Content
Onions are one of the required crops for planting in the garden. Its shoots improve the taste of dishes; they contain vitamins and minerals. Among the frost-resistant and tasty varieties, the April onion stands out. It is planted in summer cottages, and at home it is forced into feathers.
Features of the variety
Onion is a member of the onion family. The plant was brought from Asian countries and is found naturally in China and Mongolia.
The above-ground part of the crop resembles an ordinary onion. The shoots are long and densely arranged. Their taste is more refined and softer than that of onion varieties. Batun does not have a large onion. Green feathers are eaten.
April onion is an early ripening variety with high nutritional value. The culture is grown as a feather for fresh consumption. The plant produces wide green feathers reaching 1 m. The shoots are juicy, tender, do not become coarse for a long time, with a pungent aftertaste. The inflorescences are spherical and consist of many small flowers.
The period from planting to the first cutting is 100 days. The April variety has an excellent taste and is used for preparing salads, first and second courses.
Plant weight 200-300 g. Productivity per 1 sq. m landings – 2 kg. Feather collection begins in early spring and ends in late autumn. During the season, shoots are cut 3-4 times.
Advantages of the April variety:
- harvesting after the snow melts;
- increased content of vitamins and ascorbic acid;
- large and high-quality harvest;
- low susceptibility to disease;
- frost resistance;
- planting during spring, summer or before winter.
Onion is grown as an annual or perennial crop. Every year the culture grows and takes up more free space.
3-4 years after planting, onions lose their beneficial properties. The plant produces a large number of arrows, which negatively affects the appearance and yield.
Growing in the garden
April onion is grown from seeds. Pre-prepare the soil and planting material. Plantings are cared for by watering, loosening the soil, and applying fertilizers.
Soil and seed preparation
Onions grow best on fertile sandy loam, chernozem or loamy soils. On peat and sandy soil, the plant is prone to forming a large number of shoots.
The culture does not tolerate stagnant moisture, which causes rotting of the bulbs. Therefore, April onions are planted on well-drained soils that allow moisture and air to pass through well.
Precursors for onions are potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, peas, and beans. After such plants, the soil contains less weed. After garlic, cucumbers and carrots, planting is not carried out.
The place for planting the crop is changed annually. The area should be fully illuminated by the sun, light partial shade is acceptable. Growing April onion is permissible in damp places where there is no stagnant water.
In spring, the soil is loosened to a depth of 10 cm and fertilized with minerals. For 1 sq. m of plantings take 20 g of urea, 30 g of potassium sulfide and 50 g of superphosphate. The components are embedded in the soil.
Pre-treatment of the seeds of the April variety helps to speed up the emergence of onion seedlings. Before planting, the material is left for a day in warm water, which is changed every 6 hours. Additionally, the seeds are placed for an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Another way to stimulate the germination of April variety seeds is bubbling. The seed material is kept in warm water with simultaneous air supply. The procedure speeds up the emergence of seedlings by a week and increases the yield of onions.
Planting onions
The April variety is planted at any time from late April to mid-August. When planting in autumn at the end of October, the harvest is obtained after the snow melts.
The procedure for planting April onions:
- Furrows are made in the bed, leaving 20 cm between them. The number of rows depends on the width of the bed. It is most convenient to care for plants planted in 3 rows.
- Seeds are placed at a depth of 1-2 cm, maintaining a gap of 5 cm. Seed consumption when growing a perennial crop is 2 kg per 1 sq. m. m. Annual onions are planted more often and consume 3 g per 1 sq. m. m.
- Planting material is covered with earth and watered abundantly.
If there is a risk of spring frosts, then the planted onions are covered with agrofibre (spunbond, lutrasil). Shelter is especially important at night. Thanks to modern covering materials, it is possible to increase the temperature for planting by 5 °C.The emerging shoots are thinned out, leaving a gap of 5-10 cm.
