How to feed onions in spring and summer to get a good harvest?

Onion

Onions are a common and essential crop on the modern table. Growing them is easy, but there are a few key steps you can take to ensure a harvest of large, juicy onions when growing them yourself—including timely, proper fertilizing.

What and when to feed

The crop actively absorbs nutrients from the soil from the moment it is planted. Nitrogen absorption is 100%, potassium – 40-45%, and phosphorus – 25-30%.

Preparation for spring planting begins in the fall, when organic matter in the form of humus or compost is added (10 kg per square meter). If the area was previously occupied by a vigorous crop like onions, it's advisable to combine it with mineral supplements.

Fertilizing is done three times during the spring and summer—this is the classic schedule. It is subject to adjustment depending on the current circumstances.

Types of fertilizers:

Fertilizing #1 is performed when the first leaf reaches 10-15 cm, if its color is not very rich and the leaf appears weak. Apply nitrogen fertilizer (10 g + 10 l per 1-2 m²), being careful not to overdo it, as large amounts of nitrogen affect the growth and maturation of the head.
Fertilizer #2 is applied 15 days after Fertilizer #1—approximately one month after planting the seedlings. During this period, the plant needs potassium to form a head and phosphorus to ensure it grows strong and large. The fertilizer consists of superphosphate (60g), saltpeter, and sodium chloride (30g each), diluted in 10 liters. This is the recommended dosage for 2 m².

After checking whether the bulb has formed, you can add additional calcium to reduce soil acidity and help the head grow.

Fertilizer #3 is applied when the head has reached the size of a walnut and has stopped growing. Superphosphate (40g per 10L) stimulates its development.

Reference!

By plucking the onion feathers, which is often done, we deprive the head of nutrition, and it grows smaller in size.

The appearance of the plant helps determine the need for fertilization.

Appearance and feeding needs:

The rich color of the feathers and the juicy, dense flesh indicate the presence of essential nutrients in the soil, so in the middle and at the end of the growing season, it is necessary to feed with phosphorus and potassium so that the bulb forms larger;
nitrogen deficiency is expressed in weak, frail feathers and too slow germination of the bulb;
yellowing of the feather indicates a low amount of potassium in the soil;
With phosphorus deficiency, the tips of the greenery dry out.

Important!

Fertilizers are applied in solutions. If the weather is damp and rainy, dry fertilizer can be dug into the soil to a depth of 5-10 cm.

Types of fertilizers

Various types of fertilizers are used as soil amendments: organic, mineral, and complex preparations. The correct dosage is crucial when applying fertilizer, as bulbs can accumulate nitrates.

Organic fertilizers

Organic matter stays in the soil longer, decomposing gradually, so its impact is longer-lasting. The best time to apply nitrogen-rich manure, chicken manure, and urea is in the fall, when the soil is being prepared for spring planting. Applying them in the summer or spring can attract insect pests and cause active leaf growth, thereby slowing the growth of the turnips. Organic matter at this time also has a negative impact on the overall health of the plant, significantly reducing the shelf life of the bulbs.

Nitrogen fertilization options:

horse manure (1 part) dilute in water (20 parts), leave to infuse, dilute with water (1:10) when using;
rotted cow dung (1 part) infuse in 10 liters of water for a week, dilute before use 1:5;
The herbal infusion is prepared over the course of 3 days from chopped grass, weeds and water (press the grass so that it does not float), dilute 1 glass of the infusion in 5 liters of water.

The space between the rows is watered with manure infusion, and the heads themselves are watered with green infusion.

Reference!

For sandy soils, the dosage of substances is reduced by approximately 1/5.

Mineral fertilizers

The advantage of mineral fertilizers is that they contain a specific substance in a specific dosage, are easy to prepare, act quickly, and are effective. When using them, it's crucial to follow the recommended application rates; otherwise, they can burn the plant and harm the soil microflora.

Advice!

When using mineral fertilizers, you should water the roots, and the next day, water the soil with ordinary water.

There are convenient products that contain the necessary substances in the right quantities; you just need to prepare them according to the instructions:

Agricola-2 "For onions and garlic" activates the growth of head mass and can be used in all 3 dressings;
Vegeta is suitable for all vegetable crops and enriches the soil with essential nutrients.

Mixed fertilizers

The use of mixed fertilizers requires precise calculation of the constituent substances and knowledge of the soil composition.

Mixed fertilizer options:

when planting the seed onions, water the soil with a mixture of water, urea, and slurry (10:1:0.25);
for top dressing No. 2, use a solution of nitrophoska (2 tbsp.) in 10 liters;
When performing top dressing No. 3, use superphosphate (20 g) and potassium salt (10 g) in solution (10 liters of water).

Factors Affecting Onion Growth

Many factors influence the formation of a strong head, not just the presence of fertilizers, which it is important to be aware of – this will help avoid some unfavorable situations:

the onion bed should be well lit, otherwise the heads will grow smaller;
Neighboring crops are also important for onions; for example, they grow well next to vegetables such as carrots, radishes, and beets;
a dry feather indicates a lack of moisture, while a pale, drooping feather indicates an excess;
A large number of weeds can suppress the growth of bulbs.

Fertilizing onions for greens

Onions are planted both for the bulbs and for the greens throughout the season. The goal of planting for greens is to develop a large green mass. This requires nitrogen, but potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are equally important, as without them, nitrogen is poorly absorbed, and the greens don't grow as juicy and tasty.

During the season, two additional feedings are carried out with an interval of 2 weeks:

No. 1 (consumption per 1 m²) – a solution of 30 g of ammonium nitrate (urea) in 10 l;
No. 2 (per 1 m²) – superphosphate (30 g), potassium chloride (10-15 g) in solution (10 l of water).

Along with mineral fertilizers, watering is carried out with manure infusions (prepared above), which is not recommended when growing turnips.

Fertilizers for winter onions

Onions planted in winter require nutrients in the spring, so during germination, they should be fed with humic acid-containing compounds, biostimulants, or organic infusions. Other fertilizing is the same as for spring onions.

Recipes for traditional fertilizers

Simple and affordable recipes for chemical-free fertilizers, as gardeners like to say, are popular. They're prepared using ingredients that are always on hand:

A saline solution is prepared from 3 tablespoons of salt and 10 liters of water, used for watering to increase feather growth and to combat crop pests;
Yeast infusion is rich in nitrogen and helps in increasing the mass of the head - dissolve yeast (100g) in 1 bucket of water (40°-50°), leave for a day, use the prepared amount for 3m²;
A solution of ammonia (3 tablespoons per 10 liters) is used to enrich the soil with nitrogen when the feathers turn yellow, and to combat onion flies, keeping in mind that only the soil can be watered; feathers are not recommended.

Timely and correct application of fertilizers is a necessary step in crop management. By monitoring the condition of the plant's foliage, you can always spot nutrient deficiencies and replenish them with the appropriate fertilizers.