Yalta red onion: growing from seeds in the Moscow region, benefits and harm, reviews

Yalta onions have won the love of gardeners throughout the country not only for their red-violet color. The sweet taste and content of a large amount of vitamins and minerals make eating this vegetable not only pleasant, but also healthy.

Yalta onions are beautiful in appearance and have a pleasant taste

What is Yalta onion and what does it look like?

The history of the red Yalta onion begins in the middle of the 20th century, when, based on the naturalized form of its Portuguese relative Madersky flat, Crimean scientists developed a new variety of this crop. The goal of the breeders was to improve shelf life and eliminate the too intense purple color, which was considered a disadvantage at that time.

At first, the variety was registered under the name Yalta Local, and later Yalta Lux and Yalta Red were created on its basis.

Red Yalta onion is a salad variety with medium-sized flat-round fruits. Its weight is 200 g, but there are specimens whose weight reaches 300 g.

The top integumentary layer of the bulb consists of dry, dense scales, which can be purple with a slight red tint or dark pink. The pulp is juicy and crispy. The inner part consists of seven layers of white and pink scales. They practically do not separate.

The bottom of the bulb is slightly concave, the root system is fibrous.

The taste of Crimean onions is pleasant, sweetish, without notes of bitterness, characteristic of most representatives of this culture.

The fruits contain a small amount of essential substances. The aroma of Yalta onions is not too intense and does not irritate the mucous membranes of the eyes.

In most cases, it is used in the process of preparing salads from fresh vegetables or decorating ready-made dishes.

Yalta onion looks different from other varieties

Characteristics of Yalta onion

The characteristics of Yalta onions are similar to descriptions of other varieties. This is a heat-loving and light-loving crop that reacts extremely negatively to a sharp drop in ambient temperature.

The variety is characterized as high-yielding and disease-resistant. The high concentration of water and sugar makes Yalta onions unsuitable for long-term storage.On average, a crop can “keep” its freshness and presentation for no more than five months.

Pros and cons of the variety

Yalta red onion has a lot of advantages. But this variety also has disadvantages.

The Yalta onion has more advantages than disadvantages

Pros:

• juicy pulp and sweet taste;
• high content of useful substances;
• possibility of growing on rocky soils;
• attractive appearance.

Minuses:

• short shelf life;
• high soil requirements.

How to distinguish real Yalta onions from fakes

To distinguish from a fake and choose a real Yalta onion, you need to know its features. Often completely different similar varieties are mistaken for this species.

Yalta onion differs from ordinary red onion in the following characteristics:

• the head is not completely flat, but cone-shaped;
• the outer scales of the original fruit are glossy, crimson-violet;
• the bottom is drawn inward, a bright blue-violet halo is visible around it;
• real Yalta onion has only seven internal scales - no more and no less;
• The juice of the original Yalta onion is clear and the taste is sweet.

You can distinguish the original variety from a fake by the number of scales

What are the benefits of Yalta red onion?

The benefits and harms of Yalta onions for the body are determined by its chemical composition. It contains vitamins A, C, group B, as well as minerals. And the concentration of antioxidants in red onions is almost twice as high as in other varieties of this vegetable. It also contains amino acids and fiber necessary for the body.

Regular consumption of Yalta onions:

• helps strengthen the immune system;
• helps stop inflammatory processes in the body;
• is a good prevention of cancer;
• helps remove waste products from the body;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• activates the synthesis of its own collagen;
• reduces blood pressure;
• helps fight helminthiasis.

Excessive consumption of Yalta onions can cause irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, so it should be included with caution in the diet of people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.

Yalta onion will be a good addition to any dish

Is it possible to grow Yalta onions in the Moscow region and the middle zone?

Crimean onion is a heat-loving crop that requires a long summer and a certain soil composition for its normal development and fruiting.

Ideal conditions for growing the Yalta species are found only in Crimea. Currently, the main suppliers of this crop on an industrial scale are considered to be agrotechnical farms in the villages of Opolznevoye, Goluboi Zaliv, Simeiz, Zaprudnoye and Lavrovoe.

The main reason that planting Yalta onions is not recommended in other regions is unsuitable soil. The fact is that the variety prefers Tauride slates, which accumulate solar heat during daylight hours and release it to plantings at night.

Real Yalta onions grow in Crimea, but this beauty can be cultivated in another region. The main thing is to follow the rules of agricultural technology.

Sometimes growing Crimean onions in central Russia, including the Moscow region, causes a decrease in varietal characteristics - they turn out to be less juicy and sweet. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose exclusively fertile soil. A good harvest of Crimean onions can be obtained by growing them in rocky areas. The dense structure of the soil does not allow the fruits to go deep, as a result of which they warm up under the sun's rays and acquire good commercial qualities.

Yalta onion requires special soil composition

Sowing Yalta onions for seedlings

It is better to grow Yalta onions from seeds through seedlings. Planting seed directly into unprotected soil delays the fruiting period and adds bitterness to the fruit. In addition, the yield from the seedling cultivation method will be better than when planted in open soil.

When to plant Yalta onion seeds

Seed material for seedlings is planted at the end of February or at the beginning of March. After about a couple of months, the strengthened seedlings dive into the open soil.

Seed preparation

To grow a good harvest of Yalta onions from seeds, you need to properly prepare the planting material:

1. The seeds are soaked for 30-40 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will help disinfect planting material and reduce the likelihood of developing fungal diseases.
2. After the specified time, the seeds are washed and kept in a growth stimulator (according to the instructions supplied with the preparation);
3. After soaking, the water is drained and the seeds are dried.

Selection of capacity

Any containers for seedlings are suitable: special plastic containers, wooden boxes, peat pots and even disposable glasses. The main thing is that they are equipped with drainage holes.

