Winter varieties of onions. Growing of winter onion

It is impossible to imagine a vegetable garden on a country plot without an onion. Usually this useful root is planted in the spring. It is not known to everyone that it can be grown and as winter wheat. Meanwhile, this method gives a lot of advantages. The only thing is to choose the right grade.

Advantages and disadvantages of growing winter onions

All truck farmers know very well how hard it is to keep sowing until spring. When growing winter onions, this eliminates the need. Nothing will rot and shoot arrows. Another advantage of this method is that the heads grow very large, since the time for landing in the spring will not be missed in any case. Watering the onions until mid-May is not absolutely necessary, since the soil still retains enough moisture. The liberated time can be devoted to planting and caring for other cultures. Winter onion varieties mature for two to three weeks before the usual spring crops. On soup bulbs can be taken at the end of May.

Of course, there is this method of cultivation and its shortcomings. The main thing is that the yield of winter onions is slightly lower than that of spring crops. In addition, it is believed that its heads are kept a little worse.

Winter onion varieties sowing: selection rules

For winter growing, you can take only hybrids and varieties of short - average daylight. They begin to form a bulb already at 12-14 o'clock a day. Southern varieties of onions for growing in winter way are not suitable. Grades intended for planting in spring are also not recommended. The fact that they are much worse than wintering, and freezing, begin to shoot. Most often, as in the case of spring onion, Dutch varieties are used for planting winter wheat.

Shakespeare

One of the most popular varieties intended for winter growing is Shakespeare. Ripen the heads of this onion early enough (grow in 75 days). Their characteristic features include a rounded shape and large sizes. If we compare Shakespeare's winter onion with other varieties, we can note, first of all, much denser integument scales. Due to this, it can withstand temperatures of -18 g. Without snow cover. For comparison - most varieties of winter onions begin to freeze already at -15 gr. The color of the scales is brown.

Shakespeare's onion is distinguished by a white juicy pulp. The taste of this variety is considered semi-acute. Care of him is carried out in the usual way.

Variety Radar

Unlike Shakespeare, another promising winter variety, Radar, has an average maturation period. Its popularity is due primarily to the excellent taste of bulbs and their very good cauteriness. The color of the scales in this variety is light yellow. Another distinguishing feature is the large head size. Grow bulbs in 150 gr. Will not be difficult. In some years, with careful care of the radar grade head can reach 300 grams of weight. Harvest onion Winter radar gives more than good.

Sort of Ellan

Sort of Ellan refers to a short-day form. Straw-colored bulbs have a rounded shape. Their weight can reach 80-120 g. The flesh is white, has a sweetish taste. The brand is already ripening in June, when old stocks of onions are used up, and the spring heads are not yet ripe.

Other varieties

The above described winter varieties of onion-sowing can be attributed to the most popular varieties. However, there are other, also noteworthy. For example, very often dachniki of the middle belt of Russia grow winter onion Shenshui. You can plant in the fall also such varieties as the popular and well-known Studgarten Riesen, the widely spread in Europe Sturon, the early Centurion, the lean Kip-Vell and some others.

Terms of planting

Like winter garlic, winter varieties of onions are planted about a month before the onset of frost. In the central part of Russia this is around mid-October. With the planting is not worth it. Unlike garlic, the dormancy period lasts until December - January. So it will not be possible to release the arrows and freeze in any case. Chernushka planted in the middle - the end of August.

Choose a place

Winter onion plantations feel good on sunny, sheltered from strong winds. In this case, the bed must not be heated in the spring. Otherwise, the heads will be blown out. You can not also choose for planting the places where before, during the past five years, grown at least some bulbous. Unwanted predecessors are also such crops as beans, potatoes and celery.

Preparation of beds

A bed for winter onion varieties should be prepared two weeks before planting. Soil should be dig as far as possible. In this case, fertilizers are introduced into the beds. The best is considered humus. You can replace it with eco-friendly (30 g per 1 m ² ), superphosphate (20 g) or potassium salt (15 g). Higher doses of phosphorus help the winter onion to overwinter well. This culture responds very well to ashes. The beds are best made high. This will reduce the chance of freezing.

What should be the planting material

Whatever species is chosen for cultivation, be it Winter Radar, Shakespeare or Ellan, it is not worthwhile to take a seedling with a diameter of more than 1 cm. Small bulbs do not give arrows. In addition, the heads grown from them are much better kept in winter. Of course, the seedling chosen for planting should be healthy. Bulbs with spots, damaged or rotten should be discarded.

Landing onions

Before planting, the bed should be loosened properly. Bulbs are planted in a hole way 10 cm apart in a row. Between the rows leave 25 cm. Some truck farmers plant winter onions more often. However, this is only necessary if there is not enough space in the garden.

Preparation of beds for winter

In most cases, winter planting of onions for the winter is mulched. This reduces the risk of freezing. It is not recommended to use peat as mulch. The fact is that the degree of heat conduction in him is very low and in the spring he thaws for a long time, delaying the development of plants. Therefore, it is best to cover the beds with foliage, straw, lapnik or tops. This should be done when the soil is slightly frozen. Remove the mulch in the spring immediately after the beginning of the thawing of the soil.

Spring and summer care

Caring winter onion varieties require almost the same as spring crops. In the spring, after removing the mulch, the bed should be fertilized with urea (10 g per 1 m ² ). Then the planting is loosened. You can sprinkle a patch on top of a small layer of ash.

After the plants form about 4 leaves, you need to make another feeding, this time 10 grams of potassium fertilizer and 20 grams of phosphate. Best of all, onions respond to fertilizers introduced in liquid form. Therefore, they should be dissolved in water or in diluted infusions of herbs. Water the onions as necessary, avoiding the drying of the soil. After each watering the bed should be loosened.