Why does the onion rot
Growing vegetables on your own plot allows you to get high-quality and inexpensive products at the end of the season. But there are times when root crops become unusable in the garden or during storage. Why does the onion rot and what methods of dealing with this scourge exist? Let's talk about this in our review.
Why does the onion rot in the garden
Main reasons
A favorite crop grows in every vegetable garden, so farmers pay a lot of attention to a healthy vegetable. But it is not always possible to grow turnips without problems. An already ripe crop is lost before harvest or turns into mucus during storage.
What is the reason that onions can rot?
- Humidity. Excess fluid in the last weeks before digging up negatively affects the overall keeping quality. Water accumulated in the tissues provokes putrefactive processes.
- Diseases. Ignoring the rules of cultivation leads to the activation of infectious and fungal diseases in onions.
- Parasites. There are a number of insects that are not afraid of the harsh scent. Gluttonous larvae destroy roots from the inside, which causes the formation of rot.
Before starting treatment, it is important to identify the culprit of the problem. It is recommended to carefully examine the affected vegetable. The presence of pests or ailments is never unnoticed.
Bacterial rot
If an alternation of healthy juicy and soft, smelly scales is found on the cut of the bulb, these are signs of a common fungal disease. When harvesting, such root crops practically do not differ from unaffected ones, but after 2-3 months the turnips will begin to disappear.
Onions can rot on the vine, so it is not always possible to quickly detect signs of the disease. First, light burn spots appear on the feathers in the center, and then cover the space up to the neck. On such leaves there is no plaque characteristic of the fungus, but against the background of healthy ones, they look faded and drooping.
Excessive sprinkling or wet summer is enough to rot the product. By the time of harvest, the disease penetrates into the sinuses of the greenery and into the neck. Gradually, the onion infection moves into the juicy layers. The disease increases the temperature in root crops, as a result of which the production is completely lost.
Rotting onions can be prevented if you remember the rules of crop rotation. You cannot plant a spicy vegetable in one place for more than 2 years in a row. There are also a number of prohibited and recommended predecessors.
To avoid onion rot, you must not leave lost plant residues in the soil: they accumulate dangerous bacteria that do not die from frost. The affected area is treated with fungicides.
When the first signs of the disease appear, the beds of root crops are watered, sprayed with preparations based on copper. It is important to choose the right product and follow all the instructions in the instructions. You cannot apply a lot of nitrogen fertilizers.
Cervical rot
A highly specialized pathogen affects only turnips.A characteristic gray or white mold appears, which gradually destroys the tissues of the sides and bottom. The scales soften, acquire a yellowish-pink color. An unpleasant odor is observed.
Why then does the onion rot? Sowing material becomes the main source of the fungus. Infected raw materials quickly spread throughout the garden, as a result of which the root crops are infected with an infection. Incorrect cultivation conditions and excess nitrogen also create ideal conditions for the onset of disease.
Cervical rot affects the planting material. To reduce losses, it is recommended to carefully select suppliers of seed sets. Nigella bulbs should be well dried and have a "tail" length of 3 to 6 cm. Store raw materials at a temperature of 1 to 5 ° C.
There are no disease-resistant turnip varieties. To prevent the product from rotting, it is necessary to pickle the seed before planting. Soaking in Benlat or Tigam fungicides is used.
Cervical rot affects not only the garden. Harvesting is carried out in the period of full maturity, having previously stopped watering 3-4 weeks before work. Injured bulbs must not be stored with other root vegetables. Regular inspection of products and the destruction of missing copies will protect against the spread of infection.
Fusarium
Rot of the bottom is a very dangerous disease that affects only this culture. May appear during active growth and storage. Fungi are the cause.
Fusarium onion infection will appear as yellow, curved feathers that gradually die off. A slight pink bloom appears between the foliage. Turnips are lagging behind in growth, and the roots darken and dry out. On the cut in affected vegetables, the lower part of the scales becomes watery, acquiring a gray color. Gradually, production disappears.
Why then onions rot in the ground and in storage? Excessive irrigation and violation of cultivation conditions provoke the activation of the disease in the garden. Mechanical damage during harvesting and an immature neck significantly reduce keeping quality.
A couple of days before planting, the soil is treated with boiling water. Immediately before planting, the beds are watered with a concentrated solution of manganese.
Fusarium onion infection does not appear in areas where farmers have treated seedlings and soil with fungicides. Avoid waterlogging of the soil and regularly loosen the ground. It is worth remembering the rules of crop rotation, which reduce the chances of infection.
Onion fly
A highly specialized insect that feeds exclusively on spicy vegetables. The larvae mercilessly devour root crops, so inattentive gardeners can lose the entire crop. It is no longer possible to save the affected turnip.
