Content
Senshui onion is an early ripening hybrid of winter onion. It is popular in many regions of Russia and Belarus. It has its own growing characteristics, which you need to become familiar with before planting in the ground.
History of variety selection
A hybrid of winter onions was bred by Japanese breeders in the 70s of the last century. Scientists have taken care of creating an onion variety with high-quality characteristics.
Description of the Senshui onion variety
The main features that a vegetable grower needs to know are contained in the description of Senshui onions. Belongs to winter varieties. A plant up to 50 cm high with lush dark green feathers. Mature bulbs have a semicircular flattened shape and are covered with dark golden scales. The taste of the bulbs is salad, sweet, in addition, they have a pleasant aroma without a pungent onion smell. It has a whole list of advantages, for which it is valued by vegetable growers.
Senshui onion is a biennial crop.Onion sets are first grown from seeds, which are planted in the second year to produce full-fledged bulbs.
Onion sets Senshui: variety description
When describing Senshui onions, it is important to pay attention to the characteristics of the sets. It is divided into categories by size:
- “Oatmeal” – up to 1 cm;
- small has a size from 1 cm to 1.5 cm;
- first category, differs in dimensions from 1.5 cm to 3 cm;
- the largest is “sampling”, the diameter of which is 3 cm or more.
The Senshui Bow has a feature that is worth knowing. Large heads grow from the smallest planting material. It tolerates winter more easily and produces a good harvest. But the large Senshui set is used to produce greens. As soon as warm days arrive, it actively germinates and produces an early harvest of feathers.
Characteristics of the Senshui onion variety
Senshui winter onions have good quality characteristics. Vegetable growers from different regions note its stable high yield, unpretentiousness and disease resistance.
Productivity
Senshui is an early ripening variety. This explains its popularity among Russian vegetable growers. The climatic conditions of the regions and the length of the winter period lead to an urgent need for an early harvest of crops. Winter onion varieties can provide a quick, high-quality harvest. It is harvested 2 months earlier than during spring planting of spring varieties.
The yield of the variety is 4 kg of heads per 1 sq. m of planting area. The weight of one bulb reaches 150-180 g; with good agricultural technology, heads of 250 g each are harvested. The pulp is juicy and white. You can increase the yield by competently regulating the watering of the variety.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The originators in the description of the Senshui yellow onion indicate the plant’s high resistance to powdery mildew.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Based on reviews of Senshui winter onions, you can make a list of the pros and cons of the culture.
Advantages:
- Early ripening. The feathers are ready for culinary use in early spring; when planted in the second year, the bulbs are ready for harvest in mid-summer.
- Frost resistance. The Senshui variety tolerates temperatures down to -15°C. In addition, even lower temperatures do not cause harm if severe frosts are short-lived.
- Productivity, which is considered quite high for winter varieties.
- Its taste qualities make it possible to use the vegetable not only when preparing fresh dishes, but also to preserve the bulbs.
- Storage and transportability at a high level. Senshui lies for up to 6 months without losing its qualities.
- Not subject to shooting.
- Unpretentiousness. Care consists of a short list of activities. And in the spring, the bulbs don’t even need watering.
The disadvantage is considered to be lower yield compared to spring varieties. Although careful selection of planting material greatly increases this figure. The second disadvantage is the short shelf life. But all early ripening bulbous varieties have this drawback.
Planting and caring for onions
Planting winter onions has its own characteristics. For winter varieties, you must carefully follow all recommendations. Only in this case can you count on a decent result. Next, the basic requirements for planting and caring for Senshui onions will be presented.
Onion planting dates
Winter Senshui sets are planted at a time that depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. If these are the southern regions, then the optimal period is November.For northern ones, the dates should be shifted by a month and a half and planting should be carried out in September or October.
Frozen soil will harm the planting material, and early planting can lead to premature germination.
Preparing the bed
The location for the beds should be chosen carefully. Senshui prefers an area protected from the wind and well lit. The lowland is not suitable due to the accumulation of water when the snow melts. In such conditions, the bulbs begin to quickly warm up.
The bed is prepared in compliance with crop rotation. Senshui can be planted no earlier than 5 years after the previous cultivation of legumes, bulbs and potatoes. Ideal predecessors are beets, carrots, cabbage, and greens.
Preparations begin 2 weeks before the scheduled planting date. The soil is dug up with the simultaneous application of humus and mineral fertilizers, then the bed is left for the soil to settle.
Before planting, the bed is sprinkled with wood ash and a ridge 20 cm high is formed.
Planting onions
No preliminary preparation of planting material is required. The sets do not need to be soaked or trimmed.
You will need to make furrows in the prepared bed. The depth of each is no more than 5 cm, and the distance between them is about 15 cm.
Senshui onion sets are placed along the furrow. It is important at the time of planting to ensure that the neck is 2 cm below ground level. The distance between two bulbs is maintained no more than 15 cm.
The top of the sets is covered with earth, then with humus. Be sure to insulate the bed by laying a layer of spruce branches or sawdust. There is no need to water immediately. You can slightly moisten the bed after 10 days in dry weather.
Growing onions
Caring for Senshui onions begins with the onset of spring. When the heat is stable, the bed is freed from covering mulch, then fertilized with urea. For 1 sq. m will need 10 g of substance.
Then the soil is loosened and sprinkled with a thin layer of wood ash. After the formation of 4 leaves, the culture is fed with phosphorus (20 g per 1 sq. m) and potassium (10 g per 1 sq. m). The optimal way to fertilize Senshui onions is watering with liquid solutions.
Water the beds no earlier than May and as needed. Each watering is completed with careful loosening.
Harvest and storage
The variety begins to ripen in early summer. Depending on the growing region, harvest time occurs in June or July. Stop watering and loosening within 2 weeks. During this period, the heads gain maximum weight, and their scales dry out. Therefore, you should not stimulate the growth of greenery with such actions.
Cleaning begins before the leaves turn completely yellow. Otherwise, after the first rain, Senshui will begin to form new roots.
The bulbs are carefully pulled out of the soil and laid out on the ground to dry. In dry weather, drying lasts a week. In addition to drying, the sun's rays have a disinfecting effect. After a week, the harvest is sent under a canopy and kept there for 20 days. Such heads are stored better. During the rainy season, the crop is transferred to a well-ventilated but closed room for drying.
Then a bulkhead is carried out. Undamaged, dense bulbs are put aside for storage. Leaves are cut at a height of 5 cm from the neck. Then the roots are cut off without touching the bottom. Place Senshui in nets, baskets or boxes with ventilated walls. Many people weave braids, which make it easier to control the condition of the bulbs during storage.
Onion propagation methods
The Senshui onion variety is a hybrid form, so it is propagated by planting sets. If you want to grow planting material yourself, then the seeds should be purchased in specialized stores. It is not recommended to collect seeds yourself. Hybrid varieties do not retain their characteristics with this method of propagation.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Before planting, the beds must be treated with products against tobacco thrips, nematodes, and onion flies. During the period of growing winter onions, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plantings. Before harvest, Senshui may be subject to insect infestation. Gardeners advise stocking up on Aktara or Medvedox. Among folk remedies, infusions of marigolds and alkaloid lupine are used. Additionally, they frame the onion bed with rows of marigolds.
Conclusion
Senshui onion is an excellent variety for private growing and farms. Onions are perfectly adapted to the climate of the middle zone, withstand winter, produce an early harvest, and have a good taste. The ability to transport allows the harvest to be sold in other areas without loss.
And a little practice:
