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“Grandfather planted a turnip before winter. And a large, very large turnip grew … “. No, this article is not about turnips, but about onions, which avid gardeners prefer to plant in the fall. And most of them note that the onion planted before winter is significantly different in size from the crop planted in the spring. Not many dare to such experiments, preferring the traditional spring planting. The only reason for concern is the low frost resistance of onions compared to garlic. Planting onions before winter on a turnip is not much different from spring, but there are some differences and nuances that it is better to know about in advance. After all, if the rules and terms of landing are not observed, the result can be deplorable in the most direct sense.
In autumn or still in spring
Even ten or fifteen years ago, to the question “Is it possible to plant onions in the fall?” any gardener would answer you unequivocally “No”. But there are problems that almost everyone faces – shooting onions and low yields. Sometimes, even with proper care and compliance with all the rules, the bulbs grow small or are poorly stored.
So what is the advantage of pre-winter planting onions?
- The first and, perhaps, the most important thing is saving precious time in the spring. A busy schedule of work in the garden for the spring is scheduled literally by the minute.
- Early harvesting is also a big plus in favor of planting onions on a turnip before winter. Winter onions ripen a month earlier than traditionally planted in spring. In July, there is not much work in the beds and you can slowly collect, dry and store the grown crop.
- Winter onions are more resistant to onion fly damage. And the reason here lies in the fact that by the time the pest becomes active and lays larvae, the winter onion is already strong enough. But spring plantings, still tender and fragile, are a great place for the reproduction of this pest.
- The beds vacated in July can be sown with early ripening vegetables or herbs. Thus, you will harvest twice a year from one bed.
- Winter onions are stored very well.
- Bulb size also matters. Since the first sprouts appear immediately after the snow melts, onions planted before winter have much more time to grow.
- When planting onions in the autumn, you can avoid additional hassle with the storage of seed. In most cases, it is very difficult to keep sevok until spring. Over such a long period, it simply dries up.
- The economic component should not be excluded either. The cost of vegetables in the period when last year’s crop is sold, but there is no new one yet, soars 3-5 times. And in the fall, seed is much cheaper than in the spring. The benefit, as they say, is obvious.
As you can see, there are many advantages. But, unfortunately, there are also disadvantages. Rather, one. These are unpredictable weather conditions. The weather can bring surprises both in autumn in the form of early snow or a long Indian summer, and in spring in the form of frosts and prolonged rains.
Fall planting dates
If you still decide to plant onions on a turnip before winter, then the question is: “when to plant?” will be very relevant. After all, the landing time is limited, and there is still a lot of work to be done before the frosts.
When planting onions in the fall, the following factors should be considered:
- For rooting, the bulbs will need at least 3-4 weeks. So you need to have time to finish all the work at least a month before stable frosts.
- Climatic features of the region of growth.
- Ambient temperature
Don’t be in a hurry to land. Onions planted ahead of time can sprout in the fall and you can say goodbye to the harvest. But it is also undesirable to delay. Unrooted bulbs may freeze.
In the middle lane, winter onions can be planted until the end of October, but in the Urals and Siberia, it is advisable to finish the work in the middle of the month. In the south of Our Country, the work schedule can be shifted by two weeks, or even a month. In the southern regions, the optimal period when onions are planted before winter comes only in mid-November.
Residents of the northern regions with harsh winters should prepare for the fact that the plantings will need to be well insulated. And even in this case, it is difficult to guarantee a 100% result – when the temperature drops below -40˚С -45˚С, the seedlings can freeze out.
When determining the optimal planting time, experienced gardeners are guided by the ambient temperature. The best indicator is + 5˚С. If the thermometer stays stable at this mark for several days, then the time has come when you need to plant onions on a turnip before winter.
Seed preparation
The success of any event, as well as the yield, depends very much on the choice and preparation of seed. Therefore, it is necessary to approach this matter with a greater degree of responsibility.
What varieties of onions are suitable for autumn planting
For the cultivation of winter onions, you need to select varieties with the following characteristics:
- High frost resistance;
- Long shelf life and good keeping quality;
- Shooting resistance;
- High yield;
- Disease resistance.
Separately, the following varieties of onions have these advantages: Mouzon, Panther F1, Tamara F1, Black Prince, Siberian Annual, Arzamassky, Bessonovsky and others.
But even among the most popular varieties, there is hardly one that will contain all the qualities. Therefore, the best option for pre-winter planting of onions is the choice of seed in favor of zoned. It has already been adapted to local climatic conditions and there will be no particular trouble with it.
Planting material is divided into:
- Oatmeal (onion diameter less than 1 cm);
- Sevoc (from 1 to 3 cm in diameter);
- Sample (more than 3 cm in diameter).
The largest specimens can be planted for greenery. When planting onions before winter, they shoot very often when warm days come.
But on the turnip, oddly enough, you need to select the smallest onions. Even the smallest oatmeal will give a good harvest of onions.
