Onions are one of the most popular and widely consumed vegetable crops. Onions are eaten all over the world, added to hot and cold dishes, snacks, sauces, marinades and even desserts.
In Russia, almost every summer resident grows onions, and the variety of varieties allows you to choose bulbs according to taste, size and color.
It is generally accepted that it is better to plant onions in the spring, as most gardeners do. But in many regions, onions are planted before winter, and they are happy with the harvest. How to plant onions correctly in the fall, when to do it and what varieties to use?
Read about this in the article.
Advantages and disadvantages of winter onions
Advantages of planting onions before winter:
- the sets hardly rot;
- sprouted bulbs are not prone to bolting;
- the heads grow larger than in the case of spring planting;
- no need for abundant and frequent watering;
- early ripening of the crop;
- minimal risk of onion fly damage.
Flaws:
- lower yield;
- The shelf life of winter onions is shorter than that of spring onions.
Features of the technology
How to grow winter onions? The cultivation technology is based on the use of short- and medium-day varieties with good winter-hardy qualities. The ratio of light and dark time of day is a factor influencing plant development. This technology involves stimulating the formation of turnips under conditions of short days and relatively low temperatures.
When to plant winter onions? Plants should go into winter with stronger leaves. A green feather must have at least seven pieces. For this purpose, the timing of sowing seeds and planting seedlings has been determined.
The autumn period is preparatory to the cold season. Regular fertilization at this time will allow the soil to accumulate sufficient nutrients. Before the onset of winter, winter onions should already be well formed.
Preparing the soil for autumn planting
To plant onions, choose a place that is well-lit, protected from the wind and located on a hill.
The crop prefers loose, light, fertile soil with a neutral acidity level, so coarse sand is added to clayey soil, turf soil is added to sandstones, and lime, chalk, and stove ash are added to soil with high acidity and the use of bottom peat as a fertilizer is excluded.
Harvesting and storage
The harvest of winter onions begins in early summer, when the onion feathers dry out and fall to the ground. By this time, all the nutrients from the feather and roots are transferred to the head. The growth of the bulb stops, the cover leaves dry out and acquire the color characteristic of the variety.
Onion harvesting is carried out in dry, warm weather. To do this, carefully dig up the bulbs with a small spatula and pull them out of the ground by the feather. After this, the vegetables are laid out in a ventilated place to dry.
Well-dried onions are trimmed before storing. Using scissors, remove long roots and dried feathers, leaving a neck 4-6 cm long. The cut onions are dried for another two weeks, after which they are removed to the main storage location.
Before storing, vegetables are carefully sorted, removing damaged and rotten specimens. Healthy bulbs with dry necks are left for storage.
At home, onions are stored in vegetable baskets, wooden boxes, fabric bags, nylon stockings or nets. All containers must have holes for ventilation. For better preservation of vegetables, they are scattered into boxes or bags in a layer of up to 30 cm.
Store onions in the basement on racks or in trays at temperatures from zero to minus 3 degrees with a humidity of 75-90%. During home storage, the optimal temperature is plus 18-22 degrees with a humidity of 50-70%.
On a note!
When storing onions in plastic bags, the vegetables quickly become damp and rot.
During storage, the onions are sorted every month, removing rotten vegetables. If the onion is damp, carefully sort it, dry it and put it in a dry container.
Selection of planting material
There are several types of planting material, so before planting in the ground it is calibrated:
- wild oatmeal - bulbs less than 1 cm in diameter, suitable only for winter planting on turnips;
- sets - bulb diameter 1-1.5 cm, suitable for planting on turnips, not prone to bolting;
- selections - large bulbs with a diameter of more than 2 cm, suitable for planting only on feathers or seeds.
After calibration, bulbs of suitable size are carefully inspected. For planting, use only dry, healthy specimens without damage, unpleasant odor or signs of rot. Soft and limp bulbs, so-called dummies, are thrown away.
Varieties
What varieties can be used when growing winter onions? Planting and care are designed for planting short-day plants. This requires special varieties, different from those suitable for spring onion cultivation. The use of spring varieties is unacceptable; the plants will freeze. Most of these bulbs will shoot out with the onset of spring warmth. These plantings can be used for green feathers. At the same time, the surviving planting material will not please you with the harvest.
