The main secrets of planting onion sets before winter: how and when to plant correctly
The onion harvest depends on planting technology, adherence to agricultural practices, storage and care tips. In the fall, planting onion sets before winter causes some concerns among gardeners - there is a possibility that the bulbs will die and not sprout in the spring. Therefore, we will give recommendations and advice on winter sowing of onions and proper care for them.
Features of planting onion sets before winter
The harvest time for bulbs varies from the beginning of the third decade of June to mid-July. It all depends on the variety: onions can be early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening.
The correctly selected variety of seedlings also affects the yield. From 1 m² of land, up to 5-8 kg of turnips are collected. The yield depends on the soil type, region and overall care.
Benefits of autumn planting onions:
- there is no need to store seed material;
- the cost of sowing is less than in the spring;
- after harvesting, it is possible to sow another crop;
- in the spring, time is freed up for other garden work;
- It is possible to plant unsprouted bulbs in the spring.
Varieties and hybrids of winter onion sets
Suitable for winter planting onion varieties and hybrids:
- early ripening - Bogatyrskaya sila, Bessonovsky, Myachkovsky 300, Odinovets, Siberian annual, Spanish medallion F1, Skorospelka, Stuttgarter Risen;
- mid-season - Danilovsky 301, Carmen MC, Krepysh, Chalzendon, Ecstasy, Tamara F1;
- late ripening – Comet, Lugansky, Rubin (red), Sturon.
When to plant onion sets before winter
In different regions, sowing dates vary due to climatic conditions.. The main criterion for starting to plant onions is a stable air temperature of +4...+6°C.
Important! The planting period for seeding is calculated so that the vegetable has time to take root before frost (1.5-2 weeks), but does not have time to germinate.
When to sow onions:
- In the Moscow region, as well as throughout central Russia, the sets are planted from October 8 to October 25. A more accurate date is determined based on the weather and the lunar calendar.
- In the Urals and Siberia plant wild oatmeal in the ground 1-1.5 weeks earlier, from the second half of September to mid-October.
- In the Leningrad region sowing begins in the same way as in central Russia - from the beginning to the middle of the third ten days of October. If you take onion varieties zoned for the Leningrad region, the planting dates are in September.
According to the lunar calendar
Favorable days for planting are also determined by the lunar calendar.. Every year they are different. Pay attention to the phases: planting winter onions is scheduled for the waning moon. Seeds are not planted during the new or full moon. The zodiac signs responsible for successful planting of winter onions are Virgo, Libra and Scorpio.
Preparing the soil for autumn planting
The soil for planting seedlings is prepared immediately after harvesting. on the selected bed.
Remove plant debris and root remains. They do a deep dig on the bayonet of a shovel. Lightly incorporate humus into the soil at the rate of 5 kg per 1 m² and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers according to the instructions. Water the bed with a strong solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect the soil.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Select small sets for winter planting, 1 cm in caliber.. Such wild oats do not disappear in the spring; they take root and overwinter better.
Reference. To avoid rotting of small onions, use high beds for better drainage and water flow.
The preparation of seed material begins with sorting. Select specimens of the same size, without visible damage, and remove rotten or frozen seed heads.
Bulbs are processed for disinfection in a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 liter of water) or copper sulfate (3 g per 1 liter of water). Dip into a warm solution for 25 minutes and allow to dry.
The heads are hardened before planting. First soak in warm (+45…+50°C) water for 10-12 minutes, then immediately plunge into ice water. To stimulate root growth, the heads are soaked in a solution of “Epin” or “Kornevin”.
You can resort to folk remedies for disinfection and soak the seeds in a solution of salt water (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of warm water) for 30 minutes or warm the heads at a temperature of +25...+30°C on a radiator for 24 hours.
Planting scheme and cultivation of winter onion sets
After preparing the onion sets, they begin planting them.
The soil in the garden bed is leveled, clods are broken so that the soil remains loose and homogeneous.. Onions grow in loamy soils. If the soil is alkaline, add wood ash to it at the rate of 1 tbsp. per 1 m furrow. If the soil is highly acidic, add lime or dolomite flour (200 g per m²).
When planting, crop rotation is observed and predecessors are taken into account.. The most suitable crops are legumes, greens, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage.
Based on the climate zone, weather forecast and lunar calendar, the planting day is selected. Sowing begins 1.5-2 weeks before the expected frost.
The prepared arable land is divided into rows lengthwise or crosswise.
Advice. If the beds are located from north to south, furrows are laid along the length of the bed, if from east to west - across. The onion should be warmed by the sun from all sides.
The rows are arranged at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other and make 4-5 cm deep. The sets are laid out along the rows with an interval of 6-7 cm, lightly pressing the bottom to the ground. Sprinkle the top with soil and lightly pat it down with your palms so that the bulbs are in close contact with the soil.
The bed is mulched to prevent freezing of wild oats. Spruce branches, cut dry grass, sawdust from deciduous trees or wood chips are used as mulching material. Height coatings should be at least 10 cm. For the same purpose, you can use dense non-woven material - lutrasil or agrofibre (30 g/m²).
Features of caring for winter onion sets
In the spring, after the snow melts, the mulch is removed from the rows. Further care for sprouted onions consists of fertilizing, watering and loosening.
Feed onions once every 2-3 weeks. The first feeding is done two weeks after the greenery appears with an infusion of mullein or chicken droppings.
Important! Do not use fresh chicken droppings and manure - the plants will get burned.
After another two weeks, the onions are fed with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers: “Nitrophoska”, “Borofoska”, potassium phosphate.
Young onions are moisture-loving. Water the seedlings so that the soil is always moist. However, an excess of moisture will negatively affect the harvest - young vegetables may rot.
Once a week, the day after watering, loosen the soil, being careful not to damage or pull out the bulbs. If necessary, thin out the onions. There should be 5-6 cm between plants. The beds are periodically weeded - weeds can clog the young shoots and roots of the onion, and it will develop poorly.
Mulch left on the garden bed will reduce the time it takes to care for vegetables.. The grass cover does not allow moisture to evaporate, the soil on the surface always remains loose, and weeds grow less.
Harvesting and storage features
A month before harvest, watering is stopped.. The onion ripens and gains vitamins. When the onion feather has completely fallen onto the bed and the neck has become dry, it is time to harvest. This is done in dry, sunny weather. The collected heads are laid out on the garden bed and the soil is allowed to dry.
Onions are stored in a dry, cool place. - basement or storeroom. The dry feathers are trimmed, the turnips are laid out in nets or baskets, braided and hung. “Grandma’s method” of storage is to hang onions in stockings.
Useful tips
Before starting planting work, first of all, determine the onion variety, adapted for the region, choose a reliable manufacturer, read recommendations and reviews about the selected varieties. Then the quantity of seedlings is calculated: 40-60 pieces are required per 1 m² of bed. wild oatmeal
Conclusion
Following all the stages of preparing and planting the vegetable in the fall, a rich harvest of turnip onions is harvested. And if the conditions of cultivation, storage and the correct choice of variety are observed, onions will last throughout the winter until the next harvest.