this negative effect, at the end of the season, a double portion of organic fertilizers is applied to the beds.

A few hours after this treatment, the bed is irrigated with ordinary heated water.

Water with fertilizing

With good pre-planting fertilizer of the beds, the first root dressing is applied after 2-3 weeks. It is better to use organic fertilizer, since onion plants require nitrogen at first.

Until the end of July, when the plantings are in normal condition, complex fertilizers are added at the same frequency. If signs of starvation occur (pale feathers, slow development of bulbs), the composition and sequence of feedings are adjusted.

Watering green onions in a greenhouse and open ground

The greenhouse is not exposed to precipitation, so the humidification schedule here is different from what is used outdoors.

In open ground, the crop is watered 1-2 times a week (depending on the weather). The soil is soaked to a depth of 10 cm, then the soil is carefully loosened between the rows, which ensures uniform soil moisture and prevents the formation of crust.

In a greenhouse, the watering schedule is clear, usually once every 10 days. Loosening the soil is replaced by mulching, since onion planting is denser in such conditions.

How to water seed onions

There are three methods of growing onions from seeds:

• a two-year cycle, in which seeds are obtained in the first year;
• growing bulbs from seeds in one year;
• seedling method.

To obtain healthy seedlings, the crop is irrigated 1-2 times a week as it grows. Stop watering at the stage of seed bulb maturation.

Before sowing in early spring, the bed is disinfected with hot water, the seeds are laid out in grooves, sprinkled with humus and covered with film to retain moisture. The film is removed only after germination. In the future, standard irrigation and fertilizing are carried out, as indicated earlier.

In the third method, seedlings are first grown from seeds at home. The crops are sprayed so as not to damage the tender sprouts. After planting in open ground, the seedlings are moistened daily for the first week for successful rooting. Subsequent care for onions is standard.

Features of sprinkler irrigation systems

Sprinkler irrigation is effective when caring for lawns, in greenhouses and large areas of agricultural crops.

The installation itself is a system of pipes with nozzles spraying water - sprinklers. The sprinkler effect is created using dividers in the nozzles. This device has a more beneficial effect on plants even compared to drip irrigation.

Features of sprinkler humidification:

• optimal frequency and rate of watering in any weather;
• there is no risk of soil erosion or formation of soil crust;
• not only the root system is moistened, but also the ground layer of air;
• moisture and fertilizing mixtures are distributed evenly;
• the soil temperature decreases, which prevents it from drying out.

The cost of sprinkler irrigation is high, but in the southern regions of our country its use is economically beneficial.

Tips and tricks

To obtain a high-quality harvest, vegetable growers follow some subtleties of growing onions:

1. To speed up ripening, in the second half of the growing season, the bulbs are unplanted or supported with partial roots being cut off.
2. During prolonged rainy weather, film canopies are installed over the onion beds, protecting the crop from getting wet. This is especially true in August.
3. Water the vegetable evenly, otherwise low-quality bulbs will form with alternating juicy and dry scales, which will adversely affect the shelf life of the crop.

Read also:

How to eat onions for weight loss: recipes for dietary dishes.

Stop crying in the kitchen: learn to cut onions without crying.

How to water cucumbers in a polycarbonate greenhouse: instructions and basic rules.

Conclusion

A balanced irrigation regime is the main condition for obtaining a rich and high-quality harvest of green or onions. Proper organization of irrigation involves not only compliance with quantitative standards, but also optimal frequency of moistening at different stages of the growing season.