A poor onion harvest is due to an unfavorable planting location, poor soil conditions, and poor-quality seed material.
Almost all problems can be foreseen and a rich harvest can be collected, but not if you bought bad onion sets.
Anastasia Kovrizhnykh, an expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", a scientist agronomist and landscape designer, told how to choose onions for planting in the spring and when to buy them.
When to buy
Summer residents are advised to buy seeds as early as possible.
You can choose good material and grade, and there is even less risk of running into stale goods.
But if you do not observe the storage conditions for seed material at home, then the onion sets can just as easily rot at home or on the balcony.
Therefore, if there is a reliable supplier, you can buy onion sets even in April.
Which one to choose?
Much depends on the size of the bulb and the time of planting.
1. The smallest of its kind is the onion, measuring 8-14 mm.
This is not suitable for spring work: it contains few nutrients, so the shoots will be weak.
2. A bow measuring 14-21 mm is considered the optimal option.
It rarely goes to seed, produces a large harvest and is suitable for both spring and winter planting.
3. Bulbs measuring 21-24 mm are prone to bolting if planted too early.
4. Bulbs measuring 24-30 mm are more often used for growing greens.
Attention to quality
Firstly, the bulbs should be firm and free of green shoots.
Secondly, there should be no mold smell, stains, dents or other damage on the bulbs.
Thirdly, refuse to buy if the roots of the onions are cut off, and also refuse to buy raw onions or if there are no scales.
Even if you bought high-quality material, don’t be lazy and keep the seedlings near heating devices for a few days.
The dried material can be stored in a cloth (paper) bag.
It can be stored in a dry place at an air temperature of 10-15 degrees Celsius and humidity of no more than 70-75%.
Expert: Anastasia Kovrizhnykh
