Unpretentious and stable hybrid of onions "Stardust" high-yielding even with minimal maintenance

We bring to your attention a product of Dutch selection - a hybrid of Stardust onions. It is grown in many subsidiary and farm households, cultivated for personal use and for commercial purposes. These white onions are in demand for their beneficial properties for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Description of the hybrid

Stardust F1 is a hybrid of white onions. Early maturing - onion sets and turnips are grown in one season. It can also be cultivated as a biennial: in the first year, a large harvest of feathers is obtained, in the second year, a crop of onions is harvested.

Origin and development

White onion Stardust is a hybrid bred by the Dutch breeders of the company "BEJO ZADEN B.V." It was entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 1999. Approved for cultivation in all regions of the country, intended for gardening.

Chemical composition, trace elements, vitamins and beneficial properties

Bulbs contain many useful substances, vitamins, trace elements. Calorie content product - 40 kcal, protein content - 1.41 g, carbohydrates - 8.1 g.

Vitamins:

• B1 - 0.05 mg;
• B2 - 0.02 mg;
• B5 - 0.11 mg;
• B6 - 0.1 mg;
• B9 - 9.1 mcg;
• C - 10.2 mg;
• E - 0.19 mg;
• PP - 0.51 mg.

Macronutrients:

• potassium - 177 mg;
• calcium - 30 mg;
• magnesium - 15 mg;
• sodium - 4.1 mg;
• sulfur - 63 mg;
• phosphorus - 57 mg;
• chlorine - 24.5 mg.

Trace elements:

• aluminum - 399 mcg;
• boron - 201 mcg;
• iron - 0.81 mg;
• iodine - 3.1 mcg;
• manganese - 0.2 mg;
• copper - 89 mcg;
• fluorine - 30 μg;
• zinc - 0.83 mg.

Stardust onion has many beneficial properties:

• lowers cholesterol and blood sugar;
• has a powerful antioxidant effect, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties;
• restores the elasticity of blood vessels;
• strengthens the immune system.

White onion juice is used in cosmetology:

• activates hair growth;
• heals acne and skin inflammation;
• cares for dry skin, preventing the appearance of wrinkles;
• eliminates brittle nails.

Ripening period

Stardust refers to early ripening hybrids, the crop is harvested 2 months after planting the seedlings or 105-130 days after sowing the seeds.

Yield

Onion yield when grown for greens is 2.5-2.8 kg / m2, turnip yield - 3.5-5.2 kg / m2.

Disease resistance

The variety is distinguished by stable immunity to many diseases of the crop: powdery mildew, gray rot. Not susceptible to invasion pestsparasitizing in the soil.

Characteristics of the bulb, description of the appearance, taste

The rosette is upright and voluminous. The leaves are tall, strong, narrow, rich green with a slight waxy bloom. The bulb is white, round, medium in size. Head weight 45-65 g.The scales are dry, do not adhere tightly to each other, easily detach when cleaning. The taste is sweetish, semi-sharp, not sharp.

For which regions it is best suited and what is the exacting climate

Stardust onions are approved for cultivation in all regions of the country. In northern regions with severe frosts, the hybrid can be cultivated in greenhouse conditions.

The main advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid

A hybrid has many advantages:

• high performance;
• high quality strong feathers;
• excellent taste characteristics;
• high immunity to diseases and pests;
• versatility in application.

The disadvantage of a hybrid is the need for an annual purchase of seed.

What is the difference from others

Unlike other varieties, Stardust onions are grown in 1 season, having received first the onion sets, then the turnip.

Features of planting and growing

The cultivation of the hybrid is carried out in two ways: from seeds or seedlings. When grown from seeds, the planting material is pre-germinated, then planted in open ground.

A sunny site is chosen for growing onions. The soil on the site should have neutral acidity, it is cleaned of plant residues. The site is prepared in the fall, digging it up with organic fertilizers. Dry chicken manure is used - 200 g per 1 m².

Preparing for landing

Before sowing, the seeds are prepared. First, they are poured with warm water for 2-3 hours. The floating empty seeds are discarded, the rest are disinfected. To do this, they are placed in a bag of several layers of gauze, soaked in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 30-40 minutes, washed with clean water.

