Good onion harvest with easy care - Bamberger variety: description, cultivation, collection and storage rules

Among vegetable onion crops popular among Russian summer residents, a special place is occupied by varieties that have elongated oval-shaped fruits. These include the Bamberger onion, whose green feathers and juicy bulbs have high taste and contain many useful substances. In addition, the elongated shape (the bulbs smoothly taper towards the neck and bottom) is not only pleasing to the eye, but also practical to use - the heads are convenient to clean and cut, they easily fit into jars for canning.

"Bamberger" (pictured) is one of the best varieties with elongated oval-shaped bulbs

The variety is positioned as mid-early or mid-late in terms of ripening. It can be classified in the first group if planting is done to force feathers. But the duration of the process of growing bulbs and their full ripening may differ depending on the growing regions.

"Bamberger", bred by Dutch breeders, is well adapted to various soil and climatic conditions and is successfully grown throughout almost the entire territory of Russia. This variety of crop is characterized by high yield, pleasant taste and medium-sized bulbs, therefore it is in great demand among vegetable growers and consumers.

Bed and soil

Beds for planting onions are placed in well-lit and ventilated areas with loose, fertile, well-drained soil.
The soil is dug up in the fall and mineral fertilizers and rotted manure or humus are added. The predecessors of Bamberger onions are :

• legumes and grains;
• potato;
• cabbage.

Popular problems

Almost all the problems that you may encounter when growing Bamberger are associated with violations of the following agricultural rules:

• planting too small a seed becomes the reason that the root system is not developed and cannot withstand the weight of the green mass;
• there are not enough nutrients in the soil;
• growing temperature is too high;
• little light.

For a video review of the Bamberger variety, see the following video:

Growing from seeds

You can grow planting material yourself. Seeds are sown in open ground in late autumn or spring.

In autumn, sowing is carried out when the soil is slightly frozen.

This method does not allow the seeds to germinate before the onset of frost. Sow in spring when the snow has completely melted. Read about onion varieties for growing from seeds here.

How to prepare seeds?

Before planting, the seeds are soaked in a warm solution of hydrogen peroxide and left for a day , covered with a layer of gauze. After 24 hours they are dried and planted in the garden.

How to sow?

1. Onion seeds are sown at a distance of 12–15 cm from each other.
2. The seeds are powdered with crushed chalk on top so that they can be clearly seen and sprinkled with soil.
3. The depth of planting material should not exceed 2 cm.
4. The beds are lightly compacted and watered with warm water.

Typically, in the first year, seedlings are grown from which onion sets are cultivated.

Care

Care consists of timely watering, weeding, and fertilizing.

• Watering is carried out once every 7 - 10 days, using up to 5 liters of water per square meter. In hot weather, the frequency of watering is increased. For irrigation use warm, clean water.
• After moistening the soil, loosening must be carried out. When weeds appear, they should be removed immediately, as their root system can damage young bulbs.
• For feeding, complex mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus are used. Fertilizers are applied twice during the season.

A Brief History of Breeding

Birnformige onion (Allium cepa L. Birnformige, Bamberger birnenformige Zwiebel) was bred by German breeders from yellow onions that grew in southeastern Germany (Franconia). The purpose of creation is to replace the genetically obsolete Stuttgarter Riesen variety. The main supplier of onion sets is Holland; this variety is not included in the State Register of the Russian Federation.

Growing from onion sets

Sets are small, elongated bulbs with golden-colored husks. When planting, you should pay attention to the appearance of the planting material ; it should be dry, without dark spots and blackheads.

Preparation

20 days before planting, the bulbs are moved to a room with a temperature of 20 - 22 ° C. The day before planting, the temperature is raised to +35-40 °C. This measure helps speed up germination. The seed material is also treated with growth stimulants and disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Landing

Beds for Bamberger onions are prepared in the fall . They are dug up and organic fertilizers are applied. Planting takes place in late April - early May. The sets are buried 3–4 cm into the soil with an interval of 10–15 cm between the bulbs. The distance between the rows should be at least 25 - 30 cm. After planting, the beds are watered and mulched with peat, sawdust or leaves.

Landing

The variety can be planted with seeds or sets. Planting from seeds is recommended every few years to renew the variety. With this growing method, the harvest will be small. The resulting small bulbs are used for planting as seedlings next year.

Site preparation rules:

• Choose sandy or light loamy soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline environment.
• High acidity is reduced with dolomite flour, wood ash or crushed chalk.
• They dig up the area in advance and apply organic fertilizers (rotted manure).
• In the spring, they dig up again and apply fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
• Tomatoes, peas, cabbage, and green manure are suitable as predecessors. It is better not to plant after potatoes.

You cannot plant onions in one place for several years in a row.

Planting sets

The material is purchased from trusted manufacturers. Dry it in advance. You can warm it up in a warm solution of potassium permanganate for 15-20 minutes.

Plant the bulbs in grooves up to 5 cm deep, leave a distance of 10 cm between them, and 20 cm between the grooves. Cover with soil, mulch the top with hay or sawdust, and lightly moisten.

Planting seeds

Seeds, or nigella, are pre-treated by soaking in a warm solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Then they are treated with a growth stimulator. Planted in a nutrient substrate 6-10 weeks before transplanting into the ground. Water as needed with weak fertilizer solutions. Leave 2-3 cm between plants.

After 2-3 weeks, the seedlings are thinned out, removing the weakest bushes. They can be used in salad.

After the end of frost, seedlings are planted in open ground. They are grown in the same way as when planting sets.

