Onion sets Centurion

Onion is an indispensable vegetable that gives a wonderful taste and mouth-watering aroma to any dish. Its medicinal properties are also widely used. One of the popular varieties today is Centurion onion sets. The description of the variety indicates its excellent taste and agrotechnical characteristics.

The onion variety Centurion is an excellent product of the work of Dutch breeders, which combines the best properties of previous hybrids – good germination, early ripeness, sharp and piquant taste.

Characteristic of the variety

Centurion onion sets are convenient to grow both on personal plots and on an industrial scale due to its positive qualities:

• early ripening – you can dig it out already in July;
• high yield – from 1 sq. m you can get up to 4 kg of Centurion onions;
• spicy spicy taste;
• disease resistance;
• low percentage of shooting;
• good keeping quality – under normal conditions, the Centurion onion is stored for up to six months, and in a special storage until the new season;
• frost resistance – onion sets can withstand night frosts down to -4 degrees;
• the possibility of growing sevka from their own seeds.

The bulbs of the Centurion seed variety, as the photos show, have a beautiful rounded-elongated shape, covered with several layers of golden scales and a narrow neck, which dries quickly, protecting the bulb from decay and providing it with high keeping quality. The small bottom reduces the amount of waste when cutting. The size of the bulbs is also convenient – unlike large-fruited varieties, they weigh from 100 to 150 g, which is more rational in use.

Growing onions

The vegetative period consists of two cycles:

• in the first year, onion seeds form Centurion onion sets;
• in the second year, a full-fledged bulb grows.

Site Selection

To get good yields, the site for planting onion sets must be chosen taking into account some of its features. Since the onion roots are located shallow, then:

• the site should not be in a lowland so that the water does not stagnate in the beds;
• the place should be open and well lit;
• increased acidity will lead to a loss in seed yield, so it is better to choose neutral soils, sandy loams will be optimal.

It is better to prepare a site for onion sets in the fall by taking the necessary measures:

• dig beds to the depth of a spade bayonet;
• remove weeds and their roots;
• add fertilizer.

Seed sowing

The Centurion onion sets grown on their site, according to reviews, will be better adapted to local soil and climatic conditions, so it is better to withstand the full vegetative cycle. The optimal time for sowing onion seeds is the middle or end of April, when night frosts end and the soil warms up enough. The sowing procedure is simple:

• onion seeds are soaked in water or a growth stimulator solution for a day;
• spread them on a cloth and cover with a transparent film;
• after about 3 days they begin to germinate – at this moment you can plant them in the soil;
• make shallow grooves with an interval of 20 cm and place the seeds in them as evenly as possible;
• top with loose soil.

It should be noted that the reviews of farmers testify to the special vitality of the onion sets Centurion f 1 – hybrids of the first generation. They possess:

• better germination;
• increased productivity;
• resistance to adverse conditions.

However, from them you can not get full-fledged seeds.

The ripening period of Centurion sets, according to the description, is about 3 months, and the yield reaches one and a half dozen tons per hectare. The harvested seedlings are stored for storage at the optimum temperature and humidity.

Second year landing

Experienced gardeners advise planting Centurion onion sets before winter around the beginning or middle of autumn. In this case, the bulbs will have time to adapt, harden, and absorb moisture in order to quickly grow in the spring. Already in early spring they will give a green mass. In this case, beds for onion sets are prepared a week or two before planting. The site is dug up and well watered. Planting material is sorted out and soft and rotten specimens are discarded.

Planting onion sets Centurion is carried out as follows:

• each bulb is planted in a separate hole about 3 cm deep;
• the tail remains outside, and the soil around the bulb is compacted;
• the interval between the holes, depending on the size of the bulbs, is 8-10 cm, and between the rows – about 25 cm;
• beds are covered with loose soil and mulched.

