Contents
It is recommended to soak onions before planting. Gardeners’ recommendations vary in composition and method. Most often, a soda solution is used for processing. According to agricultural technicians, onions should be soaked in soda before planting in order to create favorable conditions for its growth and preservation of the crop.
Soaking in alkaline solutions prevents diseases characteristic of horticultural crops
Does it need to be soaked
Soaking planting material in a soda composition is aimed at improving the quality of a vegetable crop. Baking soda acts as an effective antiseptic and powerful fungicide on the plant. It is noticed that onions processed in this way:
- sprouts faster and develops well;
- is resistant to infectious diseases and pests;
- differs in the high level of saving at storage of a crop.
The main requirement when soaking onions in soda before planting is compliance with the indicated proportions and temperature conditions. Otherwise, the seed material can be ruined.
What soda to use
Baking soda, which is a chemical substance sodium bicarbonate, is in the kitchen of any housewife. Traditionally, the powder has been used as a baking aid and cleaning agent. In horticulture, soda is used not only to soak planting material, but also to reduce the level of soil acidity, replaces dolomite flour and wood ash. Baking soda is safe to use and does not require special precautions.
Another type of soda – soda ash or technical, refers to hazardous chemicals. In horticulture, soda ash solutions are used to kill weeds and control pest populations. Food processing does not require the use of protective equipment. While when interacting with soda ash, it is necessary to use gloves to protect the skin of the hands and a multilayer medical mask to protect the respiratory system.
On the package with baking soda there is a mark E500 – the generally accepted designation of sodium bicarbonate
Which onion is suitable for soaking in soda
Healthy onion sets are suitable for soaking in a solution of baking soda and further planting. You can sort out non-viable bulbs by partially removing the top husk. Darkened, soft and especially slimy planting material will not develop, so it should be discarded at the stage of preparation for soaking.
How to treat onions with baking soda
If the onion is properly treated with soda before planting, then you can get an excellent harvest. In addition, the soaked sevok gives a strong, healthy turnip.
How to soak onion sets before planting in soda
On the Internet there are various recommendations for the preparation of the working composition. The most popular recipe for soda solution among gardeners is as follows:
- 1 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate;
- 1 liter of water with a temperature of 45-60 ° C.
Soda is diluted in warm water until completely dissolved. Onions are soaked in the composition for 30 minutes. To prevent the liquid from cooling down, the container with the soaked onions should be wrapped in a thick blanket. The impact of the temperature factor and the chemical causes hormonal stress in the plant. Thanks to this, the defenses of the plant organism are mobilized, and immunity is increased.
Soaking onion sets in baking soda prevents them from shooting and increases green yields
Processing onions with soda in the garden
Baking soda is used not only for pre-sowing soaking of onions. The chemical is also used to reduce soil acidity in garden beds. Land with a high pH level is considered an unfavorable environment, as pathogenic microflora and weeds develop in it.
Agricultural technicians offer two ways to use an alkaline agent:
- In dry form, for sprinkling acidified areas.
- In the form of a solution, for the preparation of which 100 g of sodium bicarbonate is diluted in 1 liter of water.
The liquid is used to water the soil after loosening before planting onions. For the procedure to benefit, it is important to follow the established recipe. A concentrated solution can cause significant damage to a garden crop.
A solution of baking soda is also used for the preventive treatment of cultivated plants. Spray liquid is prepared by dissolving 1 tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate in 2 liters of water. Spraying the composition is carried out using a special device – a spray gun.
In order to prevent the appearance of powdery mildew and aphids, onions are irrigated every two weeks. Spraying beds with vegetable crops is recommended in the morning and evening hours. Irrigation in the daytime can cause burns on onion plantings.
Exceeding the recommended spraying frequency leads to plant damage
Conclusion
The need to soak onions before planting in soda is confirmed by many years of gardening experience. The procedure reduces the risk of damage to plants by diseases and insect pests, and helps to neutralize the acidic indicators of the soil. Preventive spraying of plantings is generally aimed at maintaining the health of a garden crop and increasing its yield.
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