The onion sets we use for most of our culinary dishes can be planted in both spring and fall. I prefer to do this at the end of the summer season for a number of reasons. Today I will try to tell you about the advantages of the autumn event and at the same time give advice to novice summer residents.
Features of winter onion planting
The cultivation of winter onions has not only a number of advantages, but also characteristic features. In particular, the harvest ripens 3-4 weeks earlier than when planting a spring crop. The beds freed up in the middle of summer can be reused for sowing early ripening vegetables, greens or siderates.
The cultivation of winter onions can be practiced almost throughout the country, except for regions with a cold climate (Siberia, the Far North). A favorable condition for obtaining high yields will be a relatively warm (up to -30 ° C), snowy winter.
The summer climate is also important. I harvest the best harvests if the weather is warm, sunny with moderate rainfall throughout the season. A spicy root vegetable needs water only during the growing season. When the bulbs are poured, they need loose, light soil without excess moisture that can cause rot.
For many years in a row I have been planting shallow seedlings before winter, because in summer it does not shoot. In addition, it is rarely affected by the onion fly, which massively damages spring crops. And the fall planting saves me from the need to store seed until spring.
The best varieties (hybrids) of winter onions
Choosing a variety of onions, each summer resident focuses on his own preferences, taking into account the color and taste, as well as the keeping quality and yield of the crop. I give priority to the following varieties:
- Stuttgarter Riesen is a variety bred by German breeders that has a yellow-brown husk, a pungent taste and a long shelf life. The size of individual fruits reaches 250-300 g.
- Centurion F1 is a high-yielding hybrid of Dutch selection, undemanding to growing conditions, does not shoot. Juicy, pungent in taste, fruits of golden brown color, weighing up to 180-200 g, can be stored well (up to 8-9 months).
- Shakespeare is an early maturing Dutch variety that is highly winter-hardy and resistant to fungal infections. The yellowish-brown bulbs weighing about 100 g have a semi-sharp taste.
- Danilovsky 301 is a time-tested domestic variety of medium ripening, resistant to cold weather and harmful insects. Purple bulbs weighing 100-150 g have a pleasant sweetish-spicy taste.
- Senshui is an early maturing variety of Japanese selection, ideal for winter cultivation. LMR-resistant culture does not shoot and is well stored. Golden onions weighing 150-200 g have a pleasant, semi-sharp taste.
For podzimny planting, other varieties with cold resistance, resistance to diseases and pests are also suitable. Among them are especially popular: Esaul, Red Baron, Radar, Arzamassky, Strigunovsky, Bessonovsky, Troy, etc.
Soil preparation
For winter planting, I always choose an area where legumes, cruciferous or nightshade crops grew before. It is undesirable that related plants (garlic, onions, bulbous flowers) were the predecessors in the garden.
In addition, it is important that the plot is not located in a low-lying area where moisture is retained. The site should be open, with good lighting throughout the day. Spicy plant prefers loose, well-drained, nutritious soil.
If the soil in your garden is severely depleted, I advise you to fertilize it in advance. When digging a garden bed, I bring in 1 sq. m: 3-5 kg of humus or matured compost and 1-2 glasses of wood ash. It will not be superfluous to add a dry nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus mixture (1 tsp. l. each component).
Preparing and planting bulbs
For podzimny planting, I always choose the best set (up to 1.5 cm in diameter), which does not have any damage or traces of disease. After soaking the bulbs in a saturated solution of potassium permanganate (3-5 minutes), I plant them in the ground to a depth of 1-2 cm, maintaining an interval of 8-10 cm. At the same time, I leave a row spacing of about 20-25 cm.
Onions are an unpretentious culture. Its cultivation will not cause much trouble if you provide it with proper care. Hope my tips will help you save time in the spring and get bountiful harvests a few weeks earlier than usual.
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