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Onion Carmen belongs to the red varieties, rich in vitamins and other valuable elements. It can be grown as a one- or two-year-old crop, planted in open ground with seedlings or seedlings, before winter. Onion Carmen is unpretentious in care, has good immunity, resistance to a number of adverse factors.
History of origin
In the description of the Carmen MC onion variety, various sources often refer to it as Dutch. In fact, the birthplace of sevka is the Czech Republic. Specialists of the agricultural company Moravoseed worked on its selection. In Our Country, Carmen onions are grown according to Dutch technology, hence the confusion in the country of origin.
Description and characteristics of the Carmen onion variety
Onion Karmen, in accordance with the State Register of the Federation, is recommended for cultivation in the Central, Central Black Earth, Middle and Nizhnevolzhsky regions. The ripening time of the variety depends on the method of planting.
Appearance
Carmen bulbs have a rounded flat shape. Dry scales of purple color. There are 2-3 of them in total. The density of the pulp is medium. Its main color is white, carmine-red between individual skirts. The height of the green feather reaches 30 cm.
The flesh of the onion Carmen is juicy. The taste is slightly spicy, slightly sweet. Bulbs weigh an average of 110 g. The maximum weight is observed when grown through seedlings.
The Carmen variety has been included in the State Register of the Federation since 1997, the application for zoning was filed in 1994.
Ripening time and yield
The entire growing season of Carmen onion from sowing to full ripening takes 124-129 days. According to this indicator, the variety is considered late.
Onions can be grown as an annual crop from seed or as a biennial crop from sets. Mass lodging and yellowing of the feather occurs after 120-140 days.
The yield of Carmen onions varies by region. The commodity indicator in the Central region is 157 kg per hundred square meters. In the Central Black Earth region, the figures are the same. The yield in the Middle Volga region reaches 285 kg per hundred square meters when grown from sets. According to gardeners, 1-3 kg of onions can be harvested from 4 m².
Disease and pest resistance
Onion Carmen has good immunity. The variety is especially resistant to such diseases and pests:
- rust;
- peronosporosis (downy mildew);
- rot;
- onion fly;
- thrips.
In addition to good immunity to certain diseases and pests, Carmen onions are quite resistant to temperature fluctuations and dry periods.
Composition and Properties
In 100 g of onion Carmen up to 19,5 mg of ascorbic acid, an average of 8,25 mg of sugar, 12,9 mg of dry matter. These figures are valid for the raw product. It also contains other valuable elements:
- vitamins A, P, group B (thiamine, pyridoxine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid);
- a complex of minerals, including iron, zinc, potassium, iodine, magnesium, cobalt, copper;
- sucrose, fructose;
- phytoncides;
- antioxidants.
Due to its rich composition, Carmen onion has useful properties:
- weight loss;
- anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects;
- increased immunity;
- decrease in blood sugar;
- stimulation of insulin production;
- activation of collagen formation.
Such qualities make Carmen onions useful for colds, diabetes, obesity, and pathologies of the nervous system.
Applications
Bow Carmen is universal in application. The variety is especially good for salads, cold appetizers. The pulp looks beautiful and retains the taste in a pickled form. Carmen is also suitable for heat treatment, but after boiling or frying it acquires a grayish tint. The changes concern only the appearance, the taste of the product does not deteriorate.
Red onion is used in folk medicine. It is consumed raw, made from it infusions, decoctions, juice, lotions.
Pros and cons of the variety
Consumers appreciate Carmen’s onions for their good taste, valuable composition, and beneficial properties. They are fully manifested when the product is consumed raw.
The ripening of Carmen onions before harvesting is 90-100%, after ripening 95-100%
Pros:
- aligned shape of the bulbs;
- stable yield;
- good aging;
- the possibility of growing in different ways;
- resistance to arming;
- immunity to certain diseases, pests;
- excellent taste;
- versatility of application;
- suitability for long-term storage;
- suitable for winter planting.
There are no pronounced shortcomings in the Carmen variety.
Ways to plant onions Carmen
The site for planting Carmen onions must be prepared in advance. It is better to place the culture on light loam; she does not like heavy clay soil. If the acidity is high, add lime, dolomite flour or chalk.
Variety Carmen has good immunity, but the proximity of groundwater is fraught with fungal diseases. High beds or organization of drainage will help to avoid the problem.