Onions rot in the ground due to the fact that the larvae gnaw into the juicy pulp. A characteristic sign of the incipient destruction is the wilting of feathers. The culture is significantly suspended in development. Inside, under the upper scales, moving light worms are noticeable. The turnip gives off an unpleasant odor.
The reason why the onion rots in the garden is a nimble insect. It is easy to kill the pest, but all chemicals accumulate in vegetables, making them dangerous to humans. Experts advise to fight with preventive measures. The insect begins active reproduction in May, and during the season it hatches up to 4 generations.
Careful digging of the site for the winter raises adults and pupae to the surface. The onion fly cannot stand low temperatures, so it dies with the first frosts. When planning the beds, they give preference to sunny, well-ventilated places. Carrots are sown nearby: its smell repels the pest.
How to treat onions from rot? The planting material is soaked in insecticides, and then mass shoots are sprayed with "Aktara" in May-June.If signs of infection become noticeable, it is recommended to water the beds with saline: treatment with dandelion infusion or tobacco dust scares away insects.
Stem nematode
What causes the onion to rot? The small thin worm is a dangerous crop pest. It hibernates in soil, bulbs and infected seedlings. The insect is dormant for 2 years. Under favorable conditions, it wakes up and destroys the crop.
The parasite enters the plant through the stomata of the leaves and from the bottom side, lays eggs in the infected tissue. Adults and larvae feed on the sap of the head, molt several times.
Sick root crops are lagging behind in development. The cotyledon feather is swollen and unnaturally twisted. When cut, the tissues have a loose structure, and the scales are unevenly thickened. When pressed, the turnip feels soft. The dug head is very wet and has a specific aroma. Rotting begins during storage.
How to deal with a nematode? Compliance with the rules of crop rotation will minimize the chances of infection. Sevok is carefully selected or purchased from trusted sellers. Before planting, it is important to soak the raw materials in hot water - from 45 to 55 ° C.
Agrotechnics
Many beginners do not know why onions rot in the garden, in this case it is recommended to get acquainted with the peculiarities of growing a crop. Plants love the abundance of sun and air, so they select the appropriate areas.
To get a healthy harvest, it is not enough to purchase an elite variety. Onions can rot in the ground if the rules of crop rotation are violated: you cannot plant a turnip in one place every year. Recommended predecessors:
- potatoes;
- tomatoes;
- cabbage;
- siderates.
Onions can rot if you break the beds after:
- garlic;
- cucumbers;
- carrots.
The last root vegetable can be planted near the turnip. Such a mutually beneficial neighborhood will protect both crops from specialized insects, and dill and velvet are additionally scared off parasites.
Watering
To avoid onion rot, it is important to choose the right irrigation regime. Excess moisture in the ground negatively affects the later stages of development. The root system cannot cope with the incoming liquid, therefore, the decomposition process begins.
Abundant watering is needed in the first weeks after planting. After the feather has appeared above the ground, it is necessary to switch to less intensive irrigation. The procedure is recommended to be done as the soil dries out.
The cause of rotting onions can be a lack of oxygen. After watering, a dense crust forms on the ground, which does not allow air to pass through. In such conditions, the area is unevenly dried and irreversible processes begin. To prevent the entire crop from beginning to disappear, you need to regularly loosen the beds. Mulching will help to simplify work.
Before you start digging, stop watering the culture. The plant does not accumulate moisture in the tissues. This trick protects against the onset of decay and prolongs the shelf life of the product.
Pre-planting preparation
To prevent onion planting from rotting, one must not forget about preventive measures for sevka: they will protect the material from possible problems in the future. The simplest will be soaking in potassium permanganate and salt. The substances get rid of infection and insects, but do not have a prolonged effect.
Rotting onions in the garden can be triggered by fungi, so it is important to process the seedlings. Copper sulfate is a very aggressive drug, but common ailments will not be saved from it. The procedure is complemented by soaking in fertilizers.
The professional remedy "Fitosporin" is used to fight diseases: it protects against many onion ailments, which makes it possible to use it both on a personal plot and in a large agricultural company. The drug has shown the best treatment results in preventive measures.
Storage
Another reason that the turnip rots is improper preparation and maintenance of the crop.The bulb can be injured during harvesting. Microbes enter the wound, which begin to destroy it from the inside. Such an element will become a source of contamination of all products.
If you leave a short neck on the turnip, then the fungi will penetrate through it into the middle. The recommended length is from 3 to 6 cm. Such a "tail" will become a reliable barrier on the path of destruction.
Why is the onion still rotting? It is important to rid the scales of excess moisture. Before sending the crop for storage, it must be thoroughly dried. For this, the products are left for several days under awnings or in a well-ventilated area.
We figured out why onions rot in the ground and during storage. The recommendations given will help determine the problem, and also tell you what to do so that the harvest does not start to disappear.