Varieties and features of planting winter onions

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Winter onions are often planted in order to obtain turnip and feathers already at the beginning or middle of summer. And harvesting can be carried out even when the first greens are just appearing in other areas. But in order for the planting to survive the winter normally and to sprout on time, they must be properly carried out. Growing winter onions is not something too difficult, but it requires certain knowledge from the gardener, as well as compliance with all the basic terms and requirements for planting material.

Winter onion

The choice of planting material for planting

There are separate varieties of onions that are used for planting before winter. But before choosing which variety of winter onions to plant, you need to select a suitable planting material. When planting before winter, two main cultivation methods are used. In the first case, selected bulbs are sown into the soil, and in the second, sowing is carried out using seeds. There is a third combined option: the seed is grown from the seeds, and its bulbs are used as planting material.

Selection of onion sets for planting before winter

With a similar method, onion sets are sown, which should already sprout in the spring. For growing a turnip, onions should be selected whose diameter does not exceed 1 cm. They do not have enough juices to germinate immediately after planting in the soil. If the size of the planting material is larger and ranges from 1 to 2 cm, then it can be planted on greenery. Then the onion feather can be harvested in the spring, in May or even in April. Larger bulbs are only suitable for food.

But here a lot also depends on the specific variety. In some varieties, the sets are always medium-sized, resembling small garlic in size. It is planted as a whole, often without even touching it, while in other varieties the seed material is very large. And then, even for a turnip, you have to take onions, whose size reaches up to 1.5 cm. In such cases, you need to focus on the size to which the winter onion of each specific variety grows.

Selection of seeds for planting as winter onions

If it was decided to use seeds when growing winter onions, then there are two options for action. The first option is to grow winter onion sets by planting seeds in early spring and digging up the onions around August. The second option is to immediately sow the selected seeds in the fall, and in the spring to take care of full-fledged beds. In the first case, you do not need to sort out the planting material, you just need to plant it, and then choose the resulting seed according to the method that has already been described.

If you need to plant seeds immediately in the fall, then you should select a full-fledged planting material.The most common brute force method is to immerse them in liquid. In this case, hollow grains emerge, and healthy grains that can germinate drown. If nigella (as onion seeds are also called) does not sink in clean water, then salt is added to it. In order for the planting material to survive the winter, it can be washed with milk whey. This substance forms a film on the surface that protects against external influences.

Targeted cultivation of winter seedlings

If you want to grow varietal winter onions, then they are purchased in the form of seeds. Seeds have a slightly lower germination capacity and they are not always able to survive the harsh winter, so most gardeners prefer to plant seeds in the spring, get seedlings from them by autumn and sow it before winter. This method is not difficult to implement, but it produces much more plantings. Planting and caring for seed plantings are simple, and the return is very high, you just need to plant everything on time.

And yet, how to grow winter onion sets? The timing of its planting depends on each specific region. For example, in Siberia, it has to be planted a little later than in the south of Ukraine. You need to focus on the time when the snow melts in early spring. As soon as the snow disappears and the land is no longer reminiscent of stone fortress, it is necessary to plant Chernushka. Shallow and wide furrows are made 1.5-2 by 5 cm in size. Seeds are densely planted in them. A small distance should be made between the furrows for weeding.

When a young onion has risen, it does not need to be fed, it is only worth weeding and watering in time. It is also advisable to constantly loosen the soil, providing the plantings with a sufficient amount of air for further growth. This is the whole cultivation technology: in the spring, plantings need care and watering, but not top dressing. Fertilizer also does not need to be applied before making a bed, and already at the end of July or early August it is time to dig out the resulting seedlings, then it must be sorted according to the method already described.

Autumn planting of winter onion sets

Landing times depend on the local climate and what weather forecasts are made by forecasters. There is only one answer to the question of when to plant winter onions: it is sown 28-30 days before a severe cold snap begins. A strong cold snap is understood as frost, which turns into constant cold. But you cannot sow winter crops when the weather is warm outside. The maximum temperature acceptable for disembarkation is 8-9 ° C, and preferably when the temperature drops to 5-6 ° C.

Onion sets for winter planting are sown on relatively cloudy days, but when there is no heavy rain or wind. In the garden, shallow trenches are made, up to 5 cm deep, in which the seed of winter onions must be planted. The distance between the beds is up to 20 cm. Sowing is calculated based on the size of the onions. The larger they are, the greater the distance between furrows in the selected area. The same rule applies to individual onions in a row. Large bulbs are planted every 10 cm.

Soil cultivation for planting sevka

Winter onions should be planted where the soil is moderately loose and fertilized, it is desirable that it be of a neutral acidity level. In excessively acidic soil, immature bulbs begin to rot and cannot ripen sensibly. This plant does not like a large number of weeds, so the garden bed will need additional weeding. Excessive soil moisture is also considered a disadvantage. The technology of growing winter crops is not designed for swampy soils, in which the bulbs rot long before they are fully ripe.

