Shakespeare onion: description and characteristics of winter variety

Characteristics of winter onions Shakespeare

There are several main characteristics that characterize the Shakespeare winter onion and give it positive reviews. First of all, this is an early-ripening variety that produces one of the first crops among all known varieties of winter onions. The bulbs have excellent taste.

Productivity

With proper care and competent agricultural technology, you can harvest the crop within 70 days after the first shoots. Onion yield is 3.5 kg/m2. The fruits have a dense shell that helps withstand severe frosts. This allows you to grow the onions in question even in the conditions of the Siberian winter. Tolerates frosts down to – 18 °C.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Shakespeare onions before winter are perfect for beginning gardeners, as they are resistant to most diseases and pests. But the onion fly still affects the plant, and therefore preventive measures should be taken.

Important! When growing onions, you cannot use pesticides.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Shakespeare variety of winter onion has a number of advantages for which gardeners value this variety.

Advantages of the variety:

• the sets do not need to be stored until spring;
• ripens much earlier than what is sown in the spring;
• excellent taste;
• resistance to the formation of arrows;
• resistance to common onion diseases.

The only drawback of Shakespeare onions can be considered the shelf life, but this applies to all winter varieties.

Pests and diseases

The variety has fairly strong immunity, but this does not mean that it will never encounter problems. The main problems for Shakespeare are the onion fly parasite and the disease downy mildew.

Onion fly

The onion fly is a terrible parasite that settles on the plant after the weather warms up (around mid-May).

The fly lays eggs on onion seedlings, near the bulbs in the ground, or on weeds near the onions.

After the insect lays an egg, larvae hatch from it. This happens on the 3-8th day. Immediately after birth, these parasites begin to gnaw on the juicy tissue of the bulb. Bulbs infested by these larvae begin to rot, the leaves begin to wither and turn yellow. The greatest damage is observed from the larvae at the end of July. This is the second generation.

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To combat this parasite, special insecticides are used, which can be purchased at any specialty store.

Downy mildew

Downy mildew is the main disease of any winter onion variety. If a crop is infected with peronosporosis, then it begins to lag behind in development, its leaves turn yellow and dry out, and in conditions of high humidity they become covered with a characteristic purple coating.

As in the case of the pest described above, special pesticides are used to treat this disease. Good fungicides are Acrobat MC and Ridomil MC.

Planting and caring for winter onions Shakespeare

In order to reap the maximum harvest, it is necessary to follow the rules of agricultural technology. Shakespeare onion sets are winter because it is not recommended to plant them in the spring. It is important to meet deadlines and properly prepare the land. The timing primarily depends on the climatic conditions of the region where planting takes place.

When to plant winter onions Shakespeare

The planting date may vary each year depending on air and soil temperatures. Usually this is the end of October and the beginning of November. If onions are planted too early, this will lead to early shoots and subsequent freezing. If planted late, the onions will not have time to take root before winter. The air temperature should be +5 °C. In this case, approximately 2 weeks should remain until the temperature reaches 0 °C. Winter onion sets of the Shakespeare variety take root and grow even in Siberia, but according to reviews, it is important to plant it a couple of weeks before the frost so that it does not freeze and has time to take root.

When to plant winter onions Shakespeare in Siberia

For planting in Siberia, earlier dates are required. At least a month must pass after planting before the onset of severe frosts. Therefore, in Siberia, the planting date is approximately mid-October or a little earlier.

Preparing the bed

It is advisable to prepare the beds for planting in advance so as not to do this in the cold. First of all, the ground must be dug up and cleared of the remains of previous plantings. To improve soil fertility, you can use humus, potassium salt, and superphosphate. Wood ash is also perfect for increasing the nutritional value of the soil, but you should be careful with fertilizers containing nitrogen. It is also prohibited to use fresh manure.

It is advisable to choose a sunny and dry place for the onion bed. The bed is made 15–20 cm high. Furrows for planting are made at a distance of 15 cm. Bulbs must be planted to a depth of 3 cm.