To obtain simultaneous shoots, the seeds are soaked in water heated to 40 ° C for 30-40 minutes.

In order to strengthen the immune system, quenching is carried out: a bag of seeds is placed in the refrigerator for 20-25 minutes.

Then the seed is germinated. To do this, lay it out on a damp cloth.
and covered with several layers of gauze, which is periodically moistened. Sprouted seeds are planted in the ground and watered regularly until shoots appear.

Ground requirements

The composition of the soil affects the taste of onions.

Reference. In loamy soil, the taste of vegetables will be harsh.

The culture responds well to black soil, sandy loam soils. In heavy, clayey soil, the culture will give rare shoots.

The plot is being prepared in the fall. When digging up the earth, wood ash, humus, ammonium nitrate (25 g / m²), superphosphate (15 g / m²), potassium nitrate (20 g / m²) are added. When grown in soil with a predominance of peat, the amount of superphosphate is doubled.

Timing, scheme and landing rules

The hybrid is grown in one season. Two methods are used: seedlings are grown or sown in early spring in open ground.

Seedling method

Sowing seeds is carried out at the end of February in warm rooms in large containers filled with fertilized soil mixture. Grooves are made with a depth of 1.5-2 cm, the distance between the grooves is 20-25 cm. The soil is moistened with water, the seeds are laid out 1-1.5 cm apart, sprinkled with earth and lightly tamped.

After 2 months, the finished seedlings are planted in open ground. This is done in late April - early May, when the soil warms up to +10 .. + 12 ° С. In a previously prepared area, grooves are made with a depth of 5-6 cm, 25-28 cm are left between the rows. Seedlings are watered every other day with a solution of humate.

Seed method

The seeds are sown in early May. The beds are preliminarily covered with foil to warm up the soil. Before planting, the grooves are watered with hot water. The seeds are planted to a depth of 2-3 cm at a distance of 5-7 cm, 20-25 cm are left between the rows. The seeds are covered with a thin layer of soil. The emerging seedlings are thinned out, leaving a distance of 10 cm.

Growing features

Planting in open ground is carried out only after the soil warms up to + 10 ... + 13 ° С at a depth of 20 cm.

Before the first shoots appear, the soil is covered with a transparent film, creating a greenhouse effect.When condensation occurs, the film is lifted and ventilated.

The nuances of care

When growing crops for seedlings, special attention is paid to additional lighting. Young seedlings need lighting for 12 hours.

To prevent feather fragility, pinching is carried out after the formation of three feathers. The leaves are shortened by 2/3 of the length.

To develop immunity in the culture to adverse weather conditions, hardening is carried out. A week before planting in open ground, the plants are exposed to the open air, first for half an hour, then the hardening time is increased daily.

Watering mode

Water as the topsoil dries up.

Important! With insufficient watering, seed germination will be low, and excessive watering will lead to the development of fungal infections.

After planting, the onions are watered once a week. In stable hot weather, the frequency of watering is increased to 2 times a week. With each watering, 6-8 liters of water are consumed per 1 m². Starting in July, during the period of turnip growth, watering is stopped. At high air temperatures, soil moistening is allowed every 8-10 days.

Loosening the soil and weeding

After each watering, the beds are loosened: the formation of a soil crust must not be allowed. Loosening is carried out carefully so as not to damage the head.

Weeds are weeded as they appear. Weed grass grows quickly, drawing moisture and useful microelements from the soil - this inhibits the growth of the crop.

Top dressing

7 days after the emergence of shoots, the first feeding is carried out using the composition: 10 g of urea, 10 g of potassium nitrate, 25 g of superphosphate per 10 liters of water.

After 2 weeks, the seedlings are fed with organic matter: dry chicken droppings diluted in a bucket of water (1:10) or cow dung mixed in water in a ratio of 1: 5.

A month after the second feeding, fertilizers are applied necessary for the growth of the turnip. To do this, use complex agents containing phosphorus, potassium: 25 g of potassium monophosphate per 10 liters of water. From organic matter, wood ash is used (a glass of ash in a bucket of water).

