The family onion, also called shallots, kushchevka, or shrike, is a type of onion. He grows heap, with whole “families”. Therefore, it got its name. The variety is not particularly popular among gardeners, because many believe that it is too small. But this is a misconception, and with proper care, the bulbs can grow large and juicy.
First of all, you should decide on the landing site. For family onions, it is better to choose a well-lit area with fertile loose soil. On acidic and heavy soils, the plant does not take root well and gives a lower yield. It is recommended to prepare the site before planting. To do this, you need to dig up the soil and add 5 kg of humus, a glass of ash and 2 tbsp for each square meter. l. superphosphate.
The family bow has many varieties.
Before planting, you need to soak the bulbs for 15-30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide. In this way, you will not only improve the growth and vitality of plants, but also protect them from most diseases.
It is recommended to plant kushchevka in late April – early May. For this, beds are made with a width of 0,9 m and a distance between them of 0,5 m. Halves of the bulbs are laid out in the moist soil in a checkerboard pattern every 23 cm.If the vegetable is planted to obtain greens, then the distance can be reduced to 15 cm. The planting depth is approximately 5-8 cm. Further, the planting material is spud with a rake from both sides. Try to cover the onions with a 3 cm layer of soil. Then the roots of the culture will grow quickly.
In order for the bulbs to be large and juicy, they need watering, which must be done once a week. After all, if the heads do not have enough moisture, then they will not be able to fill with juices. Be sure to loosen the soil after watering. Kushchevka does not like any neighborhood, so you should constantly weed the beds. You can make it easier for yourself and mulch the soil on the site with a 5 cm layer of cut grass.
It is not recommended to cut greens from onions intended for long-term storage. This will significantly reduce their growth. If you still need greens, then carefully rake off the soil and remove one onion from the middle of the “family”
Around mid-July it is necessary to remove the extra heads. The optimal quantity is considered to be 3-5 pieces. on the bush. If there are more of them, then gently rake off the soil and, holding the “nest”, remove the excess bulbs. You can harvest at the end of August, when the greens on the bushes “lie down”. It is not recommended to wait longer than this period, otherwise the bulbs will be poorly stored. After digging the “families” from the ground, they must be allowed to dry well. At the same time, you should not remove roots and greens from plants, because with them the bulbs will become much juicier and tastier. Therefore, it is better to let the vegetable dry naturally.
Kushchevka or shallots differ from onions in their incredible taste and rich aroma. But to get large, juicy bulbs, you need to pay a lot of attention to the plant, and then it will thank you with a good harvest.