Rules for processing onions before planting

Onions are grown in three ways - by sowing seeds, through seedlings and onions-sevkom... Presowing treatment of planting material creates optimal conditions for the growth and development of culture. How to properly prepare onions for planting and how to disinfect onion sets, we will tell in the article.

Why process onions before planting and what are the benefits

More than 60% of harmful diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi are transmitted through the seed. For this reason, experienced farmers interested in a high-quality harvest decontaminate the onions before planting.

Onion seeds have a dense cornea with low water permeability. To accelerate the emergence of seedlings, before sowing, they are soaked for a day in running water or the water is changed 2-3 times. When sowing prepared seeds into moist soil, seedlings appear in 7-8 days, dry ones germinate in 2-3 weeks.

Bulbs grown from seeds and seedlings treated with trace elements have a high dry matter content, including vitamins and sugars.

Optimal time to process onions

The preparation of planting material in the southern regions begins at the end of February, in the northern regions - at the end of March.

Wet processing nigella is exposed immediately before sowing - then you do not have to dry it, it is enough to bring it to a loose state. Repeated soaking and drying reduces the germination of the seed.

How and how to process onions before planting

Seed material is disinfected before sowing or purchased already etched.

Processing facilities:

1. Fitosporin-M. Before planting, the onion is immersed for 1 hour in a solution for disinfection from pathogenic microorganisms. A solution is prepared from the powder form of the drug: 0.5 l of water and 10 g of the product. The pasty preparation is diluted in water in a 1: 1 ratio, and then a working solution is prepared - 3 tbsp. l. concentrate per 200 ml of water. Working solution from liquid form: 10 ml of product and 200 ml of water.
2. Potassium permanganate. Seeds are soaked in 1% solution for 1 hour, bulbs - in 0.1% solution for 2-4 hours.
3. Soda solution. Soda (1 tsp) is diluted in warm water (10 l) and the bulbs are soaked for 10-15 minutes.
4. Saline solution. For prevention onion fly and protection from nematode The seedlings are soaked in clean water for 2 hours, then immersed in a saline solution (3 tablespoons per 5 liters of water) for 3-4 hours. They are washed and planted several times.
5. Copper sulfate. The seeds are immersed for 1 hour in a 1% solution, the bulbs - for 2-4 hours in a 0.25% solution.
6. Ash. Ash is diluted in warm water (250 g per 5 l) and poured with a solution of sevok. It is kept for 10 minutes, dried for 3 hours and planted in the ground.
7. "Epin Extra". Stimulates root formation, increases productivity. For 1 kg of bulbs, 200 ml of working solution is required. The consumption of the drug is 0.25 g per 10 liters of water.
8. Ammonium nitrate... Prevents disease and protects against pests... In 10 liters of warm water, dilute 3 g of the drug and soak the set for 10-15 minutes.
9. "Biolan", "Stimpo"... Before planting, the bulbs are treated with a biostimulator, then kept in a solution of birch tar (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water) for 3-4 hours.
10. Kerosene. Used for watering the soil before planting. In 5 liters of water, dilute 1 tbsp. l. facilities.

With a boron deficiency in the soil, the seed is soaked for 1 hour in a boric acid solution of 0.01%.

What other ways are there to prepare onions for planting

After winter storage, the sets are sorted out, sorted and prepared for planting. For growing a turnip from small-nest varieties, heads with a diameter of 1-2.5 cm are used; in medium- and multi-nested varieties, a high yield gives a set of 1.5-3 cm in diameter.

Sorting and drying

In order for the seedlings to be uniform, the seedlings are sorted out the day before the intended planting and the spoiled and dried heads are discarded.

Chernushka is poured with water and mixed - full-fledged seeds settle to the bottom, non-viable ones float.

Germination test:

• put cloth, cotton wool or soft paper on a saucer, moisten and sprinkle seeds on top;
• covered with glass;
• onions germinate at a temperature of 25 ° C for 3-5 days.

The germination rate of onion seeds prepared for growing seedlings should be at least 80%, so they are pre-germinated.

Warming up

Warming up in hot water protects against downy mildew, rot and mite infestation. 1-2 days before planting, the bulbs are kept for 8 hours in water at a temperature of + 40 ... + 42 ° C. Maintain a constant water temperature - lowering will make the treatment ineffective and raising it will damage the bulbs.

To protect against nematodes, the following technique is used:

• onions are soaked for a day in water at room temperature;
• then the temperature is sharply increased to + 45 ... + 48 ° С - boiling water is poured;
• take out the onions and dry them.

