How to store onion sets correctly
Onions are a relatively unpretentious product, it is quite easy to grow them, but saving the seeds until the next planting is not so easy. Gardeners with many years of experience know that you can get a big harvest only with high-quality sowing, but the question often arises of how to do this? Everyone wants to have their own seeds, but only modern apartments are not designed for this. And it is in this article that you will learn how to store onion sets indoors and what conditions are required for this.
How to store onion sets
Sevok: a short description
First you need to figure out what a set is, and only then explain how to store an onion set and what features it has. Onion sets are small bulbs with a diameter of 2.5-3 cm, and they grew in the first years of sowing. It is used as a seed, and then onions grow from it. The right seeds are the key to success. Of course, you can use purchased seeds, but sevok has its advantages:
- gives an earlier harvest (if planted in early spring);
- its root system quickly grows into the ground, even if the soil is not fertilized;
- thanks to a strong root system, even in the hellish heat it will be able to absorb moisture from the soil;
- suitable for growing large yields and easy to maintain.
To get an excellent harvest, you need to go through a couple of stages: the process of preparing for harvesting, accurate collection of onion sets, and proper preparation of the crossbow for storage. Among other things, it is important to strictly adhere to the temperature limits for storing onions at home.
Cooking sevok
Preparing an onion for hibernation has several main stages. The first is harvesting onions before winter. It is recommended to assemble a crossbow for planting at the end of August. If you don't know if the onion is ripe or not, look at its feathers: if they turn yellow and dry, this is a sure sign that the crossbow is ready.
Many are wondering how to save the sevok so that it does not disappear. First, you must select the bow for landing and choose the right size. First, a small crossbow can last much longer than a large onion. Secondly, the bulb should be dried as much as possible. This can be done on a windowsill or on a balcony, the sun at this stage plays the role of a natural dryer. Most importantly, do not forget that even onions need constant fresh air, so the room where it will be located should be ventilated a couple of times a day.
Possible locations
Topical questions for beginners and experienced gardeners include the problems of how to store onion sets before planting, as well as where to store sets. In fact, the apartment has a lot of places suitable for storing a crossbow. The TOP 6 spaces are discussed in more detail below:
- A regular wicker basket is perfect for storing sets, as well as for storing just onions. The basket has holes, which means that air and sun will hit the crossbow. The basket is made of environmentally friendly material and will look very nice in any interior.
- Small drawers are very convenient and do not take up much space.They can be placed one on top of the other, and the storage of the set will not be disturbed.
- A regular cardboard box may work, but air holes need to be made to allow the bow to breathe.
- Where without the old and proven method. Do you have old unwanted tights? Consider that you have found a use for them. Of course, a bow in pantyhose will look strange in an apartment, but, for example, storage on a balcony or in a closet will not take up much space.
- A simple bag is also great for setting and storing onions. Only 20-30 cm of onion can be poured into it, if more, then it will simply suffocate. In winter, it is advisable to keep the vegetable away from the battery.
- And, of course, the nets. It can also be stored on the balcony or in the pantry, while it will be possible to see the state of the onion, whether the temperature and humidity are suitable for it.
This paragraph answers the question of how to store onion sets before planting and where.
Mode
In fact, storing onion sets before planting at home is very easy. The main thing is to adhere to several rules. First, you must not put the container next to any heating device (battery, air conditioner, etc.), especially in winter. The optimum temperature for storing the crossbow is 22-24 ° C. Air humidity also plays a very important role. Dry air will simply dry up future seeds, and too humid air will provoke the process of rotting and decomposition of seeds. The ideal humidity is 50-70%.
The main thing is to store the seeds correctly. How long can you do this? Optimally within 1 year and 3 months at a temperature of 17-23 ° C, humidity - 50-70%. If the plans are to keep the crossbow in the refrigerator, then the term is 1 month. A self-propelled gun necessary for food, which is stored in a vacuum package, has a shelf life of one year, if unpacked - 2 months.
Existing methods
There are several ways to store a crossbow: cold method, warm method, combined. The cold method involves storing seeds in a basement, garage, or cellar. After the crossbow has passed the selection method and was put in a container, you can lower it into the basement and leave it there until spring. Only in the spring can the plant be taken out and planted. It is better that the air at the storage location is approximately 3 ° C, and the air humidity is 60-70%.
There is a second way - this is to bury the seeds already in the ground, but this must be done before the first frosts. During the winter, it will not germinate, but in the spring it will really be possible to get the first seedlings.
The third way is to take a bucket, put sawdust in there, put onions and then pour sawdust on top again. Strong and healthy seeds are planted in the spring.
The warm method involves storing the seeds in your home or apartment. You need to store the crossbow in a warm (17-22 ° C) room, away from moisture and dampness, so that the vegetable does not germinate or disappear.
The combined method is not known to all summer residents. It consists of a warm and cold method. Until the first frost, the onion is in a room with a temperature of 17-22 ° C, and then it is transferred to a refrigerator or another cool place. Then in the spring, 2-3 weeks before planting, the seeds must be taken out in the sun, the temperature degree rises to 23-26 ° C, they are kept at this temperature for a couple of days, and then it is lowered to 22 ° C. These indicators remain until planting in the spring.
If the onion nevertheless began to rot, it can still be saved, you just need a rotten layer and let the plant dry out. If it became noticeable that the process was stopped, then you can plant, if not, the vegetable should be thrown away. It is best to plant a crossbow in spring, when the soil and air have already warmed up.
Summing up
Different varieties have their own storage conditions:
- green varieties can be kept in the refrigerator for no longer than 2 weeks;
- leeks are best stored in sand, pot height - 5-6 cm, and sand - 3-4 cm;
- onion varieties are the easiest to store, they can be kept in the refrigerator for a couple of months.
So, we found the answer to the question of how to store onion sets, and learned that there are many techniques for storing sets like onions, as well as the conditions for storing sets before planting. There are many storage places, the main thing is to follow all recommendations for air, temperature and moisture. Shelf life depends on the variety. It is better to keep small bulbs for planting. There are 3 storage methods: cold, warm, combined. Which of these methods is suitable, it is up to the gardener himself to decide, only in this way he can be sure that the crossbow will lie until spring.