High-yielding onion hybrid with amazing taste - “Centurion”

The Centurion onion came to Russia from Holland and quickly gained popularity among domestic farmers. Vegetables have a rich taste and bright aroma, they contain many useful substances and are universal in use. The culture is unpretentious in care, high-yielding. The bulbs fully ripen after ripening and are stored for a long time.

Description of the hybrid

Centurion is a first generation heterotic hybrid. His bulbs are suitable For fresh consumption, adding to seasonings and sauces, preserves and dishes requiring boiling, stewing or frying.High-yielding onion hybrid with amazing taste - Centurion

Origin and development

Centurion is a hybrid of Dutch selection, the originator is BEJO ZADEN B.V.

Culture was included in the State Register of Russia in 2006.

Composition and beneficial properties

Onion contains:

  • vitamins B, C, PP, E;
  • fluorine;
  • iron;
  • iodine;
  • zinc;
  • phytoncides;
  • Sahara;
  • essential oils;
  • organic acids.

The vegetable has antimicrobial and antiviral effects, normalizes digestion, improves immunity, lowers blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Ripening period, yield and immunity

This mid-early onion matures within 90 days. Marketable yield is 252–420 c/ha, maximum – 580 c/ha.

Centurion is resistant to downy mildew and neck rot, but is affected by powdery mildew and alternaria.

Characteristics

The plant produces dark green tubular leaves 80 cm high.The bulbs are single- or double-primed, broadly obovate in shape, weigh 110–150 g, covered with 3-4 scales of brown-golden color. The pulp is white, the taste is sharp.

What regions is it suitable for?

The hybrid is included in the State Register for the Central region, but taking into account the climate when planting and growing onions are cultivated in all regions of the country.

Main advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of a hybrid:High-yielding onion hybrid with amazing taste - Centurion

  • high productivity;
  • pleasant taste;
  • good commercial quality;
  • lack of shooting;
  • long-term storage;
  • possibility of growing in different climatic conditions;
  • good seed germination and seed germination;
  • immunity to diseases;
  • resistance to drought, heavy rainfall and sudden temperature fluctuations.

The disadvantages of onions include the need to annually purchase seeds or sets.

Differences from others

A comparison of Centurion with other onion hybrids and varieties is presented in the table:

Name Ripening period Productivity, c/ha Bulb shape Bulb weight, g Taste
Centurion F1 Mid-early 252–420 Widely obovate 110–150 Spicy
Lamica F1 Mid-season 302–341 Widely obovate 90–100 Peninsular
Siberia Early ripening 219–530 Widely elliptical 80–100 Peninsular
Albion F1 Mid-season 167–220 Round 70–100 Peninsular

Planting and growing

Centurion is an onion with a two-year growing season. In the first year, sowing is carried out, in the second, seedlings are planted, which produces a harvest of full-fledged turnips.

Reference! The hybrid is suitable for both spring and winter planting.

Preparation

The seeds are first soaked in a light solution of potassium permanganate or warm water with the addition of growth stimulants, then wrapped in cloth and left for 3 days at room temperature until small sprouts appear.

Select sevok no more than 2 cm in diameter. Dry specimens without damage, rot or unpleasant odor, covered with straw-colored husk, are suitable. Before planting, onions are disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate (1 teaspoon of the substance per bucket of water) and heated at a temperature of +30...+40°C.

The soil on the site is dug up in advance, cleared of weeds and plant debris, and wood ash, manure or potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are added to reduce acidity and enrich it with nutrients. Peat and sand are added to clay soil.

Soil requirements

The hybrid prefers light fertile soil, which allows moisture and air to pass through well and has a neutral acidity level.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

To grow seedlings, sowing is carried out immediately in open ground or small boxes or containers. This is done in late February–early March, deepening the seeds no more than 3 cm, keeping a distance of 10 cm between them.

Pre-hardened seedlings are planted in the ground from mid-April to early May, when the soil warms up to at least +15°C at a depth of 12–15 cm.

Picking scheme:High-yielding onion hybrid with amazing taste - Centurion

  1. In the prepared area, make grooves up to 4 cm deep, leaving 20–25 cm between them.
  2. Planting depressions are made in the furrows every 10–15 cm.
  3. Water the soil generously with warm water.
  4. The seedlings are removed from the containers and placed in the holes.
  5. Cover with soil and lightly compact.

Sevok is planted in spring or before winter, approximately 2-3 weeks before the first frost.

Scheme for planting onion sets Centurion:

  1. Prepare furrows 4 cm deep at a distance of 25–30 cm from each other.
  2. Water them with warm water.
  3. Plant the bulbs in furrows every 10 cm, deepening them by 3-4 cm.
  4. Sprinkle soil on top and tamp down a little.

