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Some gardeners claim that sweet onions cannot be grown in Russia. Indeed, sweet varieties are cultivated in tropical climates. Given the high demand, breeders are constantly working to create a domestic vegetable that is not inferior to the European one. Botanists have managed to develop several unique varieties suitable for cold climates. These are the ones that will be discussed in this article.
What determines the sweetness of onions?
Eating onions like sweet apples is a tempting idea. However, it should be understood that with all the care, the onion has a loose structure. This has a negative impact on storage. If spicy varieties can be stored for up to one year, then sweet varieties retain their taste for the first 3-4 months.
You can understand that a sweet onion is by name, for example, some cultures are often called Juicy, Berry, Sweetie
There is an opinion that sweetness depends on the sugars contained. It's a delusion. It has long been proven that in sweet varieties their quantity, on the contrary, is less.
Essential oils are responsible for the bitter taste. Therefore, the more there are, the more unpleasant the product is.In sweet onions their amount is 15 mg/100 g, which is quite small. Taking into account the presence of vitamins, macro- and microelements, the vegetable is not inferior in value to other agricultural crops.
Types of sweet onions
There are two types of sweet onions - red and white. Beginning gardeners have a dilemma about what to choose. Both varieties are spicy and sugary. However, red onions are considered the sweetest.
Varieties of red sweet onions
Most summer residents are inclined to choose red onions. The plant fits perfectly into dishes and does not create problems when grown. It gets its name from the colorful flowers that add a tropical touch. Prepared salads with onions look very beautiful.
Below are the sweetest varieties, popular among millions of gardeners.
Crimson Ball
Crimson Ball is an early ripening variety; the bulbs ripen in four months. Suitable for consumption in its natural form (without processing). It has good productivity. Crimson ball is grown from seedlings, as the seed method takes longer.
The product has a bright sweet taste, which is fully reflected by its color.
Greatful
Greatfull - a crop bred by breeders as a result of hybridization. Onions are mid-season, rich in nutrients. The main advantage is a long shelf life.
Vegetable skin can be used as a natural dye
Retro
Retro is one of the earliest varieties, which produces a harvest 70-80 days after planting. This is a fairly large plant, suitable for cultivation in different countries.
The development of the sweet vegetable was carried out by two scientists - S.V. Maksimov and N.N. Klimenko
Campillo
Campillo is characterized by strong immunity and is of medium size. Onions are consumed without pre-processing - immediately after harvesting. It has an interesting sweet taste. Bulbs are cultivated in Russia and other countries.
The culture has a scarlet color and a juicy structure.
Black Prince
Black Prince is a vitamin-rich variety with a pronounced sugary taste. Onions tolerate unfavorable weather conditions and long-term storage.
The product is very sweet, frost-resistant, grown in the Ural, Central and Siberian regions
White varieties of sweet onions
No less popular is white onion. The plant has a pleasant taste. There are several dozen varieties in total. However, the sweetest and easiest to breed were: Globo, Comet, Spanish, Siberian annual.
Globo
Average ripening time and high yield characterize this variety; Globo onions are sweet, juicy, large-sized sets, and have good germination. The bulbs are used for dressing salads. The downside is the short shelf life. Nutritionists recommend consuming the product fresh.
With careful care, the weight of sweet bulbs can reach 1100 g
Comet
Comet is one of the few varieties that does not have a bitter aftertaste. It is an early ripening plant and produces an average harvest. Owners describe onions as undemanding. Shelf life – from 5 to 7 months. Has immunity to fungal infections.
The product was obtained in the Czech Republic in 2003, it is extremely demanding on the composition of the soil
Spanish 313
Spanish 313 (Spanish 313) is a large variety, the bulbs can reach 160 g. The taste is sweet, there is practically no pungency. Can be stored until next season.Spanish 313 is cultivated as seedlings. The variety shows good viability in cold climates. Good immunity to diseases.