Let's look at several varieties of winter onions that are popular among vegetable growers. Currently, high-quality seed material of domestic and foreign selection is on sale.
Winter onion varieties and hybrids
Onions that can tolerate frost and develop well in short daylight hours are suitable for planting before winter.
In the fall, the onion should have time to take root and adapt. Late varieties are not suitable for winter planting because they require long-term lighting. Bulbs of southern varieties, which reveal their qualities only under high summer temperatures, are also not suitable.
Reference. If the variety for planting before winter is chosen incorrectly, the onion will go to waste - it will not be possible to grow a full-fledged harvest.
Troy
Early maturing hybrid of Dutch selection. Forms broadly obovate-shaped bulbs, weighing 80 g. The husk is light brown, the flesh is greenish, the taste is semi-sharp. Marketable yield – 323 c/ha.
Centurion
This is a mid-early hybrid of the first generation, bred by agronomists from the Netherlands and suitable for cultivation in all regions of Russia.
The bulbs, with an average weight of 110-150 g, have a broadly obovate shape, covered with brown-golden dry scales. The pulp is white, the taste is sharp.
Marketable yield is 252-420 c/ha. The hybrid shows resistance to downy mildew and neck rot.
Radar
Early maturing hybrid of Dutch selection. It is distinguished by high frost resistance and unpretentiousness to climatic conditions and soil composition, therefore it is successfully cultivated throughout Russia.
The bulbs are transversely elliptical in shape, weighing 80-95 g, golden brown husk, white flesh, semi-sharp taste.
Productivity – 159-250 c/ha. With proper care, onions are resistant to diseases and pests.
Stuttgarter Riesen
The early ripening variety was bred by German breeders and, due to its ability to adapt to different climates, is suitable for cultivation in all regions.
The bulbs are round, slightly flattened on top and bottom, weigh 120-170 g, the husk is brown-golden, the flesh is white, the taste is semi-sharp. With proper care, the yield reaches 5-8 kg per 1 m².
Stuttgarter is resistant to most common diseases and pests, including powdery mildew, Fusarium, Alternaria, onion flies and root mites.
Shakespeare
An early ripening variety, bred in England specifically for sowing before winter, suitable for cultivation in the central and northern regions of Russia.
The bulbs are round in shape, weigh on average 90-100 g, covered with yellow-brown husk, white flesh, semi-sharp taste. Productivity – 296 c/ha.
The Shakespeare variety is resistant to diseases and rarely produces arrows.
Senshui yellow
An early ripening variety bred by Japanese breeders. Recommended for cultivation in the southern regions, but adapts well to the climate of central Russia.
Forms bulbs of a round, slightly flattened shape, which weigh 160-180 g. Dry scales are bright yellow with a golden hue, the flesh is white, the taste is soft, sweetish. Productivity – 4 kg per 1 m².
The variety is resistant to most diseases, but sometimes it is affected by pests.
Ellan
Ellan is the result of the work of Kuban breeders. Suitable for cultivation in all regions of Russia.
This early ripening variety is characterized by rounded bulbs weighing 64-123 g, which are covered with yellow husk, have white flesh and a slightly pungent taste. Productivity – 100-250 c/ha.
Other
There are other varieties of onions suitable for winter planting:
- Arzamas . Mid-season variety, suitable for growing in central Russia and the Urals. The bulbs are round-cuboid or round, weigh 60-90 g, covered with dark yellow husk with a brownish tint, the flesh is white, the taste is pungent. Productivity 140-320 c/ha.
- Danilovsky . Mid-season variety. The bulbs are flat and rounded-flat in shape, weigh 78-155 g. The husk is dark red with a purple tint or purple, the flesh is light lilac and light purple, the taste is semi-sharp. Productivity – 123-333 c/ha.
- Strigunovsky. The result of the work of domestic breeders is suitable for cultivation throughout Russia. The bulbs are round in shape, weigh on average 45-80 g, covered with yellow with pink or light gray husk. The pulp is white, the taste is sharp. The variety is an early ripening variety, the yield is 118-327 c/ha.
