One of the most delicious onion varieties: Yalta

The taste of Yalta onion is delicate, refined, absolutely devoid of bitterness. A harvest with standard taste qualities is obtained in Crimea, but special agrotechnical techniques will help to grow pink onions in any part of Russia. To do this, you will have to work hard, and how exactly - read on.

Description of the Yalta onion variety

Yalta onion has characteristic features that make it easy to distinguish it from any other variety.

Origin and development

Selection work on breeding the Yalta onion took place in the middle of the last century in Crimea, in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. The material for selection was Madeira flat, imported from Portugal in the 19th century, and local dark sweet varieties.

Chemical composition, trace elements and vitamins, beneficial properties

Yalta onions are classified as sweet salad varieties with a minimal amount of essential oils that irritate the mucous membranes of the body. Chemical composition Crimean onion is unique. It contains in very large quantities:

• flavonoids and vitamin C - to prevent capillary fragility and cleanse the blood;
• allicin - an antiseptic component to combat colds;
• antioxidants - to normalize rejuvenation processes in the body's cells.

Regular consumption of salad onions:

• reduces cholesterol levels;
• thins thick blood;
• removes excess liquid;
• increases libido.

On a note! In ancient Rus', newlyweds were given raw onions for breakfast after their wedding night as a natural aphrodisiac.

After eating Yalta onions, there is no bad breath; during cutting, it does not cause strong tearing.

Features of application

Yalta onions are rich and sweet; they are eaten in large quantities raw. The vegetable is especially good as a slice for grilled meat. During heat treatment, all the beneficial properties of salad onions are lost, vitamin C and antioxidants are completely destroyed, so it cannot be fried, stewed, or boiled.

On a note! A few drops of lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar will highlight the taste of finely chopped salad onions and reveal their aroma.

Ripening period

The growing season of the Yalta onion is 140-150 days. Ripening period - late August - early September.

Attention! Even in the mild climate of the Crimean Peninsula, it is impossible to buy real Yalta onions of the current year before the end of summer landings.

Productivity

The Yalta variety is very demanding on the quality of the soil, the length of daylight hours and temperature conditions. Insufficient lighting leads to the accumulation of bitterness in the bulbs.

In conditions of a temperate continental climate, it is recommended to plant salad onions in seedlings, in greenhouses with additional heating and lighting. The expected yield of Crimean onions when grown by seedlings is 100 kg/c.

Disease resistance

Bulbous plants get sick in conditions of excess humidity and lack of sunlight. Yalta onion grows well and is not subject to infection while growing in the Crimea, between Yalta and Alushta, in a mountainous area with unique climatic conditions. In other geographical areas, Crimean onions often suffer from insect attacks and are affected by fungal diseases.

Characteristics of the bulb, description of appearance, taste

Yalta onions have similar characteristics to other salad varieties. Unscrupulous sellers often pass off the Veselka variety or the Bruskovik F1 hybrid as Yalta onions.

The original Yalta onion bulbs have a number of characteristic features:

• red or beetroot coloring of dry scales;
• flat round shape of the bulbs with a convex root;
• number of layers per cut - no more than seven;
• layer thickness on the internal cut - 5-6 mm;
• lack of intense onion smell;
• clear juice and sweet taste without bitterness.

The shelf life of real Yalta onions never exceeds 4-5 months, so it is impossible to buy them in winter and spring.

Regions for cultivation and climate requirements

Ideal conditions for the growth of Yalta onions are provided only by a tiny territory in Crimea in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. Vegetables grown in other regions of Crimea will taste bitter. The most suitable climate in which it is grown with minimal effort is the Crimean Peninsula and Krasnodar Territory. In areas with a temperate climate, growing Crimean onions will require additional efforts and equipment of a capital greenhouse.

Advantages and disadvantages

Sweet, pleasant-tasting Yalta onions can be eaten raw in unlimited quantities. Among the main advantages of the variety is the absence of contraindications for use by people with gastrointestinal problems. The disadvantages include:

• limited natural growing area;
• high labor costs when cultivating in cold regions;
• limited period storage;
• the likelihood that others are being sold as this variety.

Difference from other varieties

To ripen, Yalta onions need at least four months from the moment of planting. It is very picky about the length of daylight and the presence of direct sunlight. Unlike other varieties, Yalta categorically does not tolerate excessive watering and rots in the ground.

Features of planting and growing

Like any onion, the Crimean variety is a biennial. In the first year, a set is grown from seeds; in the second, a full harvest is obtained.

Preparing for landing

To prevent diseases, before planting, seeds are soaked in a solution of “Baikal EM-1” or sprayed with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Soil requirements

Tauride shales, which cover the main part of the territory of the mountainous Crimea, are the best soils for growing Yalta onions. During the day, under sunlight, they actively accumulate heat, and at night they gradually release it to the plants. This is the secret to obtaining a delicate sweet taste.

Creating a greenhouse effect when growing onions helps bring conditions as close to natural as possible. To do this, remove a layer of soil 20 cm thick from the bed and lay fresh manure in a layer of 5-7 cm. The organic layer is covered with the removed soil and the seedlings are planted. During natural decay, manure releases heat sufficient for the active growth of Yalta onions in temperate climates.

On a note. Before planting salad onions, scanty or depleted soils are additionally fertilized with ammonium nitrate or potassium salt in early spring, according to the instructions.

Predecessors

The best predecessors for Yalta onions are tomatoes, cabbage, radishes, and leafy vegetables. It is not recommended to plant other varieties of crops near the Yalta onion.

