Onion sets: features of growing in open ground

Growing an onion crop is within the reach of any gardener today. Growing onion sets has proven particularly successful. This method is characterized by high productivity, rapid onion maturation, and minimal scapes. If all growing conditions are met and proper care is provided, a high yield can be obtained.

Planting dates

The best time to plant onion sets outdoors begins in late April and continues until mid-May. This depends on the region and spring weather conditions. The optimal average air temperature is around 7°C. Early planting in cool soil indicates the crop is frost-resistant. This same reason explains why winter onion sets are planted closer to the end of October.

Onion set varieties for different regions

Today, Russian and foreign breeders have developed many excellent onion varieties, distinguished by a number of characteristics:

• size of heads;
• productivity;
• pulp color;
• taste qualities;
• the timing of vegetation, planting and harvesting;
• resistance to climate change, etc.

Depending on the area for which the varieties are intended, they can be divided into 2 types:

• Northern. Spicy in taste, excellent in shelf life.
• Southern. Sweetish, short-storing, most salad varieties.

Experts advise growing southern onion varieties in colder regions of the country using seedlings.

Depending on the number of bulbs formed in one nest, the following varieties can be distinguished:

• Small-nested, containing 1 or 2 bulbs.
• Medium-nested – they can contain up to 4 heads.
• Multi-nested ones contain more than 5 bulbs.

It's important to note that the number of bulbs in a cluster depends not only on the variety but also on growing conditions, the correct timing and location of planting, soil fertility, and moisture. The larger the seed and the higher the soil moisture, the greater the likelihood of a multi-clustered harvest.

Preparing onion sets before planting in open ground

Before processing, trim off the top of the onion scales, approximately to the top growth line.

Any of the stages of preparation is considered necessary for a number of reasons:

• In this way, plant growth can be stimulated.
• This allows you to destroy up to 90% of harmful bacteria and strengthen the immunity of the bulbs.
• Prevents diseases, including rot.
• Increases resistance to weather changes.

Pre-sowing treatment of onion sets can be done with potassium permanganate diluted in water. Use 10 grams of the solution per 1 liter of warm water to kill most harmful microorganisms. Soak the bulbs in this solution for 30 minutes. Then drain the liquid and plant the onions in the soil.

You can use saltpeter to disinfect bulbs. To do this, add a matchbox of the substance to 10 liters of water, soak the onions for 20 minutes, drain, and plant in the soil.

Regular table salt is excellent for boosting the immune system of onions. A faceted glass of the solution is sufficient for a bucket of water. The onion sets should be soaked in the solution for at least 5 hours. Then, the same solution should be used to water the beds before planting.

After soaking the seed in a saline solution, it must be rinsed with cold running water.

To ensure a good onion harvest, growth stimulants are used. The most popular are compounds containing zircon and humate, or the Energen mixture. These products accelerate germination by 3-5 days.

Onion sets are prepared for planting in the fall. It's important to store the bulbs properly to ensure uniform germination and a good harvest.

To reduce the number of bolts, simply warm the bulbs in the sun for a couple of days before planting. Some people soak the bulbs in hot water (no hotter than 50°C). Drain the water after 10 hours.

The seed material should be stored in a dark, well-ventilated, cool place, avoiding overheating and hypothermia.

Methods for growing onion sets

The planting site should be well-lit and well-ventilated. This will prevent rot and fungal diseases. Slightly acidic soils are ideal. The following help reduce acidity:

• Lime - 4-5 kg ​​per 100 sq.m.
• Dolomite flour.
• Chalk.
• Wood ash.

Beds can be established in the same place as previous crops: tomatoes, eggplants, and potatoes. It's not recommended to plant in the same place as garlic. Fertilizers should not be added to the soil along with lime. This reduces the amount of nitrogen in the soil, which is essential for good growth.

In the fall, add compost to the area where you plan to plant the onion sets. Apply approximately 5 kg per square meter. In the spring, dig the soil to a depth of half a spade (20 cm). Add the following mixture per square meter of soil:

• superphosphate – 6 g;
• urea – 1 g;
• potassium chloride – 2 g.

This fertilizer can be scattered over the surface of the soil and raked in.

A week before planting the onions, treat the soil with a solution of copper sulfate and water (1 tbsp./10 l., respectively).

In the spring

For this purpose, the landing is carried out according to the following scheme:

• row spacing – 25-30 cm (motor block – 70 cm);
• the distance between heads in the garden bed is up to 10 cm;
• planting depth of material – up to 4 cm.

In autumn (before winter)

The planting timing in this case depends on the region. You can plant according to the above scheme or reduce the spacing between the beds to 10-15 cm. Plant the onion sets at a depth of up to 5 cm. Cover the beds with mulch 7-8 days after planting. Don't forget to remove any remaining mulch in the spring.

Greenhouse method

The bulbs should be at least 20 cm in diameter. Planting should take place after October 15th. The standard spacing between bulbs is up to 25 cm, and the planting depth is 4 cm. Straw or mulch is spread on top. The layer should be at least 20 cm thick. In the spring, remove the excess covering material and treat the crops with nitroammophoska (15 g per square meter).

Pavement

This method is used on balconies, windowsills, and greenhouses. In this case, onions are grown to produce green onions. The unique feature of this method is that the bulbs are placed close together, with minimal soil penetration. This structure resembles a bridge, hence its name.

When do onions sprout when planted in the ground?

In spring, sprouts can appear as early as nine days after planting. If onions were planted in the fall, the first shoots can be seen from early to late April. This depends on weather conditions. If grown in a greenhouse, onions will sprout between late February and late March. When using the bridge method, onions will sprout no more than a week after planting.

How to care for onion plantings

After sowing, it's important to constantly monitor the condition of the topsoil and loosen it. Be sure to remove weeds, water when necessary, and apply fertilizer. If the soil in your region is fertile, you may not need to do this. Otherwise, it's worth following the advice of experienced gardeners:

• Three weeks after sowing, you can feed the plants with a solution consisting of 1 kg of cow manure per 10 liters of water.
• Before watering, sprinkle urea or nitrophoska.

For the first two months, the onion sets are watered at a rate of up to 8 liters per square meter of seedlings. Then, the amount is halved, and by harvest time, watering is no longer necessary.