Step-by-step guide to growing Exible onions through seedlings

Dutch bow Exibition has an ideal oval shape and a sweet taste without bitterness. When slicing, tears do not flow in a stream, and the pleasant taste allows it to be eaten raw, like an apple. Subject to the rules of agricultural technology, it is possible to grow giant bulbs weighing up to 1 kg.

In this article, we will introduce you to the method cultivation onions Exible from seeds through seedlings. You will learn what its advantages and disadvantages are, as well as how to care for plantings for the best results.

Description of the variety

The Exhibichen onions were developed by Dutch breeders of BEJO ZADEN B. V. at the end of the 20th century. The variety was included in the State Register of Russia in 2000. He received permission to grow in all regions of the country as an annual crop.

Onion Exibishen is grown mainly by the seedling method in the regions of the middle zone, in the North-West, in Siberia and in the Urals. Landing is practiced in the southern regions seeds and sowing in open ground.

The table shows the main characteristics of the variety.

In the photo - Exhibiting bow.

Advantages and disadvantages of growing through seedlings

VarietyExhibichen is grown mainly by the seedling method, which has a number of advantages over direct sowing in the ground.

The seeds have a low percentage of germination (40-45%), and the seedlings quickly take root in a new place, subject to the agrotechnical nuances.

The seedling method allows you to grow heads with the maximum weight.

Seedlings calmly tolerate transplanting even in the absence of an earthen coma on the roots. It is important to keep the main root intact and intact.

The only drawback is that this is a troublesome and labor-intensive method that requires constant attention to the seedlings from the gardener.

Landing dates

The manufacturer recommends sowing seeds for seedlings from 1 to 10 March. In regions with harsh climatic conditions, the dates are shifted a week later, that is, sowing work begins in mid-March.

The main task of the gardener is to grow strong seedlings before transferring them to a permanent place in early May.

How to grow seedlings

Growing seedlings of the Exibishen variety is a difficult task, but feasible even for a novice gardener, subject to strict adherence to the rules.

Seed preparation

Dutch seeds do not require soaking in disinfecting solutions and germination stimulants, they are already covered with a protective shell. However, for reliability, they are treated with a dark solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 liter of water) for 5-6 hours, maintaining the water temperature at + 40 ° C.

Then the seeds are washed with clean water and spread on a damp gauze or a thick layer of paper towels. Cover the top with a damp cloth or napkin and keep in a warm place until seedlings appear, maintaining constant humidity. To stimulate germination, aloe juice is added to the water.

Soil

The seedlings are grown in loose, breathable soil. For this purpose, a ready-made substrate from a store is quite suitable.

For self-preparation of the soil mixture, sod land, humus, rotted mullein and river sand (sawdust, onion husks) are used in a ratio of 10: 9: 1. The soil from the garden is preliminarily disinfected by heating in an oven, steaming in a double boiler or spilling with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate, "Fitosporin".

Containers

Exhibiting onion seedlings are grown in narrow and tall cups or black plastic bags without picking. They are available for purchase at gardening stores.

The container can be made independently from thick film. Polyethylene is wound around a toilet paper roll or other suitable object, fixing the edges with tape or a stapler. The bottom is carefully sealed and prepared soil is poured into homemade containers. Then the glasses are put into boxes. This is one of the most optimal ways to prepare containers, allowing you to easily extract seedlings without damaging the root system.

Sowing instructions

The first batch of germinated seeds is laid out in containers filled with important earth to a depth of 1 cm. Sprinkle on top with a layer of soil 1-1.5 cm and watered abundantly with clean warm water. The rest of the seeds are sealed as they hatch.

A plastic wrap is pulled on top or glass is placed to create a greenhouse effect. The boxes are left in a dark room at a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° С for 7-10 days.

As soon as the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed, the seedlings are taken out on the windowsill on the south side, but the air temperature should be below - + 14 ... + 17 ° С. It is important to provide the seedlings with sufficient sunlight. If necessary, the seedlings are supplemented with a phytolamp.

Further care

Proper care is the key to getting healthy and strong seedlings:

1. The optimum temperature range is + 10 ... + 22 ° С.
2. The soil is watered daily, adding 1 g of potassium nitrate to 1 liter of water.
3. The room is ventilated once every 3 days.
4. As they grow, seedlings are supported with homemade props made of wire, wooden skewers and jute. The seedlings should stand upright, without tipping over on their side.
5. Long, drooping feathers are neatly trimmed, leaving at least 10 cm.
6. Two weeks before planting in the ground, the seedlings are taken out to the balcony for hardening.

Landing in open ground

The seedlings are transferred to open ground in the first decade of May. The plot is chosen on the sunny side of the garden - Exhibichen loves the sun.

The ideal soil is loose, breathable, saturated with nutrients, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction (pH = 6.5-7.5).

The soil is not fertilized with fresh manure, otherwise the pulp will be too soft, watery and tasteless. In autumn, the soil is plowed, plant residues are removed and fed with a mixture of 2 buckets of humus, 50 g of superphosphate, 2 liters of wood ash per 1 m². In the spring, the site is loosened, leveled and spilled with Fitosporin solution.

The holes are formed with a finger to a depth of 2.5-3 cm.The planting pattern is 20 × 30 cm.

Plantings are covered with agrofibre or a temporary greenhouse is installed to protect them from night frosts in May.

Care

Exhibiting onion care rules:

1. Moderate watering. The plant does not tolerate both excess and deficiency of moisture. Watering frequency is 2 times a week in moderate weather and 3-4 times during drought. At the end of July, watering is completely stopped.
2. Mulching the soil. Covering row spacings with straw, hay, sawdust, dry leaves, pine needles, moss, peat retains moisture in the soil and inhibits the growth of weeds.
3. Loosening and weeding. After each rain and watering, it is recommended to loosen the earth crust to improve aeration of the underground part. Weeds are harvested as they grow, preventing rooting. Mulching reduces labor costs.
4. Top dressing. A plot with onion plantings is fertilized once every 2 weeks using a solution of mullein (1:10) or urea (10 g per 10 L of water).

Diseases and pests

The most common onion diseases:

1. Rot - a disease of a fungal nature, difficult to determine at the initial stage of development.Fungi first infect the bottom, white rot develops on it. Then the infection gets inside the bulb, softening its structure. Plant growth stops, the leaves fall on the ground. There is no cure for the disease. Affected bulbs are destroyed.
2. Smut appears as translucent silvery stripes on leaves. If the affected parts are removed in time, the spread of the disease can be stopped. There is no specific treatment. Onions are planted again in the same place after 4-5 years.
3. Nematode the stem eats the bulbs from the inside. The main symptom of infection is curled, yellow leaves. The underground part rots and cracks. Affected plants are completely removed from the site and burned. To prevent the spread of the pest, the soil is treated with slaked lime and healthy material is planted. It is undesirable to use chemical preparations for treating plants because of the risk of poisoning. Traditional methods are ineffective.
4. Onion fly lays eggs in the ground and on scales. The larvae do the most harm. They feed on plant tissue, softening the structure of the bulb. The ground part turns yellow and dries. The pest becomes more active in May - June. To combat adults and larvae, plantings are dusted with tobacco dust, black or red ground pepper. Calendula, tansy, marigolds, nasturtium, geranium, lavender, pyrethrum, petunia, carrots are planted next to the onions. The smell of these plants repels insects. Once a week, the onion is poured with saline (200 g of salt per 10 liters of water).

Prevention measures for fungal diseases and insect attacks:

• crop rotation;
• soil treatment with "Fitosporin", copper sulfate, potassium permanganate;
• planting healthy material;
• weeding;
• normalization of moisture level.

Harvesting

Exhibishen onion ripens approximately 120-130 days after full germination. The harvest time depends on the growing region. In the south, onions ripen by the end of July, in the regions of the middle zone - in early August, in Siberia and the Urals, harvesting begins in mid-August.

A sure sign that the onion is ready to harvest is dry, fallen leaves. In this case, the root system dies off. It is important not to leave the ripened onions in the soil for a long time - the heads will re-root in moist soil, which significantly reduces the already short shelf life.

Important! To obtain large heads, cutting green leaves is strictly prohibited.

Onions are harvested in sunny and dry weather, pulling the heads out of the ground, digging in with a pitchfork or a shovel. The bulbs are cleaned, the roots are cut and laid out on nets for drying, ripening and disinfection in the sun.

In rainy weather, the crop is dried under a canopy, in an attic or shed for 10-12 days.

After drying, the heads are sorted out: the damaged ones are not stored, but consumed immediately, clean and healthy ones are sorted by size and laid out in nets, wooden boxes, boxes. It is convenient to weave the bulbs into braids and store them hanging. So each of them will be in sight.

Temperature range:

1. The cold storage method provides for maintaining the temperature in the storage in the range of -3 ° C ... 0 ° C. In such conditions, the crop is stored for the longest time.
2. Warm storage method means maintaining the temperature + 18 ° С ... + 22 ° С, humidity - 60-70%.
3. With the combined method, the temperature is maintained at + 18 ° C ... + 22 ° C in autumn, -3 ° C ... 0 ° C in winter. This is the most cost-effective way in terms of energy consumption.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for Exhibitive onions in the open field requires a scrupulous approach. To achieve maximum performance and harvest large, sweet-tasting, pleasantly scented bulbs at the end of the season, it is recommended to grow the crop through seedlings. This rule especially applies to regions with short summers. The plant ripens for about 130 days, and the harvest is carried out before the onset of frost. The storage period for onions is short - only 3-4 months.

Cultural agrotechnology is based on proper care of seedlings, timely transfer to a permanent place, moderate watering, soil mulching, weed harvesting and top dressing.