Growing seedlings from seeds
Seedlings of onion Carmen grow from seeds two months before planting in the ground. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself or buy a ready-made composition in the store.
It is not necessary to treat seeds before sowing due to good immunity. For prevention, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate or drugs:
- Maksim;
- Fitolavin;
- Fitosporin-M;
- Alirin-B.
Before sowing, the seeds must be kept in a damp cloth or treated with a growth stimulator such as Nikfan, Epin-Extra, Zircon. Sow them in small-mesh cassettes, shallow containers, boxes. Seeds are deepened by 1-1,5 cm.
Carmen red onion seedlings are grown on a windowsill or in another place with good lighting. Watering is needed as the soil dries up. For the entire period, 2-3 dressings are enough. You need to use complex formulations with trace elements, growth stimulants.
Two weeks before planting in open ground, start hardening seedlings. Time is increased gradually. Seedlings are planted in open ground at a distance of 5-7 cm, thinning is not required.
When growing onion seedlings, fewer seeds are used, and the yield is higher.
Planting seedlings in spring in open ground
Red Carmen onion sets are planted in spring when the soil warms up to at least 12 ° C. The weather should be stable and warm. Depending on the region, work falls on April-May.
For spring planting, a large set up to 2 cm is used. First, it must be sorted out, setting aside sprouted and shriveled specimens. They can only be used on the pen. It is important to inspect the planting material for damage, signs of rot. Only dense onions are suitable for planting, in which they have a whole, tight-fitting, smooth and shiny husk.
Sevok before planting should be warmed up at 25-30 ° C. Preparation is important to start two weeks in advance.
If the onion is purchased in the spring, you will have to warm it up for two weeks, then keep it at room temperature in a dark place until planting. Preparation is not required if the material was stored in a warm room. Before planting, disinfection is carried out in a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate, treatment with a growth stimulator.
A bed for sowing is prepared in the fall. The earth is dug up, loosened, humus is introduced with compost. 1-2 weeks before planting, it is effective to shed the soil with humic fertilizer. You can use wood ash, copper sulfate. In the spring, re-digging is carried out.
For sowing in the garden, grooves or holes are made. Leave 15-20 cm between rows, half as much between adjacent bulbs.
Planting onion Carmen before winter
Before winter, Carmen onions should be planted a month before the onset of frost. Sevok should not germinate until this time, otherwise it may not survive until spring or become very weak. The optimum temperature for planting is 5 °C.
For winter planting on a turnip, small sets with a diameter of up to 1 cm are selected. The bulbs must be strong and not germinated, without signs of rot, mechanical damage. The material must be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide, then dried.
For the winter, Carmen sets are planted according to the standard scheme – 15-20 cm between rows, half as much between adjacent bulbs. Bury them 5 cm above the neck. Sprinkle with soil or fresh peat.
If you plant Carmen onions before winter with seeds, then you need to make transverse grooves at intervals of 10-15 cm. The material is deepened by 1,5-2 cm. Seeds are sown at intervals of 1-1,5 cm, the soil is slightly compacted. Mulching with humus and peat is necessary.
During winter planting, onion shoots appear three weeks earlier
Onion Care Carmen
Luke Carmen is unpretentious in care. The main activities are:
- weekly watering, three weeks before harvest, it should be stopped;
- regular loosening after drying the soil;
- systematic weeding;
- top dressing three times per season.
When planting Carmen onions in the spring, fertilizers are applied in May, June, July. It is effective to use mineral compositions containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. A matchbox of fertilizers is enough for 1 m². In the last top dressing, nitrogen is excluded.
With proper care and preparation of the site and onions for planting, there are no problems during the growing process. For the prevention of pests, you can use folk methods
- planting carrots, marigolds in the neighborhood;
- spraying with a solution of ammonia;
- watering with salt.
Due to the high maturation, Carmen onions can be stored without loss of quality for up to eight months.
Conclusion
Onion Carmen can be planted with seeds, seedlings, seedlings. The variety has good immunity, resistance to drought, temperature extremes. Carmen is unpretentious in care, suitable for long-term storage, versatile in use. In its raw form, it is rich in vitamins and minerals and is used in folk medicine.
Reviews of gardeners about onion Carmen
