At first glance, the process of growing onions is not difficult and can not have any intricacies, but this is not the case, since the overwhelming majority of gardeners are faced with a lot of problems that can be solved simply by following the recommendations of experienced professionals. Among the main problems noted excessive formation of arrows of the plant, which reduces the likelihood of large and dense onions. Moreover, it provokes the emergence of a number of diseases, because of which the bow often completely dies.
In order to minimize such problems, it is necessary first of all to choose the right period for planting and, of course, to make a competent preliminary treatment. High-quality disinfection provides full protection of the plant against all sorts of diseases, infections, and also makes it possible to guarantee an acceptable yield. This article will help every summer resident to learn how to choose sets and how to soak a bow before planting.
The rules of planting onions, how to choose a quality planting material
When buying planting material, that is, onion sets, for further planting on their own summer cottage, of course, one should take into account the qualities and factors that each summer resident personally considers most important. Regardless of whether planting onions are bought at a specialized place of sale or whether it is independently harvested in advance from last year’s crop, specialized specialists and experienced gardeners to get the desired result and an acceptable harvest when choosing seedlings recommend taking into account some criteria.
- The first thing to pay attention to taste. Since it is often impossible to check in the store, you need to pay attention to the varieties and their classification - some have a milder taste, others are more juicy, and so on.
- Resistance of seed to growing conditions and care. So, if the bulbs depend on temperature and humidity, then the onion growth is low, and the yield is low. It is better not to touch such onions during storage, as this can lead to an active growth of feathers.
- Sevka should have a characteristic smell. It is his presence and the absence of the smell of mold, rot and dampness indicates the condition of the seed.
- In addition to other parameters, a quality onion is distinguished by a characteristic rustling, which means that the onion is dried properly and sufficiently.
- Each bulb of the selected planting material should have a dense structure and a flat surface. The husks should be free from spots, traces of diseases, rot, spoilage and exposure to pests.
- When choosing planting material, it is necessary to clarify its variety, germination time, size of the crop and, if available, the individual characteristics of care and cultivation.
Important! The presence on the planting material of any (even minor) mechanical damage or the painful look of the husk (spots, mold, etc.) make it completely unsuitable for planting. The use of such a bow is best avoided.
Bulb size. Among the wide variety of criteria that should be considered in the selection process of planting material, you should definitely pay attention to the size of the bulbs. Given this parameter The bow is conventionally divided into several groups:- Low-grade varieties. This group of bulbs differs in a small size, rarely exceeding 10-15 mm. As a rule, such varieties are usually used for planting in the winter;
- Middle nesting varieties. The group contains plants whose bulb size is in the range of 15-22 mm;
- Multiple variety varieties. The group with the largest size of the plant bulb is from 22 to 40 mm.
Did you know? For planting in our region, it is much more expedient to choose southern, heat-loving varieties that are of medium size. Their feature is a short period of rest and, as a result, the rapid receipt of an impressive harvest.
Preparation of onions for planting
Undoubtedly, it is possible to call the preliminary preparation of the bow for planting one of the most important stages that predetermine the percentage of germination of seed and yield. To date, there are many ways and means of such preparation, but even after many years, the most tested, easy and effective can be called warming and soaking in various solutions. To get the desired result, it’s enough to know how to prepare the onion sets for planting in the spring, that is, how to warm and soak in what bow before planting.
Important! The lack of prior preparation adversely affects the yield and size of onion heads. Of course, warming up the onions and soaking them are not obligatory, but it is this kind of preparation that guarantees the absence of unnecessary arrows and getting a large bow. We strongly recommend to conduct preliminary training!
First of all, you should carefully select the planting material, removing the damaged and small onions. Immediately before planting, to accelerate germination, it is recommended to clean the husk. The steps of heating and processing the onions in the solution are carried out sequentially, as recommended below. What is soaked onions before planting - Each summer resident decides independently, based on personal preferences.Warming onions before planting
Warming up onions is a secret of summer residents, which for a long time remained a mystery to the uninitiated. Due to the large yield, the warm-up method became available to many over time and quickly gained wide popularity. It is already difficult to imagine the right technology for planting onions without preheating. In cases when a seasonal procurement of own seed material is made and storage has been organized at an appropriate temperature (18-23 ° C), it is not necessary to additionally warm the onion. In other cases, when, for example, sevok is bought in a specialty store or on the market, it is strongly recommended to warm up the onions a few days before. It is best to place the seed tank near the heating devices, where the air temperature reaches 35-40 ° C.