How to plant Shakespeare onions before winter

Initially, the seed should be disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes. This will prevent many diseases and strengthen the seedlings before planting. Then dry the bulbs thoroughly and only then begin planting. You can plant one bulb at a time, but for this variety it is also permissible to plant in nests of 3-4 sets in one hole. If you plant it deeper than 3 cm, then in the spring it will be difficult for it to rise, and if planted superficially, the onion may freeze in winter.

Growing onions

When growing, it is important to comply with the basic requirements for watering, fertilizing and care. Then the yield will be as high as possible. After planting, onions must be mulched. In winter, make sure there is enough snow on the beds. In the spring, the mulch should be removed and then a thin layer of ash should be added to the beds.

Watering. After planting, the vegetable does not need watering. In spring there is enough natural precipitation, and therefore the soil is already moist. The first watering is needed no earlier than in the first half of May. The characteristics of the Shakespeare onion show that it is unpretentious in care, but you still need to ensure sufficient humidity.

Feeding. The first time the soil needs to be fed is when the bulb begins to ripen. The second feeding is after 14 days. Potassium phosphate fertilizers are perfect for this. The best option would be to apply fertilizers in liquid form, since they are better absorbed this way.

Be sure to weed the garden bed so that weeds do not interfere with the plant’s growth and development. And also be sure to loosen the soil, since the bulbs need access to air.

Growing rules

Immediately before the planting work itself, it is necessary to select a suitable site and carefully prepare it.

Site selection

The place for planting onions should be protected from cold northern winds. Also, it must be on the sunny side. In general, Shakespeare can be cultivated well in a variety of soils, but loose and well-drained soils are preferable.

Boarding time

This is a winter variety, so it is best to plant it when the temperature drops to +5 degrees Celsius, or slightly lower. This falls in the October-November period. Such planting will allow the onions to overwinter well, and with the onset of spring, produce very good seedlings.

Site preparation

Preparing the site is not that difficult. It is enough to perform only three agrotechnical procedures:

1. Clear it of weeds.
2. Dig to a depth of 30 cm.
3. Fertilize. Fertilizer consumption is approximately 6-7 kg per 1 m2.

Site preparation begins in advance, approximately 1-2 months before the start of planting work.

Planting onions Shakespeare

The beds for planting planting material are prepared in the standard way. For bulbs with a diameter of 1 cm, the furrow depth should be about 4 cm.

Before planting the bulb, it is not soaked and its neck is not cut off.

The distance between the furrows is maintained at around 15-20 cm. The bulbs should be placed in the furrows so that their neck is located 1.5-2 cm below the ground level. The distance between the bulbs in the row is maintained at around 8-10 cm.

Harvest and storage

Approximately 2.5 months after germination, you can begin harvesting Shakespeare onions. The bulbs are dug up using a pitchfork. Shake off the soil from the bulb and spread the crop out in the open air. The crop is then transferred under a canopy to dry completely until the necks of the bulbs are dry. At this point, you need to cut off the roots and remaining stems.

If you put the crop in a cool place, it can last up to six months. The room must be completely dry and without signs of mold on the walls. High humidity will not allow the harvest to survive.

Beneficial features

Onion is one of the useful vegetables for maintaining health and beauty . The product is eaten in the treatment of diseases, used as various health masks for the face and hair, and used in almost all areas of life.

The properties of onions help strengthen the body and get rid of some common diseases. The product contains vitamins 1, B2, B6, E, PP, vitamin C.

To replenish the body with the necessary amount of vitamin C, it is enough to consume 100 grams of onions daily.

The essential oils contained in onions give it a characteristic odor and have antimicrobial and healing effects. Eating vegetables helps with colds, flu and other characteristic diseases. Cough, acute respiratory viral infections, runny nose and other diseases must be treated with onions, raw or in the form of various syrups.

Onion-based inhalations can cure various viral diseases, flu, and colds. Breathing over grated onions will help with these diseases. This will relieve congestion and improve your health.

For a more effective effect, use gauze swabs from onions into the nostrils.

Onions help relieve headaches and improve the functioning of the nervous system, improving the functioning of the brain.

Fresh onions help heal wounds and fresh burns. Onion film reduces the likelihood of scarring and acute consequences.

