It's hard to find someone who doesn't like green onions. People are so accustomed to this ordinary vegetable, which grows in almost everyone's garden and is present in the kitchen of any housewife, that they take it for granted.
Only in winter, when the abundance of greenery disappears from our tables, and the body suffers from a lack of vitamins, we give it its due. After all, green onions, the feather of which reminds us of spring at this time of the year, strengthens the immune system, protecting against colds, and improves the general condition of the body.
Useful properties of green onions
The healing properties of this plant are widely known throughout the world, and grown onions are more useful than onions.
Due to the huge amount of phytoncides that are formed in it, onion is considered the No. 1 remedy in the fight against many infections and pathogens.
Since green onions contain iron, salads made from it increase hemoglobin well. Onions are rich in potassium, which makes it possible to support the heart and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
Vitamin content
Green onions contain vitamins C, A, essential oils and B vitamins.
That's why its regular consumption provides a high level of nutrients that the human body needs.
Types of onions
Cultivation of onions on a feather is very popular. The following types are best suited for this:
- Leek, also called pearl. He does not have a bulb, but there is a fairly thick whitish stem, which is the most delicious part of it. The broad leaves also have a pleasant delicate taste. Feathers are a bit like garlic. The yield of this species is 20 kg/10 m2.
- Batun onion, which has other names - sandy, Tatar and fistulous. It also does not have an onion, but compared to other types of onions, it contains twice as many useful vitamins and minerals. Onions for a pen in perennial varieties of this species can be cut up to three times during the growing season, and in annuals - once. The yield from 10 m2 reaches 20‒30 kg.
- Shallot. This onion surpasses turnip in quantity and taste of green feathers, while it is completely unpretentious in cultivation, but its yield can be up to 40 kg / 10 m2.
- Chive, or chives. The value of this species lies in the fact that narrow-shaped feathers reach a length of half a meter. They are very fragrant and remain tender for a long time, and the average yield is 20 kg/10 m2.
- Sleek onion. This is probably the most delicious type of onion, with a slight aftertaste and smell of garlic, with delicate wide leaves. In addition, compared to other species, it contains significantly more vitamin C andgland. In greenhouses it grows well throughout the year, and in the open field it stops growing only with the onset of severe cold weather. An early ripening and very frost-resistant species, besides having a high yield.
- Tiered onion, better known as Egyptian or Canadian. This species has the highest frost resistance, does not freeze even in severe winters, does not require any special care.
Onion varieties
Troitsky, Amber, Spassky, Arzamassky, Black Prince and Bessonovsky are considered the most popular varieties that give a large harvest and allow you to get an excellent onion for a feather.
Benefits of growing
The variety of species, taste and useful properties contribute to the fact that the cultivation of onions on a feather is becoming a mass phenomenon. After all, why not provide yourself with a tasty vegetable and a reliable protector against colds, growing it not only in the garden, but also in a greenhouse or just on your windowsill, having this storehouse of vitamins at hand all year round.
Planting onion-feathers at home in small portions, namely in a conveyor way, you will constantly have fresh fragrant greens on the table and recharge your body with useful substances and vitamins.
How to do this, probably, every hostess knows, even inexperienced. You just need to put the bulbs in a pan and pour water so that it covers the roots, and periodically add it as it evaporates. Or fill a small container with a third of the earth and plant bulbs in it.
Ifif you are interested not only in providing yourself with onions, but also, for example, in organizing a profitable family business that brings a steady income, then you should start growing onions on a feather in a greenhouse. This can be done from October to April. And then from May to September, grow in the garden.
Outdoor cultivation
Despite the fact that there are different types of onions, the way to grow them is exactly the same.
For planting, they take multi-primary onion samples, the bulbs of which should be no more than 4 cm in diameter. You can plant them in open ground either in autumn, before the first frosts, or in early spring, as soon as the snow completely melts.
Pre-soak the bulbs for a day in water slightly above room temperature. And after that, cut off the upper part from them with a regular pruner.
This is done so that oxygen gets into the middle of the bulb, and the onion grows for the forcing of the feather. Thanks to this, the entire growing process goes much faster, and the yield increases by 50‒70% compared to the usual one.
In addition, it is necessary to remove excess husks from the bulbs and sort them by size. This sorting is done because the timing of the pasture of greens for bulbs of different sizes is different. That is why, in order to obtain a full-fledged harvest, it is necessary to select planting material of the same size as much as possible.