I’m done with onions
Before planting, the seed must be carefully calibrated. Select the smallest specimens, discarding the affected and diseased. Do not neglect calibration. Otherwise, part of the bow will go into the arrow, and your beds will look very unattractive: somewhere empty, somewhere dense.
Unlike spring planting, it is not necessary to cut off the tops (or necks) of the set, otherwise all planting material will be ruined.
Soaking bulbs before planting is also not recommended. In the event of unforeseen frosts, wet onions will definitely freeze, and all your work will go down the drain.
Soil Preparation
When choosing the ideal landing site, you need to focus not only on the illumination. Considering that you plant onions on a turnip before winter, the best option would be that part of the garden where the snow melts very early in spring.
Interesting! It would be useful for onion lovers to know that it is very easy to get rid of bad breath after eating it – it is worth eating 1-2 sprigs of parsley or a few walnut kernels, and the specific smell will disappear.
Stagnation of moisture in a place intended for onion beds should not be. Otherwise, during the spring thaw, all planting material will inevitably die. To prevent this from happening, the beds can be raised by 20-25 cm.
The soil must be loose. On clay soil, onion crops grow very poorly and the yield is often low. If loamy soils prevail on your site, do not forget to dilute them with rotted manure or compost during the digging process. You can add a small amount of sand to the soil. Fresh manure cannot be used when planting onions before winter.
Do not forget about the acidity of the soil. Too acidic soil must be deacidified before planting by adding dolomite flour or charcoal when digging.
If the soil in your area is poor and not fertile, apply potash-phosphorus fertilizers immediately before digging. Leave the bed alone for 5-7 days and only then proceed to planting onions on a turnip.
Bow precursors
When choosing a suitable place for planting onions before winter on a turnip, pay attention to which crop was grown in this area earlier. Often, even with all the rules of agricultural technology, the yield, alas, is not encouraging. And all because many do not take into account this important factor.
A good yield is obtained by planting onions on a turnip after the following vegetable crops:
- Cabbage of any kind;
- Cucumbers;
- Salad;
- Tomatoes
- Early potatoes;
- Siderates: mustard, rapeseed, phacelia;
- Radish;
- Beans.
It is undesirable to plant onions after:
- Parsley;
- Radishes;
- Carrots;
- Celery.
After garlic, planting onions is undesirable for 3-4 years.
You can plant onions after onions, but not more than two years in a row. Subsequently, it will be possible to plant onions in this place no earlier than after 4 years.
Rules of landing
The rules for planting winter onions before winter are not much different from spring work.
- Level the area so that melt water does not stagnate on it in the spring. Onions do not like excessive moisture.
- At a distance of 20-25 cm, make grooves 5-7 cm deep.
- Spread small seedlings along the furrows. The distance between the bulbs should be at least 5-7 cm.
- Fill the grooves with earth, lightly tamp and carefully level the bed again.
It is desirable to plant onions in dry weather. The soil should be moist, but not wet.
During planting, note that the neck of the bulb should be at least 1,5-2 cm below the surface. That is, the tops of the bulbs should not peek out of the ground.
Please note that when planting onions on a turnip before winter, you do not need to water the beds. Only if there is no rain for 7-10 days, you can slightly moisten the area.
Aftercare
The frost resistance of onions is much lower than that of garlic. And since, according to the rules, it needs to be planted shallowly, the risk of freezing is very high. Therefore, it is necessary to protect plantings from frost. At the first frost, onion beds should be covered.
Too early to cover the bow is not worth it, as you can provoke the active growth of feathers, and the risk of dampening in this case is also present.
As a mulch you can use:
- Lapnik is the most ideal option;
- Straw;
- Dry leaves;
- Dry sawdust;
- Peat.
Now you just have to follow the weather conditions. If winter is expected to be mean for precipitation in the form of snow, additionally cover the onion beds with lutrasil or film. It is advisable to cover them with a snow blanket after a snowfall. In a snowy winter, such events in the central regions can be omitted. But in areas with severe winters, additional shelter of the beds with snow cannot be avoided.
spring work
In the spring, with the first signs of a thaw, you need to open the beds with winter onions gradually, layer by layer, freeing the plantings from shelter. Throw away excess snow first. After 2-3 days, as soon as the soil warms up, remove the film. After a few more days, remove the mulch layer from the onion bed.
If there is still a chance of frost, do not rush to remove the entire mulch layer at once.
In the spring, you will have to carry out the following types of work:
- Regular loosening and weeding;
- Thinning – if the onion plantings are too thick;
- Watering as needed. You need to stop watering a month before harvesting;
- top dressing;
- Planting along the edges of the beds of calendula or marigolds. This event will protect the culture from the onion fly.
Onions planted on a turnip before winter ripen a month earlier than a crop planted in spring.
The author of the video will tell you about the advantages and rules of pre-winter planting onions on a turnip:
Conclusion
There is nothing complicated in growing onions for a turnip before winter. If you are a supporter of traditional growing methods and are afraid of innovation, then plant a small bed as an experiment. Perhaps this event will help you free up some of the precious time, the lack of which is so acutely felt during the spring planting season.