Gardeners buy onion sets in advance so that they don’t end up with seeds that aren’t of the best quality just before planting.
But by the time it comes to sowing, anything can happen to the seed material, and in the best case, it can simply be eaten.
We will tell you how to select onion seeds and how to store them until they are in the ground.
Seed size
The optimal bulb diameter for planting is 14-21 mm. This is the recommended size for spring planting. If you sow smaller bulbs, you can't count on a full harvest. Smaller specimens are left for winter planting. Large onions are used for growing greens.
Seed quality
First, it should be a dry onion, from which the outer scales can be easily separated.
Secondly, the seeds must be dense and strong. If the bulbs are wilted, they have most likely begun to deteriorate and will not last until sowing.
Thirdly, there should be no sprouts or roots. If there is a week or two left before sowing, you can buy such onions.
Of course, the formation of mold, stains and other damage on the seeds is unacceptable.
Storage before sowing
1. Temperature. It is permissible to store onion seeds at a temperature not exceeding 15 degrees Celsius. The longer you store them, the colder it should be in the room where the seeds are stored.
2. The room should be dry and dark, and boxes or other containers should provide normal ventilation.
3. If you place onion sets in plastic bags before planting, the bulbs may spoil due to condensation by the time of planting.