In addition to onions, chives, shallots, batun, etc. are also planted in the fall to produce heads or greens.
Pest and disease control
Winter onions are disease resistant. However, even a small manifestation of one or another infection in the autumn significantly reduces winter-hardy qualities and can lead to freezing of plants. Such diseases include peronosporosis. The infection overwinters on affected plants. Fungicides are used against it in the autumn. Repeat treatment is carried out in early spring. The exception is plants intended for green feathers. They are not processed in the spring. The main pest is the onion fly, but it does not cause significant damage to winter crops. When a pest appears, fungicides with a short period of action are used.
Planting scheme and cultivation of winter onions
Winter onions have special requirements for planting and care.
Preparation of arable land and planting material
Preparation of planting material consists of two stages:
- Disinfection - bulbs are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate or salt to reduce the risk of developing diseases.
- Heat treatment - the seeds are immersed in hot (+65°C) water for 2-3 minutes or wrapped in natural fabric and heated in the microwave to prevent premature germination.
Before planting, the soil is carefully dug up and humus or compost is added to it - 1 bucket per 1 m². Superphosphate, wood ash (2 tablespoons each) and urea (1 tablespoon) are used as additional fertilizing.
Selection of predecessors
Compliance with the rules of crop rotation is one of the main conditions for the successful cultivation of any crop. Proper rotation of crops guarantees a bountiful and high-quality harvest.
The best predecessors of onion sets are corn, peas, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, legumes and cereals (except oats), and root vegetables.
In the place where spring onions, garlic, strawberries, parsley or root celery grew, onions are planted no earlier than 4 years later.
Planting by seeds
Onion seeds are planted in frozen soil before winter so that they begin to germinate only in the spring. Sprouts do not tolerate frost.
Compared to spring planting, before winter the seeds are sown more densely, and after planting they must be covered with spruce branches or non-woven material.
Reference. It is undesirable to use peat as a shelter, because it allows moisture to pass through and there is a risk of ice crust forming during the first thaw.
Planting with bulbs
Planting bulbs depends on their size:
- wild oatmeal – every 7-8 cm;
- sets - at a distance of 3-5 cm between the bulbs;
- samples – close to each other.
The beds must be covered with a layer of mulch, which is removed in the spring.
Planting scheme depending on variety
Planting patterns differ from each other and depend on the type of onion.
Shallot
To plant shallots:
- Prepare beds 30cm apart.
- Make holes in them for planting bulbs every 15-20 cm.
- Place the planting material in the ground, deepening it by 3-4 cm.
Onion
The optimal time for planting batun is the beginning of the first frost, which in central Russia occurs at the end of November.
The distance between the rows is 20-22 cm, between the bulbs - 4 cm, and the planting material is buried 2 cm.
Decorative bow
Planting is carried out from September to October:
- In the prepared area, make holes 3 bulbs deep and 2 bulbs wide.
- The distance between the holes is 10-25 cm.
- The bulbs are placed in the recesses and sprinkled with earth.
- The beds are mulched.
Most often, such onions are planted to decorate the site, but there are also edible varieties.
Bulb
Onions are planted in beds located 15-20 cm from each other every 8-10 cm. The bulbs are buried 3-4 cm so that the necks are 1-2 cm below the soil.
Growing time
Depending on where the crop is cultivated, planting is carried out at different times. Thus, early planting is carried out on the 20th of August - the first of September, when the soil is still dry and requires watering of the plantings. Onions are planted in moist soil; their growth will begin before winter arrives. For the winter, the seedlings are covered with agrofibre or other material. In the spring, when the soil begins to warm up, the shelter is removed. This way, the plants will not be damaged during winter frosts, and with the arrival of warmer weather, the onions will grow turnips more quickly. However, if the crops are covered long before the onset of cold weather, this may negatively affect the wintering of the plants. It is recommended to wrap onions for the winter with white agrofibre, which allows light to pass through.
The most common time for planting winter onions is in October. During this period, there is no need to moisten the soil, especially since it often rains during this period.