Shakespeare onion is useful for internal organs and systems. It has a correct effect on cardiac activity, improves blood circulation, and reduces cholesterol levels in the blood. With the help of onions, you can normalize blood pressure, improve digestion, and prevent coronary artery disease. Using onions gives you the opportunity to actively secrete gastric juice, stimulates appetite, has a diuretic effect and other useful medicinal properties.

Scientists say that onions also help in intimate life. In terms of potency, onions are much more effective than any preparations consisting of natural ingredients.

One of the most pressing problems is increased cholesterol in the body. With this problem, there is no need to look for complicated ways, just use onions and everything will return to normal.

Eating onions will reduce the risk of infection, prevent the entry of germs, improve health, sex life and benefit the body.

How to choose planting material

It is important to pay due attention to the choice of planting material for Shakespeare onions. You should purchase seeds only from the most reliable and trusted suppliers with a good reputation.

To propagate winter onions of the Shakespeare variety, it is recommended to use sets with a diameter of 1 centimeter. According to experienced vegetable growers, onions grown from such small sets can be preserved for as long as possible.

Small onions do not produce shoots; heads grown from them are much better stored in winter

When choosing a seed for growing the Shakespeare variety, you should carefully consider each small onion. If the set contains defects in the form of damage, spots or, especially, rot, it cannot be used.

It is not recommended to plant winter onion sets in areas where any onion varieties, as well as potatoes, legumes, carrots and cucumbers, have been grown for five years in a row. It is favorable to grow Shakespeare onions on the soil where tomatoes, cabbage, rapeseed, beets, mustard, as well as grain crops with the exception of oats previously grew.

Advice from experienced gardeners

Some summer residents advise covering onion beds for the winter right before the onset of severe frosts . If you cover the plantings before the onset of stable frosts, the crop may not survive the winter well.

On a note. Feeding onions with yeast. Take 500 g of bread crumb and pour 10 liters of warm water over it, then add 500 g of green grass and 500 g of yeast. Leave the solution for 48 hours. After this, you can water the plants.

conclusions

The Shakespeare bow has become quite common recently. They are round bulbs of a yellow-brown hue. Maturation occurs at the age of 2.5 months. Frost-resistant, can withstand -18 degrees.

Onions contain quite a rich amount of vitamins and are used to improve health and treat various diseases. Most often, onions are used to treat colds, coughs, heart diseases, improve blood pressure, and restore internal organs and damaged cells. It is used for potency and improves the quality of intimate life.

Onions reproduce through proper care and planting . Reproduction is also affected by planting depth and width between beds. Proper planting and care of vegetable crops allows you to grow an excellent harvest and prevent various diseases of the bulbs. The growth of onions is affected by soil, plant care, timely watering, and fertilizing. You also need to monitor the quality of the soil for the presence of pests such as onion nematodes.

Landing

It is best to plant onions in areas that are elevated above the surface of the garden, so the earth will warm up faster and the melt water will not stagnate. Before planting, the soil must be loosened and sprinkled with the necessary approvals. For feeding, humus or compote with the addition of wood ash is usually used.

Shakespeare onions can be planted in one place for no more than 2 years, and onions can be planted again in the same place only after 5 years. It is advisable to place the bulbs in places where legumes used to grow. Before planting, it is necessary to let the soil stand for a month.

Preparing the soil before planting crops

The most important thing to do before planting is to loosen the soil ; the height of the bed should be no more than 15 centimeters. Land preparation must begin a few days before planting so that the soil has time to compact.

Most often, gardeners use a row planting scheme. Onions can be planted in holes in the amount of three or four pieces. Planting material should be buried several centimeters into the soil. There should be a distance of one step, ten centimeters long, between the products. The row spacing is fifteen or twenty centimeters.

According to experts, it is necessary to plant Shakespeare in this way, since this way the bulbs last longer than when using other sizes.

Planting dates are selected individually, depending on the region where you are going to grow onions. Conditions and growing time may vary in different regions of the country. Approximately the longest period is the end of September and the first half of October.

It is forbidden to plant onions in the second half of November, since frosts begin at this time and there is a possibility that the onions will simply die out during this time.

