Content
Onions are an indispensable vegetable that adds a wonderful taste and appetizing aroma to any dish. Its medicinal properties are also widely used. One of the popular varieties today is the Centurion onion set. The description of the variety indicates its excellent taste and agrotechnical characteristics.
The onion variety Centurion is an excellent product of the work of Dutch breeders, which combines the best properties of previous hybrids - good germination, early ripeness, sharp and piquant taste.
Characteristics of the variety
Onion sets Centurion are convenient to grow both in private plots and on an industrial scale due to its positive qualities:
- early ripening - you can dig it up as early as July;
- high yield - from 1 sq. m you can get up to 4 kg of Centurion onions;
- spicy spicy taste;
- disease resistance;
- low shooting percentage;
- good keeping quality - under normal conditions, Centurion onions are stored for up to six months, and in a special storage until the new season;
- frost resistance - onion sets can withstand night frosts down to -4 degrees;
- the possibility of growing sets from your own seeds.
The bulbs of the Centurion set variety, as the photos show, have a beautiful rounded-elongated shape, covered with several layers of golden scales and a narrow neck, which dries quickly, protecting the bulb from rotting and providing it with high shelf life. The small bottom reduces the amount of waste when slicing. The size of the bulbs is also convenient - unlike large-fruited varieties, they weigh from 100 to 150 g, which is more rational in use.
Growing onions
The growing season consists of two cycles:
- in the first year, onion seeds form a Centurion onion set;
- in the second year a full-fledged bulb grows.
Selecting a location
To get good yields, the site for planting onion sets must be selected taking into account some of its features. Since the onion roots are located shallowly, then:
- the site should not be in a lowland so that water does not stagnate in the beds;
- the place should be open and well lit;
- increased acidity will lead to loss of seed yield, so it is better to choose neutral soils; sandy loam will be optimal.
It is better to prepare the site for onion sets in the fall by taking the necessary measures:
- dig the beds to the depth of a spade bayonet;
- clear from weed and their roots;
- add fertilizer.
Sowing seeds
According to reviews, Centurion onion sets grown on your own plot will be better adapted to local soil and climatic conditions, so it is better to withstand the full vegetative cycle. The optimal time for sowing onion seeds is the middle or end of April, when the night frosts end and the soil warms up sufficiently. The sowing procedure is simple:
- onion seeds are soaked in water or a growth stimulant solution for a day;
- lay them out on a cloth and cover with a transparent film;
- after about 3 days they begin to germinate - at this moment you can plant them in the soil;
- make shallow grooves at intervals of 20 cm and place the seeds in them as evenly as possible;
- Cover with loose soil on top.
It should be noted that reviews from farmers indicate the special vitality of onion sets Centurion f 1 – first generation hybrids. They have:
- better germination;
- increased productivity;
- resistance to adverse conditions.
However, you cannot get full-fledged seeds from them.
The ripening period for Centurion sets, according to the description, is about 3 months, and the yield reaches one and a half dozen tons per hectare. The harvested seedlings are stored at optimal temperature and humidity.
Planting for the second year
Experienced gardeners advise planting Centurion onion sets before winter, around the beginning or middle of autumn. In this case, the bulbs will have time to adapt, harden, and become saturated with moisture in order to quickly begin to grow in the spring. Already in early spring they will produce green mass. In this case, the beds for onion sets are prepared a week or two before planting. The area is dug up and watered well. Planting material is sorted out and soft and rotten specimens are discarded.
Planting Centurion onion sets is carried out as follows:
- each bulb is planted in a separate hole about 3 cm deep;
- the tail remains outside, and the soil around the bulb is compacted;
- the gap between the holes, depending on the size of the bulbs, is 8-10 cm, and between the rows - about 25 cm;
- the beds are filled with loose soil and mulched.