Late plantings are carried out in October–November (and if the weather permits, even later). Planting is carried out in dry soil, then the beds are mulched and covered with agrofibre. It is also possible to mulch the soil with dry leaves or hay. This shelter is also removed with the onset of warm weather.
Planting onions for the winter has its advantages:
- Reasonable allocation of time - in the spring there are a lot of agricultural concerns, so planting in the fall saves the farmer time with the onset of spring work.
- The price of planting material in autumn is lower than in spring.
- The harvest can be harvested earlier, at a time when spring onions are not yet ripe.
- The bulbs are almost not susceptible to pests, such as onion flies.
- Cultivating winter onions is not a very labor-intensive process; you don’t have to spend a lot of time on care.
- The bulbs grow large in size and have an attractive presentation.
- The onion does not go to the shoot; useful substances accumulate in the onion.
- This onion is suitable for industrial cultivation because it stores well.
At the same time, one cannot fail to mention some of the disadvantages of winter growing:
- If the plants do not have time to take root before the start of winter, a significant portion of the harvest can be lost. Therefore, it is important to land on time.
- The yield of this crop is slightly lower than onions planted in the spring.
- Compared to spring onions, winter onions are stored somewhat worse.
Features of caring for winter onions
Caring for winter onions begins with removing the winter cover from the beds in the spring . As long as the soil remains moist after the snow melts, it should not be watered. Then watering is carried out as needed - when the top layer of soil is completely dry.
Loosen the soil after each watering and at the same time get rid of weeds that impede the development of onions. In case of dense planting, it is thinned out so that the distance between plants is at least 2-3 cm.
Feeding
Feeding schedule for winter onions:
- 2 weeks after the appearance of spring shoots, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to stimulate the growth of green mass: 30 g of ammonium nitrate, 40 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium chloride per 10 liters of water.
- After 3 weeks - complex fertilizer: 30 g of ammonium nitrate, 60 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium chloride per 1 bucket of water.
- The third feeding is aimed at the formation of turnips. To do this, water the onions with a specially prepared solution: 40 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium chloride per 10 liters of water.
The most important fertilizer for garlic and onions.
Why are onions planted in the fall?
Pre-winter planting is a new word in agricultural technology for growing onions. By planting in the fall, the gardener achieves the following goals:
- By transferring part of the garden work to the fall, the gardener saves valuable spring time;
- winter onions awaken from hibernation immediately after the arable land is cleared of snow. Compared to the traditional method, this gives it a head start of 3-5 weeks in growing;
- By moving the growing season of onions to early spring, the gardener already in July frees up the arable land for the next crop;
- autumn planting protects onions from damage by insect pests;
- overwintered bulbs are practically not affected by gray rot and powdery mildew;
- Early-germinated plantings do not need watering;
- winter planting provides the gardener with a very early harvest of greenery;
- onion beds with overwintered plantings are not affected by weeds;
- the onion grows very large;
- The planted seedlings are well preserved in the ground. The gardener gets rid of worries about storing seedlings during the winter.
On a note! Large bulbs planted in the fall can delight you with fresh, early greenery in the spring. Small ones – a good harvest of bulbs.
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
Winter planting of vegetables has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of the method:
- Onions planted in autumn produce stable harvests in early summer. Early vegetables can be sold profitably;
- The harvest harvested at the beginning of summer frees up the land. This makes it possible to grow two crops from one ridge;
- early-rising onions suppress the development of weeds around;
- Plants that emerge early in the spring are less affected by harmful insects;
- onions grown in early summer are perfectly stored;
- small seedlings planted in the fall, devoting all their energy to growing the bulb, practically do not bolt;
- Large bulbs of sevka planted before winter delight with an extremely early harvest of feathers.
At the same time, such agricultural technology also has its disadvantages:
- During a long winter, some plants may die. Therefore, the amount of planting material is increased by 1/10;
- Autumn plantings must be protected from early frosts. This increases the cost of cultivation and requires a large consumption of covering materials.
Harvesting
A signal that the crop is ready for harvest is the lodging of the leaves and the acquisition of the color characteristic of the specific onion variety by the husks.