Soaking of planting material in saline
In order to quickly and simply increase the germination of planting material and its resistance to the effects of diseases, pests and severe conditions, many summer residents recommend to pre-soak the onions before planting in salt water.
Such processing is almost mandatory. and should be carried out directly on the eve of the landing in open ground (for the day or the day of landing). To prepare the solution should be 20-30 g of salt diluted in two liters of filtered warm water. Planting material is immersed in the resulting solution for 3-4 hours, after which it is removed and gently unfolds in a single layer on fabric or paper.
It is noteworthy that soaking onions before planting in saline solution can be carried out using both ordinary rock and sea salt, without loss of processing efficiency.
There is also an alternative way of similar preparation of planting material - Processing onion sevka before planting soda. As in the case of saline, the preparation is carried out immediately before planting - the onion is placed in a weak aqueous solution of soda (1.5 tl. For each liter of water) for 1-2 hours and dried, after which it can be reprocessed or transplanted on the prepared plot.
Soak the onion in potassium permanganate
Processing onions with potassium permanganate before planting in spring - Mandatory procedure of disinfection of planting material, which guarantees in advance the protection of the plant against dangerous factors, diseases and pests.
Despite the active development of tools and technologies for treating seedlings and seedlings before planting in open ground, the majority of summer residents still prefer to soak the onions before planting in potassium permanganate. This is not surprising, because such a method is extremely simple and less expensive, while its efficiency is not inferior to expensive disinfectants. However, the result is given only by the correct actions, which is why one should know and understand how to soak onions before planting in potassium permanganate.
To prepare the solution, 40 grams of potassium permanganate should be diluted in 10 liters of warm water. Onion seedlings, previously placed in stockings (for convenience of subsequent extraction), are immersed in the resulting composition for 2.5-3 hours. It will be quite enough for reliable protection of the plant from various seasonal diseases and pests.
Did you know? Along with the treatment of planting material in potassium permanganate, high efficiency was proved by its disinfection in copper sulfate or Fitosporin. At the same time, the same dosage is recommended, that is, 30-40 grams per 10 liters of water.
Features of tillage before planting onions
The success of germination and yield of the onion planted is determined in the early stages, so preparation should take into account all factors and features. In view of this, it is necessary to know not only what to treat onion sets before planting, but also how to choose the right place and carry out preliminary soil preparation.
Important! Pretreatment of seeds without soil preparation is ineffective and, as a rule, slightly affects the yield. Therefore, the cultivation of land before planting is strictly required!Planting onion is extremely dependent on the abundance of natural light, which is why it is better to choose an open sunny site for planting. Moreover, it should be understood that excessive moisture is detrimental to onions, so either there should be no groundwater at the landing site, or they should be very deep. Onions grow well on land, where previously grew potatoes, cabbage or tomatoes These crops loosen soil and fill it with minerals, which is extremely important for young planting material.
Did you know? Choosing the right neighborhood beds for onions can have a beneficial effect on its germination and yield. Thus, carrots growing close to the plant emit phytoncides that effectively protect against onion fly attacks.
It is best to start preparing the soil in advance, even in the fall. In the autumn, the site should be dug up and fertilized abundantly with manure. If possible, make it peat or sand. In the case of increased acidity of the soil, it is desirable to lime to create the most favorable growing conditions.If onions are being prepared for planting in spring, then the soil is not fertilized during this period. This is due to the fact that a surplus of trace elements accelerates plant growth - The head of the bulb does not have time to grow to large sizes and quickly launches feathers. In the spring, it is enough to loosen the previously prepared garden bed (dug up and fertilized in the fall), destroying the crust formed during the winter period. After that, you can proceed to the landing of planting material.
Plant bulbs desirable with an interval of 8-10 cm, filling them with loose, cleaned earth, the layer of which should not exceed 2–3 cm. All further care is reduced to regular watering, timely loosening of the soil and removal of weeds.
Processing onions before planting with potassium permanganate and salt makes it possible to guarantee a good harvest in advance. Following simple recommendations on the preliminary preparation of seed before planting in open ground is one of the main secrets of experienced gardeners, giving them an advantage over other gardeners. Having discovered this method for themselves, every summer resident will be able to grow crops that will be a reason for pride.
