When to plant winter onions: how to get a generous harvest

Properly selected varieties of winter onions can survive even the coldest winters. Since onions have the ability to absorb moisture, they will produce a quality harvest even in the event of a dry spring. Therefore, to get an early harvest, gardeners practice planting winter onions.

It is important to choose high-quality planting material. OBOZ.UA tells you how and when to plant onions for the winter.

What kind of onions can be planted

You need to choose planting material without the smell of rot, mold, or dampness. Beforehand, you should carefully examine the husks - they should be intact and smooth, without traces of disease or pests and various dark spots on the surface. Make sure that the husk fits snugly against the bulb.

Bulbs with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm are suitable for seedlings, and 3 cm and larger for selections.

When to plant winter onions

Winter onions are traditionally planted in mid-October, and the process should be completed by early November, about a month before the onset of stable cold weather.

Choose a bed protected from the wind and well-lit, with fertile soil.

Crop rotation rules

Do not forget about the rules of crop rotation.

Winter onions can be sown after the following crops:

• cereals (except oats)
• beets
• mustard
• tomatoes
• rape
• lettuce;
• legumes.

But after other varieties of onions, garlic, cucumbers, carrots, corn, sunflowers, fennel, winter onions should not be planted.

How to plant onions for the winter

Before planting, you should review the planting material and select only strong, high-quality bulbs. Experienced gardeners advise soaking the selected bulbs in a solution with a growth stimulant and treating them with pest control agents.

• You can dig up the soil with humus at the rate of 5-6 kg of fertilizer per square meter.
• When applying mineral fertilizers, it is better to choose those that contain potassium, using 10-15 g per 1 square meter.
• Instead of mineral fertilizers, you can apply eco-vermicompost with similar calculations.
• Directly on the day of planting, it is recommended to scatter ash on the bed - 10 g per 1 square meter.
• It is better to make furrows up to 5 cm deep, and the distance between them should be at least 15 cm.

Do I need to mulch the plantings

Experts advise mulching the bed with a layer of dry leaves or pine needles, and in cold, snowless winters it is better to cover the beds with a film or agrofiber over the mulch.

Spring care includes regular watering, loosening the soil, and weeding.

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