How to feed onions so that the bulbs grow large

A good harvest of large bulbs can only be achieved with regular, properly selected nutrients. Organic and mineral fertilizers, applied at 14-day intervals, are recommended.

Otherwise, there's a high risk of burning the soil and root system. Gardeners who are reluctant to water their seedlings with chemicals prepare their own nutrient solutions. In addition to fertilizers, considerable time is spent preparing the soil and seedlings.

Features of choosing onion sets for planting

The focus is on seedlings with a diameter ranging from 1.4 to 2.2 cm. A common mistake is to default to the largest sets. There is no direct correlation between planting size and yield. For example, overly large sets will begin to bolt. Small sets will perform poorly and will require considerable time to grow. Based on their size, sets are conventionally divided into three groups:

1. Small-nest varieties reach 10-15 mm. They have proven themselves to be excellent for planting before winter.
2. Medium-nested – reach 15-28 mm.
3. Multi-nested – reach 45 mm.

Representatives of groups II and III are used as planting material.

The list of the most popular varieties of planting material is as follows:

1. "Sturon" — a ripe bulb weighs up to 150 g. This vegetable has a long shelf life and ripens quickly. It has a pleasant flavor.
2. "Hercules" - weighs up to 160 g. It has a spicy taste and good immunity.
3. 'Centurion' is resistant to infectious and bacterial pathogens. It weighs up to 180 g and has a pungent flavor.
4. 'Stuttgarter Riesen'—a ripe bulb weighs almost 300 g. This early-ripening variety has proven itself in northern regions. Its only drawback is its susceptibility to powdery mildew.

Regardless of the variety chosen, the seed is inspected. There should be no signs of rot or a distinctive decaying odor. The bulbs should have a characteristic shape and coloring specific to the variety. The bulb should be dry, and the skins should rustle well.

Do onions and seed onions need fertilizing?

Botanists give a resounding yes. Any variety of onion sets literally devastates the soil. If seedlings aren't fertilized, a good harvest is out of the question. The list of the most beneficial nutrients includes various mineral fertilizers. Nitrogen ranks first, followed by potassium. Its consumption rate fluctuates between 40 and 50% depending on the region. Phosphorus rounds out the top three, accounting for 20-30%.

How to fertilize onions before planting

Regardless of the region's climate, organic and mineral fertilizers are used. The minimum number of nutrient applications required is three. Not only the planting material but also the soil requires preparation. Follow the steps below:

• lime added in the fall will help reduce the soil acidity level;
• after checking the soil acidity level, add ready-made potassium-phosphorus fertilizer (300-500 g per 1 m2) or a mixture of manure, peat and ash in a ratio of 2:1:1;
• In the spring, the gardener digs up and loosens the future beds;
• Weeds and remains of the previous harvest need to be removed.

Once the initial soil preparation for planting the onion sets is complete, all attention turns to choosing fertilizers. There's no need to rush. The gardener relies on the soil's characteristics:

1. Nitrogen accelerates the growth of onion leaves. A deficiency of this nutrient results in slower development.
2. Potassium boosts the plant's immunity and makes onions more drought-resistant.
3. Superphosphate – increases the immunity of seedlings.

The list ends with organic matter, which improves the absorption of all nutrients.

When to fertilize and feed onions

The first feeding is carried out three weeks after planting. Chicken manure or cow dung is added. For every 3 square meters, use one 10-liter bucket of water, in which the gardener dilutes 0.2 liters of fertilizer. Do not exceed the specified concentration, otherwise a good harvest cannot be expected. Urea can be used as a substitute for organic fertilizer. The procedure is as follows:

• 10 liters of water;
• 2 tablespoons of urea;
• Mix everything thoroughly in the bucket;
• Watering should be carried out at the rate of 1 bucket for every 4 m2 of area.

The second feeding is carried out at the beginning of active growth. Typically, one month passes after the first application of fertilizer. The need for nitrogen decreases, while the need for potassium and phosphorus fertilizers increases. The recipe for preparing the nutrient mixture is as follows:

• 30 g superphosphate;
• 30 g sulfate;
• 10 liters of water;
• mix everything and bring to a homogeneous state;
• Consumption: 1 bucket for every 4 m2 of area.

The third feeding is carried out after the bulbs have begun to actively form. The emphasis is on potassium, so lime is added to the soil. It has been scientifically proven that lime has a higher concentration of this substance. 300 g of potassium is added per 1 m2 of bed. When feeding onions, remember to water before and after applying nutrients.

The effect of plant spacing on bulb size

The recommended row spacing is 25 cm. Plantings are spaced 10 cm apart. Adhering to these parameters significantly increases the likelihood of a good harvest.

