Methods for treating onion sets from pests

Onions are a vegetable grown by many gardeners, and they always produce a bountiful harvest. However, successful onion growing is impossible without some preparation. One of the problems you might encounter when growing onion sets is bolting, which prevents the plant from producing large fruits, and various diseases that can easily destroy the plant.

Onions are widely used in folk medicine for their ability to kill viruses and various bacteria, but onions themselves also require careful attention when growing. How to treat onion sets before planting.

In addition to knowing how to treat onion sets before planting to protect them from diseases and pests (video) and when to plant, you also need to select the right seeds. Seed selection follows this principle:

• Soft, small, spoiled bulbs can be thrown away immediately; they are of no use and will interfere with the full growth of healthy seeds;
• If the onion bulb does not yet have feathers, then it needs to be trimmed, carefully cutting off the husk to speed up germination;
• The selected seeds should be dried in a warm and dry place;

The selected seeds also need to be warmed. First, the seeds are kept at a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius (about 3 weeks), and then left for 10 hours at a temperature of 35-40 degrees Celsius (95-104 degrees Fahrenheit). During this final stage, it's important to monitor the time and not overheat the onions, otherwise the harvest will be poor.

Another heating method is to soak onion sets in water at 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10 minutes, then bathe them in cold water with a nutrient solution containing fertilizer. This procedure, unlike the first heating method, takes a maximum of 6 hours and will produce exactly the same results.

Knowing how to properly select and prepare seeds, you can move on to the next question: how to treat onion sets before planting to protect them from diseases and pests.

Processing onions before planting

It is essential to treat onions before planting; this is an integral part of the entire process of growing this crop. Pre-plant treatment of onion sets against diseases and pests consists of the following procedures:

1. Dissolve two tablespoons of salt in two liters of water and soak the seeds. This "soaking" promotes faster plant development, protects against harsh environmental factors, and disinfects the bulbs from nematodes. Soak the seeds in the salt solution for at least three hours.
2. You can disinfect the seeds with a potassium permanganate solution. Dissolve 35 grams of potassium permanganate in ten liters of water and soak the onion seeds in this solution for two hours. Although there are now many special products for treating onion sets against diseases and pests before planting, potassium permanganate remains the most popular and effective method.
3. Gardeners often use a solution of copper sulfate or phytosporin as an alternative to potassium permanganate. The preparation principle is exactly the same as with potassium permanganate, and the proportions of the solution remain the same.

Knowing how to treat onion sets before planting to prevent diseases and pests can not only increase your chances of a bountiful harvest but also avoid difficulties later in the plant's growth. After planting onion sets, water the plants and sprinkle the soil with sawdust to prevent the damp soil from sticking to the seeds. The plant will reward your painstaking work and proper care with an abundance of healthy, large bulbs.

Good luck in the garden!