Growing methods
- Bridge method. The bulbs are tightly laid to each other, while the roots are let down, covered with a layer of earth from aboveabout 3 cm thick. Usually, about 15 kg of onions are used per 1 m2 area. When planting takes place before winter, another layer of manure or humus about 6 cm thick is made on top. With the advent of spring, this layer is removed and a frame with a film is installed over the bed.
- Tape method. In this case, the bed is divided into rows with an interval of 15–20 cm, and bulbs are planted in them every 3–4 cm. Then the bed is leveled. They cover for the winter, as in the previous method.
Growing from seed outdoors
Onions on a feather are grown not only by planting bulbs. You can also use seeds for this.
This method, though longer in time, is very cheap. Especially if you take the seeds of those types of onions that are considered perennial. Because turnip seeds are much more expensive.
It is important to use those that are no more than two years old. It is even better to take young seeds. In addition, it is imperative to check their germination - it must be at least 80%. To do this, take 20 seeds and put them on a wet cloth. By the number of hatched, it will immediately become clear what their quality is.
When the germination is determined, the seeds must be processed. First, they are soaked in warm water for a day, changing it 3 times during this time. Then the water is drained, and the seeds are placed for half an hour in a weak solution of manganese.
After that, one more procedure should be done - dilute two drops of the Epin-Extra preparation in a glass of water and place the seeds in this solution for15‒18 hours. Such processing will prevent the development of various fungal diseases in the future and ensure a good harvest.
If you want to have fresh fragrant greens by spring, then it is recommended to sow onion seeds on a feather in the beds in the middle of summer. The main condition is that the soil for planting should be well loosened and fertilized. To do this, it is mixed with humus and superphosphate (30 g), potassium chloride (15 g), urea (15 g) and wood ash (200 g) are added to an ordinary bucket of such a mixture.
The loosened bed should be leveled and lightly tamped. Then you need to make several shallow rows 30 cm apart and plant the seeds all the way.
After they germinate and they have one stronger leaf, they should be thinned out, namely, leave about 5 cm between the shoots. By the end of autumn, the feathers will reach about 20 cm in length. For the winter, the garden bed must be mulched with peat or straw.
Growing from seedlings
You can also grow seedlings from seeds. Onions grown from seedlings give a good harvest, and grow much faster. Seeds for seedlings should be planted 2 months before the intended planting in open ground.
Pre-soak the seeds in warm water and leave to stand for a day, then drain the water and transfer the seeds to a damp cloth. Hold in this form for another two days, moisturizing the fabric as it dries.
Then you need to prepare containers with soil. The same composition that was used when disembarking will do.seeds in open ground.
Soil is poured into containers, grooves are made 1 cm deep and seeds are planted with a small distance (0.5 cm). The earth is moistened with a sprayer, covered with plastic wrap and the containers are placed in a dark, fairly warm place.
When the first feathers (3-4 pieces) appear on the seedlings, they can already be transplanted into open ground.
Onions are quite frost-resistant. If the seedlings are grown on the eve of spring, then in April they can already be planted on the beds without fear of spring frosts that may occur at this time of the year.
Basic care rules
Growing onion-feather does not require special conditions and special care, but still, in order to get a good harvest, you should not neglect the basic rules:
- Young shoots need to be watered often enough.
- Weeds should be disposed of immediately, as they can shade the shoots, and loosen the soil as needed to ensure oxygen access to the root system.
- Fertilize periodically. They are poured between rows, and then covered with earth a little.
Growing onions in a greenhouse
From the end of October to the beginning of April, it is best to grow onions on a feather in a greenhouse.
For planting, take one-year or two-year onion samples. Landing is by bridge only.
The bulbs are pre-soaked for a day in warm water, and then tightly laid in the soil. If their tops are cut off, then ingreenhouse, there is no need to sprinkle them with anything.
A good harvest can be achieved if the bulbs are planted in special containers filled with a third of peat, humus or compost. After planting, they are still sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. When the area of the greenhouse is small, such containers can be placed on racks, which will give a greater yield of finished products.
Half a month after the onion was planted for feather forcing, the temperature in the greenhouse must be maintained no higher than +20 ° С.
It should also be noted that for the entire growing season, onions must be watered at least five times. And remember - the use of chemicals is strictly prohibited!
Feather collection can begin when it reaches a length of 30‒40 cm.
The article shows various ways to grow onions on a feather. No matter how and under what conditions onions are grown on a feather, the main thing is to follow the basic recommendations and rules of care, then the reward for hard work will be a good harvest of this useful and irreplaceable plant.