Planting seeds

Yalta onion seeds are laid out on the soil surface at a distance of 5 cm from each other. After this, they are buried 1 cm and the soil is moistened with a spray bottle.

The container with the plantings is covered with glass or plastic film to create a greenhouse effect and left in a dry, warm place.

Remove seedlings from the container carefully

Seedling care

To get strong seedlings that can subsequently produce a good harvest, you need to organize proper plant care:

1. Temperature control. Immediately after planting the seeds, it should be +23-25 ​​°C, and after germination it is reduced to +15 °C during the day and +10 °C at night. There is no need to try to warm up the room any more, because excess heat can cause the seedlings to stretch out.
2. Lighting. For normal development, Yalta onion seedlings need a lot of light. If there is not enough of it in the room, you will have to organize additional illumination of the plants using phytolamps or fluorescent lamps.
3. Watering. Red onions love water, so the seedlings need to be moistened regularly, avoiding the top layer of soil from drying out. Just don’t overdo it - excess moisture can cause rotting of the plant’s root system. It is recommended to irrigate the soil in the container using a spray bottle.
4. Feeding.You will have to feed the seedlings twice: first, fertilizers are applied 14 days after sowing, and the second time, three weeks after the first feeding.
5. Thinning of seedlings. If the plantings are very dense, it is recommended to plant the seedlings in such a way that the distance between the seedlings is at least 1 cm. It is better to remove diseased and damaged shoots.
6. Hardening. In order for plants to adapt faster to open ground, they need to be prepared in advance. To do this, the box with seedlings begins to be taken outside about a week before planting, increasing the time spent in the fresh air every day.

The quality of seedlings depends on proper care

Planting seedlings in open ground

Red onion seedlings are planted in unprotected soil when truly spring weather sets in and the threat of return frosts has passed. The selected area is first dug up to the depth of a shovel, the necessary fertilizers are applied (potassium salt and ammonium nitrate) and its surface is leveled with a rake.

During the transplant process:

• water the seedlings in the container generously and carefully remove the seedlings;
• shorten the leaves and roots by about half their length;
• make grooves 4 cm deep, the distance between them should be at least 35 cm;
• water the prepared beds and plant the seedlings at a distance of 10 cm from each other, slightly compacting the soil in the root zone;
• Young plantings are watered again.

Further care

Subsequent care for planting Crimean onions is almost the same as for other vegetable crops:

1. Watering. Lack of moisture can cause onions to become bitter. Therefore, you need to water the plantings regularly, preventing the soil from drying out.During moistening, water is not poured at the root, but is released along the rows.
2. Loosening the soil and removing weeds. It is advisable to do the first procedure after each watering. Weeds are removed as they appear.
3. Feeding. Yalta onions are fertilized every two weeks, alternating organic fertilizers with mineral ones. As a first step, it is recommended to use an aqueous solution of rotted cow manure (1:5) or chicken manure (1:10).
4. Disease prevention. Excess moisture can cause the development of fungal diseases. Therefore, the first rule of prevention is to control the level of soil moisture.

In addition, during the rooting period, seedlings are treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. After 20 days, the plants are sprayed with Arceride solution.

This variety requires regular care

Diseases and pests

The variety is characterized as resistant to infections. However, sometimes you have to fight diseases:

1. Powdery mildew. The presence of the disease can be determined by the white coating on the leaves. If alarming symptoms appear, stop watering and treat the plantings with fungicidal preparations such as Fitosporin.
   
   

   Powdery mildew can cause plant death

2. Gray rot. The first signs appear on the neck of the bulb, and then it affects the entire fruit. In this case, diseased plants are removed, and healthy ones are treated with triazole-based preparations.
   
   

   Gray rot cannot be cured

3. Rust. The manifestation of the disease is red spots on the leaves. Treatment of plantings with a solution of Bordeaux mixture will help to cope with it at an early stage.
   
   

   The presence of rust can be determined with the naked eye

Pests also love Yalta onions:

1. Onion mite. The presence of this insect can be determined by stunted plant growth and the appearance of rot on the bulbs. You can get rid of uninvited guests by treating with acaricides like Apollo.
   
   

   The activity of the onion mite is detrimental to the plant

2. Leaf miners. Moth or fly larvae, the presence of which is indicated by white stripes on the leaves. To combat these pests, insecticidal preparations are used, for example, Pyrethrum.
   
   

   Miners, despite their small size, cause enormous harm to plants.

3. Thrips. These small pests feed on plant sap, leaving large black spots on the leaves. You can get rid of parasites by treating onion plantings with Actellik or other insecticides.
   
   

   The presence of thrips is indicated by white stripes on the leaves.

How to store Yalta onions

The ripening period for red onions occurs later than for white onions. As a rule, this occurs at the end of August or beginning of September. They begin to dig up the bulbs when all the feathers have fallen. Experts advise not to delay harvesting, because autumn moisture (especially in rainy weather) can cause rotting.

The variety does not have good shelf life, so it is advisable to use it as quickly as possible.

Storing onions for several months requires compliance with certain conditions:

• in an apartment, Yalta onions should be stored at a temperature no higher than +15 ° C (loggia, balcony), under the same conditions they are kept in the basement;
• the air in the room reserved for root vegetables should be dry and the humidity low;
• Onions will stay fresh longer if you keep them hanging in braids.

When forming braids for storage, it is important that the bulbs do not touch each other

Conclusion

The original Yalta onion grows only in Crimea. However, if you strictly follow all the rules of agricultural technology, you can grow a good harvest of red sweet vegetables in other regions.

Reviews of Yalta onions

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