Separately, it is worth talking about fertilizing the soil layer when planting winter onions. This culture does not like fresh organic matter in the soil, since such a top dressing serves as a breeding ground for various fungi.In fresh manure, among other things, weed seeds remain, which germinate before the main crop, so it is better to fertilize the soil not before sowing, but about a year before the planting dates are suitable. otherwise, this sowing may be just a waste of the gardener's time and energy.

The soil should have a sufficient amount of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. You need to understand that an excess of nitrogen, for example, makes the rhizomes too soft, but it provokes the growth of green feathers, which is useful when growing winter crops on a feather. But if you have to dig out the harvest in order to get a turnip, then it is better not to be zealous with fertilizers. When planting in acidic soils, it is worth adding lime or wood ash to them. The second option is preferable when the earth lacks potassium.

Winter garden care

Winter onions, planting and caring for them are inextricably linked. Immediately after the beds have been prepared, they must be covered with mulching material that can protect against winter frosts. Winter onion sets can suffer from cold weather, so you must immediately decide what will be used as a shelter. Often, ordinary leaves of garden trees are taken and laid on top of the plantings. But there is also a better option for leaving - to lay pre-assembled coniferous needles on the beds.

It is necessary to apply fertilizer for winter onions in the spring, and the first application is done soon after the snow melts and the soil thaws. After that, the main care consists in the timely watering and loosening of the beds. If the sowing was successful, then soon after the warming, the first green arrows will appear on the beds, but pests will come after them, which will have to be dealt with. Moreover, the more delicious the variety was planted, the more it will attract various unpleasant insects to itself.

Some gardeners ask how to plant winter onions so that they suffer less from insects, and is there any winter onion that does not attract pests. Unfortunately, these uninvited guests must be constantly fought. Before planting, it is worth treating the soil with tobacco thrips, onion flies and nematodes, and in the spring - plant ordinary carrots near the beds. In this case, you need to constantly monitor the state of your crops. Here's what they recommend about this on various forums of gardeners:

“Winter onions attract many pests when they begin to ripen. When the timing of its harvesting comes up - and this happens in June or July - it is worth preparing for an invasion of insects. Of course, when we plant winter crops, we cultivate the land from pests before planting. But it is worth preparing products such as Medvetox or Aktara for protection before harvesting. You can also make infusions from plants such as datura, henbane, marigold, or alkaloid lupine. These environmentally friendly products have already proven their worth. "

Various varieties of winter onions

Many varieties and hybrids were bred specifically for planting before winter, and new varieties continue to appear, but not only specially bred onions are suitable for winter planting. Many spicy varieties can be used perfectly in this capacity. A number of varieties that have been used for a long time have sufficient frost resistance for planting before winter, and in the southern regions almost any onion can be used as winter crops. Here is an incomplete list of varieties that are often planted before winter:

• Raider, aka Radar.
• Helenas bow.
• Shakespeare grade.
• Bow Stuttgarter Riesen.
• Siberian annual.
• Red (or Red) Baron.
• Olin variety.
• Goliath (or Goliath, as it is sometimes called).
• Ellan (his name is also simply Elan).
• White onions.
• Troy.
• Centurion variety.
• Senshui Yelow.

And this is not the whole list of varieties that are used for sowing before winter. They have different fit and care, more precisely, the methods of their implementation. They also have a different appearance and, of course, taste.They are distinguished by their pungency, while others are softer and even sweeter in taste. But the description here will not help: to see all these differences, you need to plant the desired variety, and then taste the crop. Therefore, it is worth describing several of those varieties that are recommended by experienced gardeners.

Troy onion variety

This variety was bred in Holland not so long ago, but has already proven itself well when grown on plots. Onion Troy is a so-called first generation hybrid, from which it will not be possible to obtain seeds. This type of Dutch selection does not differ in large rhizomes. A dozen medium-sized bulbs rarely weigh more than 1 kg, but they are resistant to environmental influences and can be stored for a long time. And this despite the fact that the variety belongs to the medium-sharp varieties.

The bulbs of this hybrid are round in shape, with smooth and dense shiny scales of a golden hue. They are very reluctant to shoot. For this reason, Troy has a long shelf life and excellent germination: the bulbs do not begin to leave the feather ahead of time. It can be planted not only before winter, but also in spring. This variety does not suffer from fungal diseases and resists various viruses, bacteria and pests well. An excellent choice for both a novice gardener and an experienced summer resident.

