When to plant onions in spring: what conditions are needed

The best place to plant onions in spring is a well-lit area with light loamy soil. Before planting, the soil must be carefully prepared: add organic fertilizers (humus, compost), mineral fertilizers (potassium, phosphorus) and wood ash.

OBOZ.UA has collected tips from gardeners that will help you grow a good onion harvest. You will learn when to plant onions in spring and what conditions are needed for this.

Experts note that spring planting gives a good result if all conditions are met. The right choice of planting material, soil preparation and timely care are key factors in obtaining a high yield of onions. With these tips, even a beginner can grow healthy and large bulbs.

Preparing the soil for planting onions

For onions to grow well, you need to prepare the soil properly in the fall. The planting site should be on a hill so that water does not flood the plantings. The soil should be loamy and neutral, because onions will not grow on acidic soil. The place should be well-lit, as onions are a very light-loving crop, and their yield can be reduced by the shade from tall trees or other plants.

In the fall, you need to apply organic fertilizers. It is recommended to add up to 5 kg of rotted manure or compost per 1 square meter, as well as potassium and phosphorus (30 g per 1 square meter). Before plowing, you can also add wood ash, which will not only fertilize the soil but also reduce the number of pests. Potatoes, melons, tomatoes, and legumes are good predecessors for onions.

Sowing onions with seeds

Sowing onions with seeds in spring begins when the soil temperature reaches 2-3°C above zero. Onions are quite cold-resistant, but the temperature needs to be favorable for seed germination. Before sowing, it is recommended to soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, and the water should be changed several times. For additional protection against diseases, you can pickle the seeds in a manganese solution.

Onion seeds are sown in rows to a depth of 1 cm, with a distance of 15 cm between the rows. For convenience, the seeds can be mixed with sifted sand, which will help to evenly distribute the seed. After that, the soil is lightly tamped and watered with warm water. To protect against early frosts, the crops can be covered with a film, which is removed after the first shoots appear.

When to plant onion seedlings

Instead of seeds, many gardeners grow onions from seedlings - small bulbs that are planted in the spring. For planting onions, choose healthy and dense bulbs without damage or rot. Before planting, cut off the dry tail to speed up germination. If you want to be sure of the health of the planting material, you can soak the seedling in a solution of manganese or copper sulfate.

The ideal temperature for planting onions is at least 12°C. For planting, make furrows up to 10 cm deep, with a distance of about 15 cm between the rows. The seedlings are planted at a distance of 10 cm from each other, and later can be sprinkled with soil or wood ash for fertilization.

Caring for onions after planting

Regardless of whether you sowed seeds or planted a seedling, onion care should be regular. It's important to loosen the soil in a timely manner to prevent a hard crust from forming, which hinders plant growth. Weeds that appear on the beds should also be removed in a timely manner. Water the onions 1-2 times a week during active growth. When the bulbs begin to ripen, watering is reduced to once every two weeks.

In addition to watering, onions need fertilizing. A month after planting, you can use organic fertilizers such as a mullein or chicken manure solution. 3 weeks after the first feeding, you can apply mineral fertilizers: ammonium nitrate or potassium sulfate. This will help speed up the ripening of the bulbs.

Treatment against pests

Onions are often attacked by various pests, so it is important to carry out preventive treatments. One effective method is to spray the plants with a solution of copper sulfate with the addition of liquid soap. This treatment will help kill pests and protect plants from diseases.

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