Onion has been known for more than five millennia; it is rightfully considered one of the oldest vegetable crops. And during this time, it has not lost its popularity at all, since it is both an indispensable addition to most dishes and a remedy for many common diseases. Of course, if there is at least a small piece of land, everyone tries to grow onions on their own. But there are many varieties of onions.
But for all the simplicity of growing this vegetable crop, there are various factors that are important to consider in order to get a really good and plentiful harvest. In particular, as for any culture, there are favorable days for planting onions, which are determined by both weather conditions and the so-called lunar calendar. In recent years, many gardeners are increasingly turning to the experience of their ancestors, taking a closer look at folk signs, and the popularity of the lunar calendar is also increasing. Indeed, with its correct and wise application, one can avoid mistakes associated with the incorrect use of natural rhythms. Those who have been working on the earth for a long time cannot fail to know and feel them.
Moon calendar
Many experienced gardeners have probably known the lunar calendar for a long time and, perhaps, actively use it in their practice. For beginners, it may not be entirely clear what favorable days are associated with for carrying out any work and why other days are prohibited.
In fact, there are few days when it is really better to postpone all gardening worries. They are associated with the periods of new moon and full moon, which in total are recruited about 6 days during each month. This is the day of the new moon or full moon and one day before and after it.
If we draw an analogy with breathing, then these are the moments when inhalation changes into exhalation and vice versa.
Everything in nature seems to freeze, so it is highly discouraged to carry out any important work related to sowing, planting and transplanting plants these days.
Two other equally important periods are associated with the growing moon (from new moon to full moon), when all the juices of the earth rush upward, and with the waning moon (from full moon to new moon), when the forces go down to the roots. It is clear that all plants, the main one of which is the aerial part, for example, onions on a feather, are best sown and planted with a growing moon. But plants in which the underground part is the main thing for a person, for example, turnip onions, are planted and sown during the waning moon.
As regards the passage of the moon through the zodiac constellations, each group is known for its effect on a certain part of the plants.
| During this period, the moon has an effect |
|---|---|
Moon under the signs of Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) | On the leaves |
Moon under Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) | On the roots and fruits that are in the ground |
Moon under the signs of Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) | On flowers |
Moon under the signs of Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) | On the fruits that are above the earth |
Thus, for sowing and planting onions grown on greens, the best days will be when the moon is under the signs of Water. But it is desirable to sow and plant onions for growing turnips on days when the moon is under the signs of the Earth.
Fundamentals of onion farming
In general, onions are a fairly undemanding vegetable crop in terms of growth conditions. It is quite cold-resistant, seeds can germinate already at a temperature of +2°С-+3°С. And onion shoots may well endure short-term frosts down to -3 ° C-5 ° C. Therefore, onions can be grown in several ways:
- Within one year in the southern regions – seeds (nigella) are sown directly into the ground and full-fledged bulbs grow by autumn.
- In a two-year culture – seeds are sown in the first year and at the end of summer small bulbs grow from them – onion sets. He gathers and in the second year in the spring is planted again in the ground. By autumn, full-sized bulbs grow from it.
- Sometimes, to speed up development, sowing onion seeds into the ground under room conditions in February or March is used, and slightly grown seedlings are planted in open ground in late spring. Often onion planting material, especially small sizes, is planted in the ground in the fall, before winter – this allows you to get an earlier harvest next year.
- Finally, perennial onions are most often sown on beds in the spring months, when the earth warms up a little. But it can grow without a transplant for up to five years in one place and grows one of the first in early spring, when there is no greenery yet.
Terms of planting
The most common onion crop is still onions and few gardeners grow it from seeds. Most often planted in the spring, bought in a store or on the market onion sets. But to get a good harvest, choosing the right time for planting onions on a turnip is decisive. After all, the bulb itself develops as much as possible only with a long daylight hours, not shorter than 12 hours. It is under these conditions that all nutrients pass without delay from onion greens to the underground part. In our latitudes, this time is from the end of June to the beginning of August. And up to this point, there should still be a good formation of the green leafy part of the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to plant onion sets as early as possible.
On the other hand, too early planted onions can get frostbitten and end up in the arrow. It is necessary to find the most favorable period for planting onions, and it is best to turn to nature again for a hint. After all, plants in nature always take into account all the vagaries of the weather of the current year, so the dates are not constant, but every year they shift a little in one direction or another.
In most of the European territory of Our Country, this time usually comes in April – in May.
But onion seeds can be sown much earlier. In the southern regions, depending on weather conditions, it is possible to sow in open ground even in March, perennial and annual onions will be able to germinate and grow enough greenery by summer.
In other regions, it is better to sow onion seeds at home for seedlings or, in extreme cases, under a film. This is usually done either in February or March.
If we consider the optimal dates according to the lunar calendar, then when can onions be planted in 2022? The table below shows the most favorable days for sowing and planting onions on both greens and turnips.
If it seems to you that there are too few favorable days, then you can use any days suitable for weather conditions, taking into account only the periods of the growing and waning moon.
Using all the information above, you will be able to adjust the timing of onion planting yourself, and choose the most suitable days for your area. As a result, many problems in growing this valuable crop will be removed.