Many gardeners prefer to plant onions for the winter in order to get the earliest harvest next year. But here it is important to follow some rules of agricultural technology. If you make mistakes, it is likely that the seedlings will begin to sprout before the arrival of frost, which can quickly destroy all plantings. Today I will tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of planting sets for the winter and about many other nuances of growing winter onions.
Is the sprouted sevok suitable
Whether sprouted onions are suitable for planting depends on the degree of germination. There are three options:
- If the seed has sprouted quite a bit, it can be safely planted before winter. But first, I find out the weather forecast and make sure that there will be no frost the next day. Otherwise, the bulbs may die.
- If medium-sized sprouts have managed to grow, I plant the onions in the beds, but not on the heads, but on the greens (such an onion will no longer form a turnip). Before planting, the sprouts must be cut off.
- If large feathers have formed on the seed, and the bulb itself is empty and dry, then such specimens are not suitable for planting for the winter.
I plant the onion with trimmed sprouts separately, so that it is easier to distinguish it from the turnip.
For example, I never throw out a sprouted plant, but just take it and plant it at home in containers or pots. This provides my family with fresh greens throughout the cold season.
Advantages and disadvantages of winter planting
The main advantages of planting onions before winter:
- Planting material can dry out over the winter and lose its quality, especially if it is small.
- It is possible to collect larger bulbs. When planted before winter, the sets produce larger fruits.
- Young greens can be used in spring. And by July, young and high-quality bulbs will be formed.
- The resulting crop will be stored longer.
- Planting requires less watering. If the weather is humid, the crop will have enough natural rainfall.
- Disease resistance increases. During the winter, the heads will get stronger. Also, due to early ripening, such onions are not affected by powdery mildew.
- More efficient use of the cultivated area. After harvesting the vegetable, another crop can be planted in the same place, which has a short growing season.
Among the disadvantages, experienced gardeners distinguish the following:
- Increased consumption of planting material. Before winter, you need to plant about 15-20% more bulbs, since not all of them will take root.
- If the winter is snowless and cold, all plantings can completely die.
Why premature shoots appear
Before you start to act, you need to find out what exactly led to the emergence of early shoots. The main reasons for early germination:
- Very early landing. Planting dates differ in different regions of the country. If onions are planted early in the southern regions, they will most likely sprout.
- Excessively large heads. Germination is much faster when large bulbs are planted. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly calibrate the planting material.
- Poorly matched site. In an excessively humid and sunlit place, onions planted before winter often begin to sprout in the fall.
What to do if the onion has sprouted
Beginner gardeners in confusion ask: what can be done if the winter onion has sprung up in the fall? In this situation, it is necessary to ensure the correct wintering of the plantings so that they calmly survive the cold.
Does the sprouted sevok overwinter
Provided the right conditions are provided, the plants will be able to survive the winter. For insulation, you can use a simple method - to collect loose earth from the greenhouse and cover the sprouts with it. The layer should be about 3-4 cm. This will slow down the development of the shoots.
Mulch application
You can use compost, small chips, sawdust, fallen leaves, bark, grass cuttings as mulch. The minimum layer is 3 cm.
On top of the mulch layer, you need to lay branches to fix the mulch. The film does not need to be used. With the arrival of spring, the protective layer is removed.
Re-boarding if time permits
If the seed has sprouted due to early planting, then there may still be time to remove it from the garden and plant another. However, if the soil is already frozen, this option is definitely not suitable. I transplant the dug out seed into containers.
Some experienced gardeners leave the sprouted onion in the garden without touching it. In spring, he can give arrows on which you will need to cut off the tops of the seeds. In this case, the head will continue to develop.
Winter onion care
Winter onions are resistant to diseases and pests, therefore, winter onions do not need any special care. In spring, you only need to loosen and weed the garden bed, and also feed:
- In early spring, there is usually a lack of nutrients in the soil. This is especially true for nitrogen. For feeding, it is advisable to use complex fertilizers. Processing is carried out at the rate of 30 g per 1 sq. m beds.
- In spring and summer, it is necessary to feed at least once every 2 months, but it is better every month. Herbal infusion is used as a fertilizer. To do this, take 2 kg of herbs and insist in 10 liters of water for 3 days.
Specialist recommendations
You can get a high-quality harvest by adhering to the following recommendations:
- In the spring, you need to treat the soil from weeds, and also saturate the garden with nitrogen fertilizers.
- It is advisable to add ash to the soil 15 days before planting.
- Before planting, the seedlings should be sorted out, checking for signs of disease and damage.
- In the spring, you need to make sure that the ground is always moist.
- It is necessary to loosen the soil at least 1 time per week.
Planting onions in the fall is convenient and profitable, since at this time there is practically no load on the garden. If the planting has risen ahead of time, you should not despair, since this problem can be solved.
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