Onions are also disinfected if thrips have settled on the site.

Attention! 2-3 days before planting, the sets purchased in the store are heated at a temperature of + 30 ... + 40 ° C using heating devices.

Hardening

Before planting in the ground, onion seeds are wrapped in a cloth and kept for 15 minutes in hot water at a temperature of + 45 ... + 50 ° С. Then they are immersed in cold water for 1 minute. This technique protects against fungal diseases.

Onion sets for 2-2.5 months before planting are kept at a temperature of 0 ... + 10 ° C for 10 days. The heads are then stored at room temperature.

Hardening stimulates plant immunity and reduces the likelihood of shooting.

Soak

The bulbs that are planted on greens in a greenhouse are pre-soaked for several hours in warm water.

Seed preparation for growing seedlings:

• water is poured into a liter jar with a temperature of + 45 ... + 50 ° С;
• add boric acid at the tip of a knife, mix;
• immerse the seeds and leave to cool completely;
• the seeds are laid out on a saucer on a cloth dipped in Energena solution;
• the saucer is covered with glass and left to germinate overnight.

In the morning, the seeds are planted in prepared nutrient soil.

A dry neck is cut off each onion set. The basin is filled with hot water at a temperature of + 40 ... + 45 ° C and poured into the container with the sets - warming up protects against shooting. Withstand 10-15 minutes, then transfer the planting material into a basin of cold water for 2-3 minutes.

Then the onion is placed in a bucket, poured with a solution of complex organomineral fertilizer ("Biohumus" or "Gumi"), to which the natural growth stimulator "Energen" is added according to the instructions. It is kept overnight, and in the morning it is removed from the solution.

The nutrient solution enhances immunity, accelerates the germination period, promotes the production of strong ground shoots and large heads.

How to properly prepare the soil and cultivate the beds

Onions require loose, well-drained soil. The culture has a long growing season - so that the onions can grow early and mature before the onset of cold weather, they choose a warm place.

For cultivation by seeds, beds are made with a height of 12-15 cm, a width of no more than 1 m. Humus or compost in the amount of 1-2 buckets per 1 m² is introduced for autumn digging.

In the spring, mineral fertilizers are applied under deep digging:

• ammonium nitrate - 15-20 g / m²;
• superphosphate - 25-30 g / m²;
• potassium chloride - 10-15 g / m².

A vegetable mixture containing a complex of mineral fertilizers is applied in an amount of 70-100 g / m².

Dig in, level the surface and pour it over with a warm solution of copper sulfate (1 tbsp. L. Per 10 l of water) at the rate of 2 l per 1 m². Cover with foil and after 2-3 days sow onions into grooves 2 cm deep.

The soil for sowing on a turnip is prepared in the same way as for seeds, while increasing the dose of mineral fertilizers by 2 times.

The soil is loosened, the surface is leveled, and transverse furrows are made. Sprinkle generously with a mixture of tobacco dust and sifted wood ash (1: 1) and then sprinkle with warm water. After that, the seedlings are planted and covered with nutritious loose soil. A mixture of tobacco dust and ash protects young plants from damage by onion flies.

Excessive deepening of the seed during planting, and the seeds during sowing, leads to an lengthening of the growing season - a thick neck forms on the bulb, possibly thinning of crops and a decrease in yield.

Important! The optimum planting depth of seedlings is 3-5 cm. For example, the planting density in the Moscow region is 60-70 pcs / m². With a five-line scheme, 20-24 bulbs are planted per 1 running meter of the ridge. Large fractions of seedlings give an early harvest.

Tips & Tricks

The culled set is not thrown away, but planted without preparation on a separate bed to obtain a feather.

Areas with neutral or slightly alkaline soils (pH 6-7) are allocated for onions. If horsetail or horse sorrel grow on the site, this indicates acidity of the soil, which means that it needs to be calcified. Acidic soils are neutralized with wood or peat ash.

If the site has perennial onions (onion, chives), crops and planting onions are planted as far as possible.

Fresh manure cannot be applied under onions, otherwise the plants delay growth, the period of leaf formation increases. The bulbs are formed late, they do not ripen well or do not ripen at all, they are more affected by cervical rot, and are poorly stored.

Conclusion

With a significant increase in the cost of onion sets, pre-sowing processing of the planting material is mandatory. It increases germination, shortens germination time, protects against diseases and pests.