One of the first vegetables cultivated by man is onion. Its homeland is the region of Southwest Asia. The first evidence of the use of onions for food and its use as a medicine in this area is more than six thousand years old. One of the varieties of onions is the Y alta onion.
What is this bow?
Y alta onion differs from its fellows in the family in several ways, such as shape, structure, color, taste. This variety has a more flattened shape, even rather flat. Its layers are wider and juicier. The bitter taste characteristic of ordinary onions is absent. Moreover, the taste has a sweet undertone. And, of course, the trademark of the onion grown on the Crimean peninsula is its rich purple color.
Unlike other spicy varieties that need to be cooked before eating, this onion can be eaten raw. Very good addition to all sorts of salads,meat and vegetable cuts "Y alta" onion. Useful properties will be significantly lost during heat treatment. Therefore, it should be consumed fresh. The beneficial properties that this vegetable crop has have been known since ancient times. It will help to replenish the supply of most vitamins and minerals. This vegetable crop increases appetite and normalizes the water-s alt balance. This onion is included in the diet for the prevention and treatment of many diseases.
A bit of history
According to official information, the Y alta onion, in fact, was brought to the Crimean peninsula from other regions of the world. Subsequently, from the source material, this species was created by crossing several varieties.
By the middle of the nineteenth century, the Crimean peninsula turns into an elite resort area. An increasing number of Russian aristocrats are building estates and palaces on the coast. At the same time, the laying of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden is underway.
Exotic plants flock to Crimea from all over the world, including from Portugal. Together with several varieties of sweet Spanish onions, two varieties come here - Madeira flat and Madera round, on the basis of which the famous variety Y alta (onion) was created. The beneficial properties of this vegetable crop have become generally recognized.
In the thirties of the last century, the predecessor of the modern Y alta onion was called "sweet Crimean". He had a number of shortcomings that were eliminated in the selection process. Shelf life extended and color changed.
Crimean souvenir
Who rested in the Crimea, he would certainly take bundles of bright purple onions as a present. And this is not surprising. On the market in any city you can find a purple onion, which is offered as "Y alta". There are several varieties of foreign and domestic selection of this vegetable crop that have a similar color. However, this vegetable product is significantly different from the Crimean. How to distinguish a "Y alta" bow from a fake? This can be done by several characteristic features.
You should pay attention to the integumentary scales of the turnip. They are purple or pink in color. The juicy part of this vegetable crop is white or pink. The shape of the onion is round-flat. Its thickness is from five to seven centimeters. You should also know that a real Crimean vegetable cannot be purchased at the end of the winter period. The “Y alta” onion is stored for only five months.
Growing
Currently, the main share of Y alta onion production falls on the private sector. Both seed material and marketable, ready-to-sell harvested crops are produced. Due to the increased demand for Y alta onions and the inability of the private sector to expand the seed production network, vegetable products of lower quality began to appear en masse. So, there may be varieties that differ in color intensity, juiciness and thickness of the scales, as well as with a more pronounced sharpness of the bulbs. This leads to a decrease in the commercial value of the final product.
CurrentlyThere is an acute issue of preserving the purebred variety of the "Y alta" onion. This is mainly due to the cultivation technology. Onion seeds "Y alta" are grown in greenhouses using seedling technology. This technology is manual and very labor intensive. It is very difficult to recreate all the necessary conditions for growth at the required level outside of special seed farms. But nevertheless, it is possible to get a crop of sufficiently high quality at home.
Growing in the autumn season
Planting onions in autumn gives certain advantages in terms of crop ripening. But planting onions before winter is fraught with some difficulties.
It is necessary to plant seeds in October, focusing on the long-term weather forecast. Before the onset of the first frost, the onion root system must be sufficiently formed. But too early planting can provoke the emergence of seedlings even before the onset of cold weather. This may result in the loss of the entire crop.
Planting onions in autumn should be done in carefully prepared soil. The bed should be located in a well-lit place. The soil must be cleaned of weed roots, disinfected and fertilized.
Before the onset of frost, it is necessary to provide crops with additional protection. This can be achieved by sprinkling the sowing with a two to three centimeter layer of sawdust or peat.
Seedling method of growing
Onion"Y alta" refers to late varieties. It takes five months from the moment of planting until the full ripening of a marketable turnip. When sowing seeds directly into the soil, the quality of the crop is reduced. Also in regions with a short summer period, cultivation is almost impossible. The two-year method is fraught with certain difficulties. Onion sets do not store well. Onions grown in this way have a sharper taste. The seedling method allows you to solve these problems.
Sowing dates
In order to ensure the necessary run, sowing of seeds begins in the second half of February. Ready seedlings are planted in the ground at the age of fifty or sixty days. When sowing seeds within the specified time, plants are planted in open ground in late April - early May.
Seedling growing technology
How to grow onions in winter? Planting material can be obtained at home, in greenhouses or greenhouses. Plastic containers or wooden boxes are suitable for growing seedlings at home.
They are filled with specially prepared soil. Soil composition is as follows:
- 1 piece of sod land;
- 1 part humus;
- 80 grams of complex mineral fertilizer.
The soil layer in the tank should be at least fifteen centimeters. Seeds should be soaked before sowing. Wet processing time is at least twenty hours. Such processing will increase the germination of the seed.
After processing, the seeds are dried. in containersmoisten the soil and form grooves. Seeds are sown in them. Sowing should not be thickened. Seeds are placed at a distance of one centimeter. Sowing furrows are sprinkled with humus. Next, the soil is compacted and sprinkled with clean sand. Carefully water and cover with foil. Sowing containers are placed in places with a temperature of at least twenty degrees Celsius. The first shoots appear after seven days.
Seedling care
For the successful cultivation of planting material, temperature and light conditions should be observed. It needs to be illuminated with fluorescent lamps. The optimum growing temperature is eighteen degrees Celsius. It is also necessary to produce moderate watering and regular top dressing.
Planting material is hardened a week before planting in open ground. A garden bed is preliminarily prepared, where the "Y alta" onion will be placed. Outdoor cultivation will be discussed next.
Open field onion
In the phase of three or four well-formed leaves, the seedlings are ready for transplanting. Containers with plants are watered carefully so as not to damage the leafy part. Plants are removed from the seedling container. Shorten the root and leaf parts. Planting material is ready for planting.
Plants are placed in the same way as when planting sevkom. Planting depth is four centimeters. To obtain a quality crop, constant care of the beds will be required. The cultivation technology provides for constant loosening of the soil, removal of weeds, regular top dressing andfight against diseases and pests. Pay special attention to watering. During the ripening period, the plants will require daily watering. However, even if all the growing conditions are observed, the resulting crop will differ somewhat from the real "Y alta" onion. The quality of vegetable crops is influenced by the climatic features of the zone. With a lack of heat and a certain composition of the soil, the turnip will change its basic taste.