Feeding recommendations

This is done in dry, windless weather. The optimal time is evening. The gardener should avoid using fresh manure. Onions don't tolerate it and quickly become diseased. When choosing a fertilizer, it's a good idea to consider the following recommendations:

• Do not allow fertilizer to come into contact with the green parts of the onion;
• Even when using organics, you need to strictly adhere to the dosage;
• After each feeding, the soil is loosened and watered;

What fertilizers should I use in spring?

In spring, yeast fertilization is essential. Its application greatly accelerates underground growth.

The recipe is as follows:

• 10 g granulated yeast;
• 10 liters of warm water;
• 2 tablespoons of ash, which the gardener has sifted and crushed;
• 5 tablespoons of granulated sugar;
• mix everything and bring to a homogeneous state;
• Let the mixture steep for 60-70 minutes.

Water the roots at a rate of 0.5 liters per 1 m2 of area. Yeast activity saturates the soil with O2 and nitrogen.

How to fertilize onions in summer

The choice is made in favor of fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. The list of nutrients begins with a nitrophoska solution. It is prepared as follows:

• 10 liters of water;
• 2 tablespoons of the substance;
• mix everything.

The second recipe involves treating crops with a mixture of ammonium nitrate and salt. It's prepared as follows:

• 1 tablespoon of salt;
• 1 tablespoon of ammonium nitrate;
• 10 liters of water;
• 10 g of iodine.

The treatment is performed once. The herbal tincture completes the recipe list. It is prepared as follows:

• 10 liters of water;
• fill it 1/3 with weeds;
• add another 3 liters of water;
• add 1 tablespoon of yeast;
• mix everything and leave for 72 hours;
• dilute the concentrated solution in 9 liters of water.

All the recipes given are designed for treating 2 square meters of beds. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used as supplemental feeding. Apply 300-500 grams of fertilizer per 1 square meter of beds. Don't forget about organic matter: 1 tablespoon of urea diluted in 10 liters of water. Use the resulting solution for a single treatment of the plantings. Use 3 liters of fertilizer per 1 square meter.

Fertilizing in autumn

Potassium-phosphorus mixtures are used more frequently. Their advantage is their ability to saturate the soil with nutrients. When several varieties are planted in a single plot, potassium-only fertilizer is chosen. Common fertilizers used during spring fertilization include the following mixtures:

• Fertika;
• "Nitroammophoska";
• superphosphate;
• "Fertika" is a granulated complex with a reduced level of nitrogen concentration;
• potassium sulfate.

Even a small dose accelerates onion leaf growth significantly. If seasonal frosts occur, the crop will be lost. If you prefer natural nutrient mixtures, you can prepare them yourself:

• 5 kg of humus – for every 1 m2;
• 25 g of urea per 1 m2 of area;
• superphosphate – 30 g per 1 m2;
• potassium salt – 20 g per 1 m2.

The listed ingredients should be diluted in 10 liters of water. Treatment is carried out every two weeks. As soon as the first shoots appear above the soil surface, the gardener applies a nitrogen-rich solution:

• 10 liters of water;
• 3 tablespoons of ammonia;
• about 1 liter is spent for every 1 m2.

The only limitation for carrying out this treatment will be a significant amount of precipitation.

Folk remedies for better bulb growth

Slurry is the most popular natural fertilizer. Mix 1 cup of the mixture with 10 liters of water. The fertilizer is applied during the first feeding, three weeks after planting. For the next feeding, use a grass-based slurry, which promotes plant growth. Weeds collected from your garden are suitable for this purpose. The rest of the process is as follows:

• place the collected weeds in a bucket;
• pour 10 liters of warm water;
• place something heavy on top, such as heavy stones;
• leave to infuse for 72 hours.

Treatment is carried out every two weeks. One liter of solution is used per square meter. Another folk remedy involves using ash. The recipe is as follows:

• 250 g of substance;
• 10 liters of boiling water;
• mix well;
• The mixture needs to be left to infuse for 4 days.

Treatment is carried out every 2 weeks.

Reviews from gardeners

Victoria Adamovna

I selected good onion sets with no signs of rot or decay on their surface. I tried not to crowd the seedlings too closely. I watered them generously during the first growing season. As the bulbs developed, I added organic matter, nitrogen, and potassium. As the bulbs began to form, I ensured that the soil wasn't overly wet. I harvested before the rainy season began. This is the only way to prevent excessive root growth.

Vladimir Petrovich

The spring and summer were cool. I used an ash-based fertilizer. This was the only way to ensure the onion bulbs formed quickly. I made sure the leaves didn't bend.

Onion sets consume a huge amount of nutrients from the soil. Regular fertilizing, carried out in three stages, will help prevent yield losses. Before and after each application of nutrients, the gardener waters the crop. During application, care must be taken to ensure that the fertilizer does not come into contact with the green parts of the onions. Strict adherence to the fertilizing schedule and nutrient dosage is the key to a good harvest.