Dates, scheme and rules of planting

When growing in the southern regions of the Russian Federation, the optimal time for planting seeds in equipped greenhouses or greenhouses is February - early March. In the central and northern regions seeds sow in boxes and grow the sets in the apartment. Seeds are planted in prepared containers to a depth of 1 cm with a distance of 5 cm between rows.

The optimal time for planting one-year-old seedlings in the ground is April - early May. When planting, the sets are deepened by 5-6 cm, leaving a distance between bulbs of 10 cm, between rows - 30-40 cm. Before planting, the seed is hardened. To do this, the bulbs are taken out into the open air and left for 4-5 hours at a temperature of 5-7°C. Events are held throughout the week.

Nuances of care

To prevent seedlings from being pulled out, place the containers in a warm, well-lit place and cover with film.. When the first shoots appear, the film is removed and the shoots are sprayed daily from a spray bottle. If necessary, seedlings are illuminated with fluorescent lamps to increase daylight hours up to 10 hours. The optimal temperature is 20-24°C during the day and 18-19°C at night.

Yalta onions require constant attention and conditions as close as possible to natural ones.

Watering mode

The main difficulty in growing Yalta onions is maintaining the correct watering regime. Excessive moisture or drying out of the soil is unacceptable. Watering is carried out every 2-3 days.10-15 days before harvesting, soil moisture is stopped.

Loosening the soil and weeding

To develop full-fledged bulbs, the soil is regularly loosened, providing access to oxygen. Weeds are removed periodically.

Top dressing

Yalta onion responds well to the application of fertilizers to the soil. Two weeks after the emergence of seedlings, mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil:

• 10 g superphosphate;
• 5 g urea;
• 3 g potassium chloride;
• 5 liters of water.

When growing seedlings in open ground, on the 20th day after planting, the sprouts are fed with chicken manure at the rate of 1 liter of organic matter per 20 liters of water. Watering is carried out in the early morning or late evening after sunset.

Disease and pest control

With strict adherence to the rules of care, the plant has good immunity and independently copes with all kinds of diseases.

Excessive watering leads to powdery mildew, gray mold, and fusarium wilt. To combat diseases, the beds are sprayed with the drug “Fitosporin” or “Fitocide”.

If insects appear, the affected plants are removed, and healthy ones are treated:

• when attacked by an onion mite - “Aktara”;
• leaf miner - “Pyrethrum”;
• onion fly - saline solution at the rate of 200 g per 10 liters of water.

Difficulties in growing

The main difficulty in growing sweet “Crimean” is ensuring optimal lighting and watering conditions. To increase daylight hours, fluorescent lamps are used. Watering is carried out regularly - every 2-3 days - through a sprayer.

Harvest and storage

The optimal time for harvesting from open ground is late July - early August.

How and when to collect

A sign of ripening is wilting and yellowing green part of the plant. If the top has shrunk by 15-20% of its length, stop watering for 12-15 days, then remove the onion from the ground.

If it rains, the bulbs are shaken off lumps of soil and dried in a dry room. To do this, the crop is laid out in one layer on burlap. After 3-4 days, they are sorted and put into boxes. Only whole, undamaged bulbs are suitable for long-term storage.

Storage features and keeping quality of the variety

How to store Crimean onions? It has very poor keeping quality. The maximum period for which the harvest can be preserved is until the beginning of December. Next, the vegetable loses its valuable properties, becomes bitter and rots from the root.

Store onions in a dry, dark place at a temperature of 5-7°C. Once a month, the crop is sorted and rotten, damaged bulbs are removed.

How to store in an apartment

In the apartment, Yalta onions are stored in dried wooden boxes in the pantry or on an insulated loggia. Direct sunlight is not allowed.

On a note. Crimeans store Yalta onions, weaving them into braids, 30-40 pieces per bundle.

Advice from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners are happy to share their own experiences, which help to harvest a good harvest of Yalta onions in harsh climatic conditions:

• when insect pests appear, the row spacing is covered with ash after treating the beds with insecticides;
• when equipping a greenhouse, fresh manure is replaced with a layer of quartz, which is covered with clay and fertile soil;
• When storing crops, provide air humidity of no more than 50-55%.

How to get seeds

To obtain Yalta onion seeds, leave 1-2 onions in the garden for propagation. The best plants are those with straight arrows with a waxy coating up to 120 cm long.At the end of such an arrow, a flower with black seeds is formed, which are collected until they fall into the ground. The seeds are shaken out and dried well. Store in a dry place in a linen bag until spring.

Reviews about the Yalta onion variety

Beginners and experienced agronomists have different experiences when breeding Yalta onions.

Alexander, Vyborg: “I have been growing onions using seedlings for the third year in a row. He is very demanding of warmth and light, constantly needs attention, and does not forgive mistakes and negligence. But the result is worth it. Crimean red onions taste sweet and have minimal spiciness.”

Vladimir, Moscow region: “Last year I couldn’t grow it; the plantings froze during the May frosts. This year I drew conclusions and protected the seedlings with burlap. The result was pleasing at the end of June. The bulbs are juicy and sweet, no worse than the Crimean ones.”

Marina, Orel: “I first saw the Crimean red onion in the photo, then bought the seeds in Crimea. It rose well and amicably. The summer was rainy, so it ripened to large bulbs of the same shape. Still a little bitter. I think the Yalta sun is missing.”

Conclusion

The Yalta onion variety is a fastidious plant that requires serious effort during cultivation. However, with strict adherence to agricultural technology in protected soil conditions, it is possible to grow good quality salad onions in any region of Russia.