The crop prefers the southern regions; it is grown in the Volga region, the Caucasus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
Siberian annual
Siberian annual ripens in a short time, is frost-resistant, and has a long shelf life. It has a sweet aftertaste with a slight bitterness. The bulbs are very large, up to 140 g. Sets can reach up to 200 g with careful care.
Can be grown through sowing or seeds, the first method gives a good and sweet harvest
Sweet varieties of onions for the Moscow region and the middle zone
Most sweet varieties grow in warm climates. For the Moscow region and the middle zone, special cold-resistant varieties are needed. Sweet winter-hardy varieties include:
- Arzamas bow. Product of domestic selection. Gives an excellent harvest, suitable for long-term storage. The bulbs are fleshy, with white flesh inside. The plant is affected by the onion fly, so it is planted in the fall. Weak immunity to peronosporosis.
To protect against powdery mildew, sweet onions are treated with fungicides every season.
- Voronezhsky 86 (Onion Voronezh). Ripens in 3-4 months. Medium-sized onion with a spicy-sweet taste. Resistant to neck rot, but afraid of mildew. Grows well in the middle zone and in the Moscow region.
The vegetable is well adapted to growing on neutral soils, sensitive to light, but otherwise not picky.
- Odintsovets. A vegetable with dense pulp, average weight - 80 g. Harvesting begins in the fourth month after planting. Cultivated in the Moscow region. Sweet and a little spicy.
Sweet onions were obtained in 1990, are suitable for forcing, and have average immunity to diseases
- Setton. The bulbs reach up to 110 g and are highly resistant to frost. In winters with little snow, they can withstand temperatures down to -17 °C. They do not germinate during storage and are suitable for planting in different regions of the Russian Federation. Productivity is assessed as high.
Dutch variety registered in Russia in 2015.
- Centurion F1 (Centurion F1). An early ripening variety, resistant to most diseases. The vegetable has massive bulbs - up to 160 g. It is highly rated in terms of taste. Seeds planted in autumn produce a harvest early next summer.
Sweet onions are hybrids and grow in soils with humus.
- Red Baron. Ripens in the third month, the onion has a reddish tint. The taste is very sweet, a lot of healthy juice. The shape of the bulbs is flat oval. With careful cultivation, the sets reach 180-200 g. High immunity to diseases, relatively winter-hardy.
Prefers drained soil with a neutral reaction
- Strigunovsky local. Ripens 90 days after planting. It has a sugary but at the same time bitter taste. Suitable for long-term storage in a cold place. Weak resistance to powdery mildew.
Sweet onions grow in open areas with good lighting
Sweet onion varieties for Siberia
In Siberia, not all varieties have a sweet taste and demonstrate good survival rate. Recommended for cultivation in the region:
- Bessonovsky local. Medium-sized round onion, approximate weight - 65 g.The husk is thin and golden. The inside of the vegetable is white and juicy. Contains a large supply of nutrients. Can be stored for 8 to 10 months.
Annuals are grown by seedlings, biennials by sowings
- Strigunovsky. Suitable for breeding in northern regions. The bulbs are small, only 55 g. When grown as sets, the weight increases many times over. There are annual and biennial subspecies. Early ripening, from 1 sq. m, up to 4 kg of bulbs are collected, which are stored for no more than six months.
The yield of sweet onions is 200 c/ha
Vegetables suitable for growing in northern regions are also resistant to drought and some diseases. Since the number of pests in such conditions is minimal, sweet onions are cultivated without any problems.
Frost-resistant varieties can be identified by their thick skin. They have a dense structure and a small amount of juice. Despite this, the sweet taste is still present.
Conclusion
In Russia, sweet onions are a popular product. They hunt for him at the market, in grocery and garden stores. Among the variety of red and white varieties, the first ones are the most sugary. If onions need to be grown for sale, in addition to winter hardiness, attention is paid to keeping quality.