Garden care

Onion care Centurion consists of standard activities that are important to carry out in a timely manner. Watering plantings with onions begins only in the spring, and with the beginning of summer it is gradually reduced. About three weeks before harvesting, watering the sevka is completely stopped. When organizing top dressing of Centurion onions, reviews of vegetable growers recommend alternating organic matter with mineral fertilizers. At the same time, it is not recommended to get carried away with fresh manure; instead, it is better to use humus. Among the features of fertilizer application, the following can be noted:

• nitrogenous compounds are necessary in the spring for the effective development of plants, in the fall they should not be used;
• phosphorus is necessary for the formation of bulbs, most of it is brought in in the fall, with digging;
• a significant part of potash fertilizers must be applied during the autumn digging of beds, as well as in small doses during the growing season.

Regular loosening of the set provides the bulbs with air access and evaporation of excess moisture, preventing putrefactive processes in the soil. Simultaneously with the loosening of the Centurion onion, weeds are removed that compact the soil structure and retain excess moisture. To ensure the formation of larger bulbs, it is also necessary to thin out seedlings in time.

Disease control

Periodically, you need to inspect the beds with Centurion onions for pests or signs of disease. Affected plants must be immediately collected and destroyed so that the disease does not spread further.

Downy Mildew

One of the most common diseases of Centurion onion sets is downy mildew, which affects leaves at high humidity. This usually happens in a rainy spring, accompanied by low temperatures. Condensing on onion feathers, moisture provokes the development of pathogenic microflora. Within a few days, the fungus can destroy the green mass, while inhibiting the development of the bulbs. The disease cannot be cured, so preventive measures are of great importance:

• regular inspection of sevka leaves;
• periodic treatment of beds with fungicides.

Other diseases

Alternariosis mainly affects only old onion feathers in the form of brown spots. As a result, they die, and the bulbs become infected through the non-dried neck. The crop of onion sets Centurion loses its keeping quality and quickly deteriorates. To combat the disease, special means are recommended.

The cause of downy mildew is also excessive moisture during the growing season of onion sets. The disease causes significant crop losses. You can protect the beds with the help of preventive measures, which consist in regular treatment with their preparations.

With bottom rot, infection of the bulbs occurs through the soil or neighboring plants. Feathers of onion sets dry out quickly, starting from the top. The bulbs become soft, putrefactive processes occur in them, as a result of which a significant part of the crop is lost.

vermin

Among the most dangerous pests of the Centurion onion set, its characteristic distinguishes the onion fly, the larvae of which penetrate the bulb and destroy it, and the caterpillars then get to the feathers. The leaves of the set turn yellow and curl, and the disease affects neighboring plants. The onion moth does the same damage. In pest control, strong-smelling agents are often used that repel insects.

Harvesting and storage of crops

The maturity of the onion comes when its feathers fall to the ground, since the neck no longer holds them. A few recommendations will ensure long-term storage of the crop:

• watering sevka Centurion stops long before harvesting;
• onion harvesting can begin if more than half of all feathers have died;
• it should be collected in dry weather;
• the bulbs are carefully cut 2 cm from the neck and placed to dry under a canopy or in a ventilated room;
• the entire onion crop must be carefully sorted out and damaged or suspicious specimens should be discarded for use in the first place;
• after drying, the onion is stored for storage.

If, due to rainy weather, the time for harvesting Centurion onion sets passes, you can slightly dig the bulbs. This measure will help protect the root system from excessive moisture absorption and at the same time speed up the ripening process of the bulbs. At the same time, the risk of pathogenic microflora entering the bulbs increases.

You can store the Centurion bow:

• in wooden boxes;
• nylon tights;
• mesh bags;
• paper bags.

It is important to provide the onion crop with optimal storage conditions – a dark, dry and cool room.

Testimonials from truck drivers

Numerous reviews and photos of gardeners and farmers confirm the excellent agrotechnical and taste qualities of Centurion onion sets.

The onion variety Centurion has established itself as an unpretentious, productive and tasty vegetable. With the observance of simple methods of agricultural technology, this variety will be the most successful choice.