For growing April onions in order to obtain an early harvest planting is done in the fall. For pre-winter sowing of onions, the April plot is prepared in the summer. When it gets cold, when the temperature drops to +3 °C, the seeds are planted in rows, leaving 20 cm between them. The soil is mulched with peat and covered with agrofibre. In spring, onions are thinned out.
Care plan
April onion requires regular care. The beds are watered taking into account weather conditions. During drought, water is added every other day. After watering, the soil should be saturated with moisture to a depth of 20 cm. For irrigation use warm, settled water. The soil between the rows must be loosened.
A week after germination, the onions are watered with mullein solution in a ratio of 1:15. In the future, it is enough to dust the plantings with wood ash.
Plantings attract onion flies, weevils, and moths. Pests destroy the above-ground parts of plants. When insects appear, the April onion is sprayed with Fufanon or Karbofos. After processing, wait a few days, and only then use the onion for food.
Growing at home
The April onion variety is successfully grown at home. Onions grow on the balcony from April to October, on the windowsill throughout the year. Before planting, prepare the soil and treat the seeds. Plantings are provided with the necessary conditions: humidity, lighting, temperature conditions.
Soil and seed preparation
When planting April onion, fertile neutral soil is prepared at room conditions.It is first steamed in a water bath or poured over with a hot solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
Soil options for planting April onions:
- vermicompost and coconut fiber;
- compost, peat and humus.
It is best to use fresh planting material collected 1-2 years ago. Before planting, April onion seeds are soaked for 12 hours in warm water. To disinfect, the seeds are kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for an hour.
Planting onions
After preparing the seeds and soil, begin planting the April variety:
- A drainage layer in the form of pebbles, broken brick or expanded clay pieces is poured into the container.
- The substrate is placed on top.
- Furrows 2 cm deep are made on the surface of the soil.
- The seeds are placed in furrows, covered with soil and watered well.
- Plantings are covered with film to obtain a greenhouse effect.
- When shoots appear after 1-2 weeks, the containers are moved to a lighted place.
If onion is already growing in the country, then it can be dug up in the fall and grown at home on the windowsill. Then in winter they get fresh onion feathers.
Plants at the age of 2-3 years are selected on the site. They are dug out together with a lump of earth and transplanted into containers filled with nutritious soil. First, the onion is stored at zero temperature for 1-2 months. A dormant period is required for plants to get a good harvest of feathers.
The April variety is kept at home at temperatures from +18 to +20 ° C and humidity 80%. The greens are harvested after 3 weeks.
Care plan
A high yield of spring onions of the April variety is obtained when grown on southern, western and eastern windows. Plantings are provided with a certain microclimate.
The seedlings are kept for 10 days in a cool place and partial shade to strengthen the onion root system.The place should be away from heating appliances and windows. Over the course of a month, the growth process of April onions occurs slowly, but in the future you can obtain fresh greens throughout the year.
Caring for April onions includes:
- continuous lighting for 10 hours;
- moderate watering;
- ventilation of the room;
- absence of drafts;
- constant feeding.
If necessary, install additional lighting. Phytolamps are fixed at a distance of 30 cm from the plants. They are turned on in the morning or evening so that the onions receive the necessary lighting.
Plantings are regularly watered with warm, settled water. Excessive soil moisture is detrimental to onions. Water is added when the soil begins to dry out.
Periodically, the seedlings are fed with a solution consisting of 3 g of superphosphate and potassium salt per 1 liter of water. The product is applied to the soil by watering. A gap of 2-3 weeks is maintained between feedings.
Reviews from gardeners
Conclusion
The April variety is valued for its frost resistance, excellent taste and high yield. The variety is adapted to any climatic conditions. The crop is grown as a perennial, then the plants are replaced every 3-4 years.
To care for onions, it is enough to water the plantings, loosen the soil and apply fertilizer. Forcing at home allows you to collect fresh herbs in the autumn and winter. Plants are provided with good lighting, soil moisture, nutrients and access to fresh air.