Centurion Bow

Another hybrid of the first generation, which, like Troy, was bred by breeders in Holland. These varieties also have a certain external similarity, but the Centurion has slightly more elongated bulbs, and its scales are lighter, bright straw shade. The weight of one rhizome rarely exceeds 100 g, which is generally an average indicator, but this is offset by the high yield and excellent germination of the Centurion onion. It ripens in three months, so in warm regions the harvest of winter crops is already harvested in June.

The bulbs of this hybrid do not contain much moisture. For this reason, they can be stored for six months, and in suitable conditions this period may increase. The taste of the fruits is moderately spicy, so they are used both for salads and for preparing various canned foods. Due to the dense and durable scales of the outer cover, the onion retains its presentation for a long time, which simplifies its successful implementation. If you look at the reviews, it turns out that this hybrid is considered one of the most popular varieties at the present time.

Winter onion Radar

Onion Radar, aka Raider, is another hybrid that is successfully grown as a winter onion. This variety has one difference, for which all knowledgeable gardeners appreciate it: it is resistant to very severe frosts, even against the background of many other winter varieties. The radar can withstand temperatures as low as -15 ° С, and this is in the absence of snow cover. Under the snow, it is able to withstand frosts even down to -23 ° C. These are very decent indicators.

Frost resistance is not the only advantage of this hybrid. The mass of its bulbs ranges from 150 to 300 g, and in some cases it can reach half a kilogram. They have a classic rounded shape and a golden shade of scales. Moreover, they are able to ripen quickly. Some summer residents manage to harvest already in May, when other gardeners are just beginning to appear green. At the same time, Radar has a pleasant pungent taste, thanks to which it is successfully used in various cooking.

Bow Stuttgarter Riesen

This variety was bred in Germany, but it is in no way inferior to the brainchild of Dutch breeders. This onion can be used both for green feathers and for growing on a turnip. And in that, and in another capacity, he shows himself perfectly. When grown for a turnip, its yield is 4.5-5 kg ​​per 1 sq. m of beds, although much here depends on the quality of the soil and planting density. Stuttgarter Riesen also has a high ripening rate: 100 days pass from the appearance of the first shoots to harvest.

This variety is characterized by large bulbs, the mass of which ranges from 120 to 250 g. They have a somewhat flattened neat shape, dense golden scales and white flesh. They also have a medium-sharp taste, which is characteristic of many varieties of winter onions. The variety is resistant to a number of fungal diseases, in particular, to all varieties of powdery mildew. It is stored for a long time and retains its presentation, which is why it is convenient for growing, both for home use and for sale.

Shakespeare Winter Onion Variety

This variety can be very successfully used both for planting before winter and for classic spring cultivation. This hybrid belongs to the ultra-early varieties. Its average ripening period is 2.5 months, which is one of the best indicators in principle. As with Radar, the bulbs can be harvested as early as May or early June. At the same time, the bulbs are very resistant to shooting and will not germinate ahead of time, therefore, this variety has excellent storage not only of the crop, but also of the planting material.

The average weight of one bulb ranges from 80 to 100 g - an average when compared with other varieties, but these bulbs tolerate frost well and can withstand temperatures as low as -18 ° C. This is due to the strong and dense scales that make up the outer cover of the rhizome. These scales have a golden hue, while the flesh of ripe fruits is white.

Another advantage of the Shakespeare variety is that it does not require abundant watering.

Senshui Yelou variety

Senshui elow, or Senshui yellow, is a very convenient hybrid for growing, a distinctive feature of which is the color of the rhizomes. Its scales have a yellow tint with a brown tint, which is easy to recognize in the photo. But Senshui is not popular because of the color of the bulbs. This variety is distinguished by fast ripening times - harvesting takes place already in mid-June, and in warm regions it can be carried out even in May, if climatic conditions permit. Moreover, this variety has excellent germination.

The taste of the bulbs is somewhat sweet, without pronounced pungency, so they are convenient to use when preparing salads and other similar dishes. But one problem is connected with this: Senshui does not have the best shelf life - the bulbs are no more than 3-4 months, after which they begin to deteriorate. But the variety has excellent disease resistance, which has a positive effect on the harvest.

Winter onion Ellan

This variety is one of the first winter onion varieties bred by domestic breeders. According to many gardeners, Ellan is perfect for growing in central Russia. Moreover, it can be grown with a short daylight hours, which allows it to be planted in some northern regions. The average mass of one bulb is 110 g, although individual rhizomes can reach a mass of 0.4-0.5 kg. It all depends on the conditions of detention and some luck.

Rhizomes are rounded, with dense yellowish scales, sweet in taste and without pronounced pungency, but because of this the crop cannot be stored for a long time, so it should be immediately sold or used for food, which is not difficult, given that the turnip is removed already in the first half of June.

Conclusion

Onion varieties for planting before winter can interest many gardeners and summer cottages, because their cultivation does not require a lot of time and money, and the harvest is easy to sell, and they are in no way inferior to spring varieties in taste.