Disease and pest control

Under unfavorable growing conditions, downy mildew (peronosporosis) may appear on the crop: a whitish bloom appears on the feathers, first the feathers fade, then the disease goes to the head of the onion. When growing a culture on a turnip, a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid is used.

Attention! When growing crops for greens, the use of chemicals is not allowed.

For prevention illness potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are applied to the soil.

Bacteriosis is a fungal infection that occurs during the storage of vegetables. The bulbs soften, emit a putrid smell. Rotten layers are visible on the cut of the head. To prevent bacteriosis, plants are treated with a 1% solution of copper sulfate three weeks before harvesting.

White rot may appear on vegetables - a fungal disease in which the scales soften, a white bloom in the form of cotton wool appears on it. The disease develops with excessive moisture, excessive nitrogen input into the soil, increased soil acidity. At the first signs of damage, the plants are sprayed with Sumileks.

Insect pests may appear on the culture:

1. Onion fly lays the larvae in onion feathers. The larvae feed on the green mass of the plant, the feathers dry out, the heads begin to rot. For prevention, the beds are sprinkled with wood ash, treated with a solution of table salt: 250 g of salt per 10 liters of water.
2. Onion thrips makes clutches of eggs on young shoots. Onion feathers affected by thrips change color, dry out. For the prevention and control of pests, the beds are sprinkled with ash, tobacco.

Harvesting and storage

Harvesting begins at the end of September - mid-October. At this time, the neck of the head dries up, the feathers fall on the beds. If frost is approaching, the ripening process of the bulbs is accelerated by digging in each head with a pitchfork, slightly opening it out of the ground.

After harvesting, the bulbs are sorted.Instances with dry necks are recycled. Selected onions are cut off the feathers, vegetables are laid out to dry in a dry room for 5-7 days, then transferred to the vegetable store.

How and when to collect

When all the feathers are bent to the ground, collection begins. For this, choose a sunny day. The vegetables are dug up with a pitchfork, cleaned of the remains of the earth, laid out to dry.

Store the harvest Recommended in nets or drawers with side openings for air access.

Storage features and keeping quality of the hybrid

In the room where the crop is stored, create a microclimate with temperature air + 1 ... + 3 ° С and humidity 60-75%. The storage must have constant air circulation. Stir the onion heads periodically.

Under the right conditions, the crop is stored until the next season. The keeping quality of the hybrid reaches 96%.

What can be the difficulties in growing

When growing a hybrid, keep in mind that the bulbs will become bitter if not watered properly. With excessive watering, the turnip begins to rot.

Watering is carried out only along the grooves. Watering by sprinkling is not allowed, as this may cause downy mildew on the plants.

Tips from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners recommend:

• follow the rules of crop rotation, the best predecessors are cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, tomatoes, pumpkin, legumes;
• grow white onion sets Stardust f1 in raised beds - such beds warm up better;
• shorten the roots by 1/3 when planting - with long, upward-bent roots, plant survival decreases.

Reviews of the Stardust onion hybrid

Consumers note the soft, mild taste of onions.

Elena, Lyuban: «I grow Stardust white onions on heads. The bulbs grow medium-sized. I like the taste very much, I add it to all vegetable salads. "

Ivan, Astrakhan: “I plant a small plot every year with Stardust onions. My wife likes the semi-sharp taste of onions. It is especially good for them to decorate salads on top. We did not store it for very long, until the New Year. "

Oleg, Rostov: “I planted different varieties, read the description and reviews about the onion Stardust - I decided to plant it. Tried with seeds and sevkom. I am satisfied with the result in both cases. At the beginning of summer, you can already pluck the green feathers. I collect turnips in the fall. I like the sweet taste, the heads are not sharp, juicy. "

Conclusion

Stardust onions are popular with farmers and hobby gardeners. Its main advantages are unpretentiousness, ease of cultivation, excellent taste. The hybrid is available for cultivation in all regions of the country, it is used in cooking and cosmetology.