Garden bed care
Caring for Centurion onions consists of standard activities that are important to carry out in a timely manner. Watering of onion plantings begins only in the spring, and with the beginning of summer it is gradually reduced. Three weeks before harvest, watering the seedlings is stopped completely. When organizing fertilizing of Centurion onions, reviews from vegetable growers recommend alternating organic matter with mineral fertilizers. At the same time, it is not recommended to get carried away with fresh manure; it is better to use humus instead. Among the features of applying fertilizers, the following can be noted:
- nitrogen compounds are necessary in the spring for the effective development of plants; they should not be used in the fall;
- phosphorus is necessary for the formation of bulbs, the main part of it is added in the fall, with digging;
- A significant portion of potassium fertilizers must be applied during the autumn digging of beds, as well as in small doses during the growing season.
Regular loosening of the seedlings provides the bulbs with access to air and evaporation of excess moisture, preventing putrefactive processes in the soil. Simultaneously with loosening the Centurion onion, weeds are removed, compacting the soil structure and retaining excess moisture. To ensure the formation of larger bulbs, it is also necessary to thin out the seedlings in time.
Disease Control
Periodically you need to inspect the beds with Centurion onions for pests or signs of disease. Affected plants must be collected and destroyed immediately to prevent the disease from spreading further.
Downy mildew
One of the most common diseases of Centurion onion sets is considered to be downy mildew, which affects the leaves at high humidity. This usually happens in a rainy spring accompanied by low temperatures. By condensing on onion feathers, moisture provokes the development of pathogenic microflora. Within a few days, the fungus can destroy the green mass, while simultaneously suppressing the development of the bulbs. The disease cannot be cured, so preventive measures are of great importance:
- regular inspection of set leaves;
- periodic treatment of beds with fungicides.
Other diseases
Alternaria blight mainly affects only old onion feathers in the form of brown spots. As a result, they die, and the bulbs become infected through the undried neck. The crop of onion sets Centurion loses its keeping quality and quickly deteriorates. To combat the disease, special means are recommended.
Downy mildew is also caused by excessive moisture during the growing season of onion sets. The disease leads to significant crop losses. You can protect the beds with the help of preventive measures, which include regular treatment of them with preparations.
With bottom rot, infection of the bulbs occurs through the soil or neighboring plants. The feathers of onion sets dry out quickly, starting from the top. The bulbs become soft, putrefactive processes occur in them, as a result of which a significant part of the harvest is lost.
Pests
Among the most dangerous pests of the Centurion onion set, its characteristics highlight the onion fly, the larvae of which penetrate inside the bulb and destroy it, and the caterpillars then get to the feathers. The leaves of the set turn yellow and curl, and the disease affects neighboring plants. Onion moths cause the same damage.Pest control often uses strong-smelling products that repel insects.
Harvesting and storage
The maturity of the onion occurs when its feathers fall to the ground, since the neck no longer holds them. Several recommendations will ensure long-term storage of the crop:
- watering the Centurion seedlings stops long before harvesting;
- Onion harvesting can begin if more than half of all feathers have died;
- it should be collected in dry weather;
- the bulbs are carefully cut 2 cm from the neck and placed for drying under a canopy or in a ventilated room;
- the entire onion harvest must be carefully sorted and damaged or suspicious specimens must be discarded for use first;
- After drying, the onions are stored.
If, due to rainy weather, the harvest time for Centurion onion sets passes, you can lightly dig up the bulbs. This measure will help protect the root system from excessive moisture absorption and at the same time speed up the ripening process of the bulbs. At the same time, the risk of pathogenic microflora entering the bulbs increases.
You can store Centurion onions:
- in wooden boxes;
- nylon tights;
- mesh bags;
- paper bags.
It is important to provide the onion crop with optimal storage conditions - a dark, dry and cool room.
Reviews from gardeners
Numerous reviews and photos from gardeners and farmers confirm the excellent agrotechnical and taste qualities of the Centurion onion set.
The onion variety Centurion has established itself as an unpretentious, productive and tasty vegetable. If you follow simple agricultural techniques, this variety will be the best choice.