Features of cultivation

Onion Centurion develops well at a temperature of +12...+16°C, bright and continuous lighting and abundant watering at the beginning of active growth.

The optimal place for the culture is an open sunny area, protected from strong winds and drafts.

Do not plant Centurion in the same place more than once every 3 years. The best predecessors: tomatoes, cucumbers or potatoes.

Nuances of care

Get a bountiful harvest of onions with proper care.

Watering mode

After planting the seeds in the ground and until the end of June, the crop is watered frequently and abundantly, about once a week. Approximate water consumption is 8 liters per 1 m2.

When the bulbs begin to form, irrigation is reduced, and 3 weeks before harvesting, it is stopped completely.

Loosening and weeding

After each moistening or at least once every 10 days, the soil is loosened to avoid the formation of a crust on the surface and to improve the access of oxygen, moisture and nutrients to the bulbs.

They weed as weeds grow, which deprive the crop of nutrients, provoke rotting of vegetables and attract pests.

Top dressing

Fertilizer application scheme:

  • 14 days after emergence - mineral fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, superphosphate or potassium chloride diluted in water);
  • after 2 weeks - organic substances (take 1 liter of manure per 5 liters of water, infuse for 2-3 weeks, dilute with water 1:6).

The third feeding is optional. If it is carried out, then complex preparations are used: for example, nitrophoska (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

Important! It is recommended to use fertilizers in liquid form, as dry ones burn the plants.

Disease and pest control

If plants are affected by powdery mildew, they cannot be saved.This disease is prevented by preventive treatment of plantings with fungicides. They are also used in the development and prevention of Alternaria.

Among the pests, Centurion is attacked by onion moths and flies, against which insecticides are used.

To prevent damage to plantings, follow the rules of crop rotation and monitor soil moisture.

Harvest and storage

A signal about the ripeness of the crop is the cessation of growth of new leaves and the withering of old ones.

Onions are harvested in the second half of July, in hot, dry weather, carefully pulling the turnips out of the ground.

Storage features and shelf life

The collected bulbs are inspected and sorted, discarding any damaged specimens. After drying in a shaded place for 2-3 days, the withered feathers are cut off, leaving a tip 4-5 cm long.

By the way! Centurion ripens after 100% ripening.

Keep vegetables in a dark, well-ventilated and dry room at a temperature of +1...+3°C. If storage rules are followed, the crop will not spoil for 6 months or more.

Difficulties in growing

Problems farmers face when cultivating Centurion:

  • rotting of onions with high soil moisture;
  • secondary growth of crops due to untimely harvesting;
  • slow development and poor growth of bulbs when planting vegetables in soil with high acidity.

Advice from experienced gardeners

Farmers recommend:High-yielding onion hybrid with amazing taste - Centurion

  • store the harvest in the sand: this way it spoils less;
  • when growing onions, feed the plantings with nitrogen fertilizers after each cutting: they stimulate the growth of green mass;
  • do not fertilize vegetables with fresh manure: it attracts pests;
  • Plant dill next to onions to repel harmful insects.

Reviews

Gardeners speak mostly positively about the Centurion onion:

Anton, Bryansk region: “I’ve been planting Centurion onions for several years now, I like its taste and keeping quality. However, there is also a rather significant disadvantage: it is difficult to predict what the harvest will be like. Last year the productivity was beyond praise, I even sold some of the vegetables, but about 3 years ago there were almost no onions: the heads were very small, ugly, and many were spoiled. Perhaps the weather had an effect because I was caring for the plantings, as always.”

Natalya, Kostroma region: “Last year there was a dry summer, but despite this the harvest was excellent. Of course, we took care of the plantings: we watered them, fed them, but still the weather usually takes its toll. I like the taste of onions: spicy, that’s exactly what we like. The keeping quality is excellent; vegetables can be stored for at least six months.”

Vladimir, Oryol region: “I always had to read descriptions of varieties, reviews, look at photos in order to choose the optimal crop for planting, until I came across the Centurion hybrid. I've been planting it for 3 years now, but it has never failed. I grow seedlings from seeds, sets from them, and then large bulbs. This, of course, takes a lot of time, but it’s worth it: the yield is excellent, the onions are tasty, and they last a long time.”

Conclusion

The result of Dutch selection, the Centurion onion, has firmly taken a position in household plots and farms in Russia. This hybrid is suitable for cultivation in all regions of the country and is characterized by high yields, excellent commercial qualities and high shelf life.

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