Features of growing onions hydroponically
The hydroponic growing method allows you to harvest a good harvest of vegetables in a limited area in the shortest possible time. All that is required is high-quality seed material and simple installation.
What is hydroponics
Hydroponics – this is a special way of growing plants without soil using a special nutrient solution, which is supplied to each plant automatically. The solution necessarily contains magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen in significant quantities. For each crop, the composition is selected individually, taking into account its characteristics and needs.
What is hydroponics used for?
Hydroponic method of growing plants used in small areas in greenhouses, private farmsteads or apartments. The essence of the technology is that valuable elements are supplied to the root system in a liquid medium in measured quantities. Support for the roots is created in a special substrate. Like any method of growing plants indoors, hydroponics has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages
A hydroponic setup for onions allows:
- significantly save usable space and grow plants indoors in several tiers;
- grow vegetables in a clean environment, without the use of soil or any contaminating substance;
- obtain a harvest of excellent quality in the shortest possible time with minimal labor costs;
- fully automate the process of supplying carbon dioxide to the root system, the duration of daylight hours in the greenhouse, and temperature indicators.
Vegetables grown hydroponically are environmentally friendly and safe, do not contain insecticides or other toxic substances.
Flaws
The disadvantages of growing cultivated plants in a nutrient solution include financial costs for a special automated installation.
Hydroponic growing methods
There are several varieties of growing cultivated plants using the hydroponics method.
Air method
With the air method of growing plants on a water nutrient substrate the root system is in the air, in a closed dark container. The seedlings are fed through regular spraying of the rhizomes.
Water system
When organizing the cultivation of plants using the water method the root system is immersed in an aqueous solution at the time of planting. However, with this method of cultivation there is a high probability of rotting of the root system.
Substrate
In this case each plant is placed on a special inorganic substrate (expanded clay, crushed stone, sand) or arrange a bedding of moss, peat or sawdust.
Which onion varieties are suitable for growing hydroponically?
The profitability of growing onions directly depends on the yield of planting material. Not every variety is suitable for growing onions using the hydroponics method.. When purchasing, it is recommended to pay attention to the number of ears inside the bulb. To do this, 1-2 copies are selected from the batch and cut lengthwise. Bulbs with three or more ears are suitable for forcing.
Attention! Bulbs with a diameter of 3-4 cm are suitable for forcing onto greens.
Recommended varieties of onions for greens using the hydroponics method:
- Ural family;
- Seryozha;
- Seven-year-old;
- Strigunovsky;
- Union;
- Bessonovsky.
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What you need to grow
To organize the process of growing onions for feathers in limited apartment conditions you will need a minimum amount of consumables.
Plant preparation
For best results, bulbs from the fall harvest are suitable. To stimulate growth, bulbs are prepared in stages:
- Settle in a warm room for 3-5 days.
- Manual cleaning of the top layer of dry husk.
- Bubbling. To do this, the prepared bulbs are placed in a container of water and lowered into a compressor unit for 10-12 hours. The temperature of the water in which the bulbs are placed for bubbling is about +38°C.
- Piercing the upper part of the bulb with a thin long needle for intensive oxygen supply to the sprout.
- Planting in specially equipped containers.
Preparing a container for growing at home
For growing onions using the hydroponics method choose plastic containers with a depth of 20 cm. When growing onions in an aqueous solution, there is a risk of water stagnation and rotting of the root system. To prevent this situation, containers are thoroughly washed with 72% laundry soap and rinsed with running water. The box is then treated with an intense pink solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) and dried.
How to make and install a hydroponic setup
It is easy to grow green onions using hydroponics at home. To organize hydroponics for onions with your own hands you will need:
- plastic box with a lid, optimal size – 80×40×20 cm;
- aquarium compressor of minimum power;
- a pair of fluorescent lamps with a switch;
- two pieces of PVC pipe 60 cm long with small holes;
- sharp stationery knife, ruler, marker.
The lid should fit tightly to the container and not allow light to pass throughso that the root system is in complete darkness.
How to build an installation:
- The lid is marked according to the pattern: 5 holes wide and 10 long (total 50 holes). Cut cone-shaped holes with a thin sharp knife. Additionally, a hole is drilled for the entry of tubes from the compressor. The lid is tightly fixed to the box.
- The compressor is connected to PVC tubes, the joint and the free end of the tube are isolated. Pass the tubes into the prepared hole and tightly fix the compressor unit.
- Fill the tank with warm water to a height of 15-16 cm through the free holes. Place prepared planting material in each hole.
- Place the box in a safe, warm place near an outlet and secure fluorescent lamps on top.
Technology
The technology for growing onions on water at home requires compliance with several rules.
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Temperature
The rate of feather growth directly depends on the temperature of the air in the room and the water in the container. Optimum temperature – +25…+27°С. At lower temperatures, feather growth will slow down by 7-10 days.
Light
Bulbous plants tolerate a lack of large amounts of light.. When forcing feathers on a heated loggia, you can do without additional lighting.When organizing the process in living rooms, an additional light source is necessary to prevent the pen from being pulled out. The recommended length of daylight when growing onions using hydroponics is 8-10 hours. Once the pen reaches 15-20 cm, there is no need to illuminate it.
Hydroponics solution
Using hydroponics, onions can be successfully grown in plain water. But you can get greens of high commercial quality only with special nutrient solutions. To prepare you will need:
- magnesium sulfate – 0.5 g;
- potassium chloride (potassium salt) – 0.25 g;
- calcium nitrate (calcium nitrate) – 2 g;
- monosubstituted potassium phosphate – 0.5 g;
- ferric chloride – 0.02 g.
The mixture is dissolved in 0.5 liters of distilled water, mixed thoroughly until dissolved and re-diluted with 1.5 liters of water.
An easier and cheaper way to prepare nutritional formula – use humate, humin, “Epin” according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
On a note! It is recommended to change the nutrient solution in a hydroponic setup every 7-8 days.
Features of care
For purging, turn on the compressor unit daily for 30-40 minutes. This procedure allows you to avoid stagnation of water and rotting of the root bottom of the vegetable.
When and how to harvest
A direct sign that a feather is ready for picking is a soft bulb.. When growing onions for feathers in a nutrient solution in compliance with the temperature and light conditions, the harvest is harvested on the 13-15th day. To do this, the bulb is pulled out of the nest and the old husk is peeled off.
Conclusion
Growing onions for greens using hydroponics at home is a simple and profitable activity. To organize the process, a minimum amount of time and money is required.The expected yield of greens is 70-80% of the weight of the seed material. With a responsible attitude to business, a high-quality, expensive harvest is obtained from one container every 13-14 days.