Advantages and disadvantages

The variety has more advantages than negative properties. Winter onions have a slightly lower yield than spring onions. The shelf life is also shorter. All this can be attributed to characteristics rather than disadvantages, especially in comparison with the positive aspects.

Advantages of Shakespeare onions:

• there is no need to store the sets until spring;
• early ripening, ripens earlier than spring;
• withstands low temperatures;
• taste qualities;
• dense, juicy pulp, rounded bulbs;
• resistance to bolting and diseases.

Winter varieties: choosing the right ones

For winter farming, it is recommended to choose specially bred plants, frost-resistant hybrids, and short-day varieties. Onions planted in winter should form bulbs when there are 12 to 14 hours of daylight. Late varieties, as well as onion varieties grown in warm southern regions, are not suitable for planting in winter.

Incorrectly selected seed does not withstand winter well and freezes, which leads to bolting of green shoots and poor yield.

Experts involved in winter farming give preference to varieties from breeders from Holland.

1. "Shakespeare". This is one of the most popular and reliable winter varieties. It can also be classified as an early ripening vegetable: it takes only 75 days for the head to ripen. The color of the shells (scales) is brown, the flesh is white, very juicy. The taste of the onion is semi-sharp. Characteristic features of the variety: rounded shape and large bulbs (about 100 g). Also, “Shakespeare” onions stand out among winter varieties due to their dense outer shell, which allows it to tolerate low temperatures (down to -18 0) even without snow cover. If the winter is snowy, the bulbs can withstand lower temperatures without damage. It is worth noting that most winter crops freeze at minus 15 0 in the absence of snow. This onion variety is disease resistant.
2. "Radar". This is a promising variety with an average ripening period. “Radar” stands out among other winter varieties due to its excellent taste, as well as good performance during long-term storage. This winter onion has a good yield. The bulbs are large, weighing up to 150 grams. In favorable years and with proper care, the heads grow up to 300 grams. The color of the winter husk of Radar is light yellow.
3. "Ellan." It belongs to the early ripening species; the harvest has been harvested since mid-June, when last year's supplies have run out, and there is still more than a month before spring onions ripen. This variety can be grown using winter technology: seeds are planted (requires watering) or sets (without watering). "Ellan" are beautiful straw or yellow colored bulbs. Round onion (diameter 6–8 cm) weighing 80–120 grams. The bulbs are juicy white with a pleasant sweetish taste.
4. "Senshui" (yellow). Often summer residents of the middle zone give preference to the winter variety "Senshui". This is an early-ripening, very productive crop, resistant to bolting and powdery mildew. The bulbs are large, flat-round in shape, and store well.
5. Other varieties for winter growing. Also planted in winter are bulbs of such varieties as the German “Stuttgarten Riesen” with large flat-round bulbs, the productive “Sturon”, which is very popular in Europe, the early ripening variety “Centurion”, the frost- and drought-resistant “Kip-Well” and others.

When choosing onion sets for planting before winter, you need to give preference to frost-resistant, quickly ripening varieties, such as Shakespeare. However, obtaining a good harvest depends on many factors, and one of them is the time of planting the crop. To prevent it from starting to grow in the fall and from freezing during the first frosts, you need to know exactly when to plant Shakespeare winter onions.

Reviews of the Shakespeare variety

In general, reviews of the Shakespeare bow are positive . After all, this is one of the few non-shooting varieties. And many summer residents note its delicate taste and aroma.

Igor, Baymak : “Every year I plant the winter variety Shakespeare and get a magnificent harvest of delicious onions. He has no arrows, which is very pleasing. For fertilizers, I only use wood ash and humus.”

Tamara, Taganrog : “Shakespeare is very convenient to plant before winter. I start watering only in May or June. The harvest is always abundant. The bulbs themselves grow even and beautiful.”

Lyudmila, Baymak : “I recently learned about the variety, but it has become a favorite on my site. I plant in the fall, and in the spring I already have a bed full of seedlings. But do not forget to apply fertilizers on time. I use mullein infusion for feeding.”