Basic rules of care

Bamberger onions are easy to care for. But to obtain a high yield, it is necessary to follow the rules of agricultural technology.

Watering

The crop needs a lot of moisture at the beginning of the period of active growth. During the season, the amount of watering is gradually reduced . 2 - 3 weeks before the start of harvesting, it is stopped completely. This allows the bulbs to fully ripen.

Top dressing

Fertilizers are applied three times during the season. The first feeding is carried out 10-14 days after planting. It uses diluted bird droppings or rotted manure. The second time mineral compositions are applied 3 weeks after the first. Potassium fertilizers are applied for the third time after 20–25 days.

Thermal and light conditions

Onions are photophilous and heat-loving plants, so plantings are placed in areas well lit by the sun and protected from wind and drafts . In order for the plantings to be illuminated evenly, they are placed from north to south.

Onions do not tolerate frost. It is planted in open ground when the temperature rises above 12 degrees. Sevok germinates at 4 – 5 degrees.

Do I need to trim?

Pruning before planting sets helps ensure oxygen access to the bud. After the procedure, the feather grows faster. If the bulbs are small, they are not trimmed. Large fruits require systematic pruning.

Diseases and pests of Birnformige

If not properly cared for, the crop is susceptible to viral, bacterial and fungal infections. The greatest danger is posed by :

• yellow dwarfism;
• bacteriosis;
• peronosporosis.

To treat and prevent diseases, it is necessary to control the watering regime and carry out treatment with fungicidal agents:

• "Melodies compact".
• "Fungaran".
• "Polyran."
• "Topsin."
• "Acrobat".

Onions can be affected by insect pests, which can completely destroy the plantings. Plants are attacked :

• onion fly;
• secretive proboscis;
• bulb nematode.

For preventive purposes, it is necessary to systematically inspect the beds. If signs of insect damage are detected, spray with insecticidal agents:

• "Inta-vir";
• urea;
• ammonia water.

When to harvest?

Harvesting takes place in late August - early September . When the soil near the base of the bulbs begins to crack. At this time, stop watering and fertilizing. When the fruits ripen, the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out. After 7 - 10 days, the bulbs are pulled out of the soil, shaken off and dried in the open air or under a canopy for 10 - 14 days. After drying, the roots are cut off and sorted.

Small onions are used for cooking first, whole and large ones are stored.

Our experts have prepared articles about different varieties of onions. Read about Cupido, Allium, Stardust, Troy, Corrado, Shetana, Radar, Chalcedony, Sturon, Shakespeare.

Differences

How to store?

Bamberger onions differ from other varieties in their high keeping quality . When stored properly, the bulbs do not sprout, do not rot, and do not lose their taste. The fruits are placed in nets, wooden boxes or plastic containers. The storage room should be dark, cool and well ventilated. The optimal temperature is 3 – 10°C.

Collected bulbs should not be stored near walls or on the floor. Containers should be placed on shelves or pallets.

Bamberger onions are easy to care for, have high yields, a long shelf life and good taste. This variety is suitable for growing in any climatic conditions.

Reviews from gardeners

Olga, 35 years old, Rostov region

The variety is tasty in salads, vinaigrettes, appetizers, it is very juicy and has a sweetish taste. Turnips are easy to cut, fried well, and good in hot dishes. True, in comparison with Exhibition, in terms of juiciness and sweetness, Bamberger is closer to ordinary bitter onions. We use it from the beginning of summer, gradually cutting off the green feathers. Not suitable for long-term storage - it begins to germinate en masse. Considering the stable yield and versatility of using bulbs, the variety deserves increased attention.

Semyon, 45 years old, Kaliningrad

Shooting was the reason why I completely switched to winter planting onions. Previously, almost every second onion gave an arrow. Most likely due to improper storage of the seeds. And whether you water it later or don’t water it, the result is disappointing. But the small sets do not shoot. It is better to plant it just before winter, because such a “trifle” rarely survives until spring. Now, during the entire growing season, I literally break out several flower stalks from my onion beds. Neighbors at the dacha advised a “golden” rule: when removing the arrow, the feather should not open, otherwise rain and irrigation water will get into it, and the arrow will rot. I make the cut higher, in the place where the feather is not tubular, but solid.

Arkady, 42 years old, Sochi

The most beautiful bulbs I grow weigh 80 g and are 10 cm long. Always with an excellent harvest. Bamberger tastes like shallots. The heat is also felt, but it is more in the aroma than in the taste. Significantly superior to red and white salad varieties - very soft, but still crunchy. The integumentary scales are removed without much effort. For care, I can advise using drip irrigation and not applying fertilizer in the form of fresh manure, and planting onion sets before winter. It is best to choose places where legumes, tomatoes or cabbage were grown last season. To prevent the onion fly from appearing, we spray the sprouted onions with an infusion of garlic and tomato tops, and alternate them with rows of carrots when planting. I will plant more. Such a versatile bow is very rare.

Svetlana, 61 years old, Raichikhinsk

I have been growing this variety in a greenhouse for several years. Very pleased, although not without problems. Of course, you need to feed well, otherwise the yield drops. Plus, the variety is by no means an early one, and there is no accurate data on disease resistance. It is necessary to carry out all preventive treatments. I'm especially pleased with the quality of the pen. The leaves are beautiful and juicy. The shape of the onion is very convenient: the bottom is convex, easy to cut, the top is easy to clean, no need to trim off excess. I also like the taste and aroma of turnips. Most of it was eaten fresh, with a little marinade added. It happens that red salad onions make you cry, but Bamberger does not, it is tender and sweet.