The heads are carefully dug up with a shovel or pitchfork so as not to damage them and pulled out of the ground. Then the onions are laid out on the beds or under a canopy and left for several days to dry. After this, the feathers and roots are cut off with sharp scissors, and the bulbs are left to dry for another 3-5 days.
Store the harvest in wooden boxes or cardboard boxes with holes for ventilation in a cool and dry room.
Variety "Zimovey"
Winter onions provide gardeners with a high-quality early harvest. Variety "Zimovey" of early ripening period. It is characterized by high growth rates of the aboveground part and root system. High yields are combined with good quality bulbs. They have a round shape and a dark yellow color. The average weight of a turnip is 90-120 g. It is characterized by relative resistance to major diseases. Weakly damaged by pests. Seeds are sown at the end of August. Harvest in late May or early June.
What preparations can be used to feed onions in spring?
In addition to organics and folk recipes, you can buy ready-made complexes in the store. The advantage of such preparations is that they already contain all the necessary microelements in the most optimal dose for the vegetable.
ON A NOTE. Complex fertilizers contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the most convenient chelate form for plants.
Urea
Perhaps the most nitrogen-rich drug. It is used as the first feeding, when you need to saturate the onion with a microelement. Usually a matchbox in a bucket of water is enough.
Superphosphate
The main source of phosphorus among mineral fertilizers. It is practically not applied separately, but is used together with sodium chloride and potassium sulfate when preparing fertilizers at the second stage.
Nitroammofoska
This is a complex mineral fertilizer that contains phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen in equal parts. Can be used at all stages of spring feeding of onions.
Ready-made complex products
These include ready-made industrial preparations: Agricola-2, Hera for onions and garlic, Fertika and many others. The advantage of using such products is that you do not need to independently calculate the required dosage of different products. It is enough to mix the required amount of ready-made fertilizer in water.
Care after landing
In early spring, all coverings are carefully removed, trying not to touch any possible young shoots. The protection must be removed, otherwise the onions will smear. Afterwards the soil is loosened shallowly.
Water the bulbs depending on soil moisture and precipitation. In regions where there was a lot of snow, there is no need for irrigation. In the south, if the winter is rainless and there is little rain in the spring, they water weekly.
Second feeding - at the 4-leaf stage with nitrogen fertilizers
Care for young shoots with fertilizers. Fertilizing begins immediately after removing the covers. First, the beds are sprinkled with ash at the rate of 10 grams per 1 m2.
The second feeding is done when the onion has 4 feathers. At this moment, the bulb is forming, its active growth is in progress, and the plant needs nitrogen fertilizers . For example, chicken manure dissolved in water or azofoska at the rate of 25 grams per 1 m2.
The next day after each watering, the soil is loosened. This will rid the plantings of germinating weeds and ensure the passage of oxygen to the roots of the plant.
Planting a vegetable in the fall
The surface of the ground where the vegetable is planted must be flat and compacted. Afterwards it is necessary to make small furrows, the depth of which is no more than 50 mm, spaced 150-200 mm from each other.
Place small bulb sets in the furrows , maintaining an interval of 50 mm to 70 mm. Place non-moist soil on top, compacting loosely.
There is no need to water onions planted in the fall . If there is no precipitation, then after about 10 days you can give moisture to the soil. When frost occurs, urgent action is needed.
Mulch the soil using fallen, non-moist leaves, pine needles, and cover tightly with branches. If a winter is predicted without snow, but with cold weather, you can use film.
Place small bulb sets in the furrows, maintaining an interval of 50 mm to 70 mm
Why feed onions in spring?
From autumn until April, onions used exclusively those nutrients that were in the soil. Naturally, within a few months the soil has become depleted, and it is necessary to additionally add at least potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen.
A lack of these elements will lead to slower growth and disease of the bulb, thinning and wilting of feathers.
The vegetable will not be able to form a large bulb, and the feathers will constantly turn yellow, which will impair photosynthesis.
All this necessitates the application of fertilizers to compensate for the deficiency of microelements in the soil.