Selection of seed

The Shakespeare onion plant variety should not have:

• signs of rot;
• defects;
• damage;
• spots

The size of the bulbs that need to be planted before winter should not exceed 1-1.5 cm. In addition, it is not advisable to leave them for the winter, since such root crops will quickly dry out and become unsuitable for food.

Before planting, onions must be sorted and sorted.

It has been noticed that small bulbs produce a harvest that lasts longer after digging.

How to grow at home before winter

To get a high-quality harvest, you need to follow certain rules for planting crops.

Optimal sowing dates

To obtain seedlings, seeds are sown at the end of August, and seeding for obtaining a new crop is carried out in early October. When planting crops in the fall, you need to be guided by the temperature characteristics of the region to determine the exact planting date. It is necessary to plant the onions before frost so that they can take root.

Growing conditions

You need to choose a bed for onions in a sunny place protected from the wind. The crop does not like high humidity, so the area should not be flooded with melt and groundwater in the spring.

Soil and fertilizers

The culture prefers nutritious soil with neutral acidity. It will grow well in sandy, well-fertilized and drained soils. Fertilizers are applied before planting (humus with ash). A bed for onions is formed with a depth of 15–20 cm. Good predecessors are potatoes, legumes, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Important! It is undesirable to allow the bed to dry out, as well as to allow it to become waterlogged.

Planting sets

How to plant Shakespeare onions - step-by-step description:

1. Sort out the planting material. Bulbs 1-2 cm in size are suitable for planting.
2. Soak the prepared seeds for 10 minutes in potassium permanganate.
3. After processing, dry the seed thoroughly.
4. Bulbs can be planted in rows or in nesting methods. Holes must be dug at a distance of at least 10 cm. There should be 15–20 cm between rows.
5. Place three or four onions in each hole, so that their neck is 2-3 cm underground.
6. Sprinkle the bulbs with soil containing peat or peat with humus.

Order of spring work

Intensive snow melting serves as a signal for the start of agricultural work. If the snow cover is too large, it must be scattered with a shovel to avoid the accumulation of excess moisture in the soil.

Under the influence of the sun and wind, a crust forms on the ground, which must be carefully broken by harrowing. To increase productivity, it is worth applying nitrogenous fertilizers, the amount of which is from 20 to 30 g per 1 m2.

There is no need to water this crop, since the subsoil moisture is usually sufficient until the crop ripens completely. The exception is very dry areas, in which watering is carried out from mid-May, provided there is no precipitation.

It makes no sense to additionally treat plants against pests, since by the time the onion fly emerges, the bottom of the onion becomes stiff and hard.

Description

Shakespeare onions are early ripening varieties, as they require only 75 days to fully ripen. The presence of dense scales gives it the opportunity to overwinter when frosts reach -18ºС, and under snow cover it can tolerate even lower temperatures. The bulb of this winter plant is round, the scales are golden-brown in color, and the flesh itself is white and juicy, with a delicate semi-sharp taste. The average weight of one bulb is from 100 to 300 grams, which ensures good yield.

Dutch Shakespeare onions are one of the most popular winter varieties

The big advantage of this winter onion is that even with long-term storage it does not shoot arrows. In addition, it is resistant to diseases that affect root crops during the ripening phase.

Soil preparation

Before planting winter Shakespeare onion sets, you need to correctly select a planting site and prepare the soil.

Surely there is someone who considers onions to be a fairly unpretentious plant, and they can be planted somewhere in free space. However, experienced gardeners are well aware that to obtain a good harvest, each stage is very important.

Beds for planting winter onions should be located on a slight hill. This will help prevent it from rotting in the event of spring flooding.

Since this crop prefers sunlight, it must be planted in an area that is not shaded by tree crowns and outbuildings.

You should not plant onion sets in the same place for more than two years in a row, as this can deplete the soil. It is advisable to grow tomatoes, legumes or cauliflower in this place for the next 3-5 years.

It is worth preparing beds for winter onions in advance. The still warm soil must be dug up, all lumps broken up and leveled. Before planting the seedlings, it is worth adding ash or rotted compost. You should know that manure is completely unsuitable for onions.