How and what to feed onions planted in spring
You can feed onions by watering them at the root or using the foliar method. It's best to alternate. Which fertilizer to choose depends on the purpose of growing the vegetable. For greens, you need more nitrogen fertilizers; when growing turnips, you need more potassium and phosphorus. It will also be highly effective to combine and alternate the application of organic and mineral fertilizers.
Mostovoy
This method of growing onions per feather is used more often on balconies or in small greenhouses. The essence of the technology is to bury the seed in the ground in one row to the minimum level without intervals between the heads. This creates a bridge, which was the name of the method.
For cultivation using the bridge method, bulbs with a diameter of 3-5 cm are selected. Care includes watering and weeding
The soil must be constantly moist, it is important to water it in time in the right proportions
It is recommended to use the following baits:
- superphosphate and potassium chloride – 2 g/10 l of water;
- ammonium nitrate.
Groundbaits are introduced on days 8 and 14 of the growing season.
Sources
- https://profermu.com/ogorod/luk/uhod-vesnoj.html
- https://fikus.guru/ovoschi/luk/repchatyy-luk-posadka-i-uhod-v-otkrytom-grunte.html
- https://EvriKak.ru/info/kak-uhazhivat-za-repchatyim-lukom-dlya-horoshego-urozhaya/
- https://vsadu.ru/post/podkormka-luka-na-repku-otkrytom-grunte.html
- https://DachaMechty.ru/luk/vyrashhivanie-na-repku.html
- https://www.parnikiteplicy.ru/rasteniya/luk-vyrashhivanie-i-uxod.html
- https://svoimi-rykami.ru/ychastok/rassada/kak-vyrastit-xoroshij-urozhaj-luka-pravilnaya-posadka-i-luchshie-rekomendacii-po-uxodu-za-posevami.html
- https://anukapohudei.ru/pripravy/luk/vyrashchivanie
- https://7dach.ru/SilVA/luk-posadka-i-uhod-3465.html
- https://profermu.com/ogorod/luk/sevok.html
How are the beds prepared and what is added to the soil?
For me, the note about the neutral reaction of the soil, which is necessary for onions to fully grow, was valuable. And fungi and pests like to multiply in acidic soil. They talked about how in the fall they added dolomite flour, planted onions, and the next year they gave a very decent harvest, growing larger than usual.
You can deoxidize the soil with garden lime. Instructions and dosages are on the packages.
Do not add table salt or water the onions with salt water. This acidifies the soil.
In addition to deoxidizing agents, gardeners apply superphosphate and potassium sulfate or ready-made autumn fertilizer to the onions. There is no point in applying urea and other nitrogen fertilizers in the fall. Nitrogen is not stored in the ground and quickly evaporates or is washed away by rain. They are fed in the spring, when the onions begin to grow.
What to do with sprouted onions
If the onion has sprouted, what is the right thing to do with it now? In this situation, the main point is to prevent the plants from freezing. In this case, you can stick to the experts' answers to this question.
For protection purposes, you should resort to simple methods to insulate the seedlings. You can, for example, dig up loose and unfrozen soil from a greenhouse and cover the beds with onions with a layer of 2-3 cm. Also in such a situation, mulching with compost, fallen leaves, hay, nettles, wood chips or bark will help. Mulching material is poured on top of the ground. This way you can protect the bulbs from freezing.
If the onions were planted ahead of schedule and managed to germinate, then it is advisable to plant another bed. If the soil freezes and becomes hard, you won’t be able to plant anything and will have to wait for spring.
When trying to plant seedlings in frozen ground, the seed material will simply disappear.
If onions planted before winter sprouted in the fall, the question arises - what to do next? Since expert opinions differ, in addition to the considered solution to the problem, you can resort to another piece of advice - transplant the bulbs to a windowsill in the house or to a greenhouse.
However, in order to get lush greenery from such an onion, it is imperative to cut off the sprouted shoots. You cannot cut off the root part of the onion. Otherwise, the plant will die.
Another piece of advice on what to do if onions planted before winter begin to sprout would be to simply move the sowing to spring and leave the planted bed as is. In order for the crop to produce a good harvest, in addition to proper care, you need to choose the right place for planting the seedlings. To increase germination, you will need to select an area where the snow melts first and the water does not linger for a long time.
