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During the cold season, there is a shortage of fresh greens rich in vitamins. After all, it is not always possible to buy it in a store, and its quality is questionable. Therefore, if you wish, you can grow green onions in a plastic bottle. To do this, you just need to properly prepare the container, nutrient substrate, planting material and then provide the necessary conditions and care. Therefore, it is worth figuring out how to properly organize a garden bed on the windowsill in order to have fresh greenery when there is still snow outside the window.
Onions in a plastic bottle are characterized by rapid growth
Is it possible to grow onions in a bottle for greens?
You can grow onions for greens in a plastic bottle, like any other container. Using this container allows you to get a good harvest and save space on the windowsill for other plants. Therefore, this growing method is now one of the most popular.But you should understand that in order for the idea to be successful, you need to strictly follow the recommendations for planting and further caring for plants.
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
The method of growing green onions in a plastic bottle on a window has both advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, before using it, you need to familiarize yourself with them in advance.
You can grow onions in plastic containers for food or water.
Main advantages:
- fresh herbs at any time of the year;
- availability;
- saving space;
- long harvest period;
- easy care of plantings.
Flaws:
- the need for careful preparation of containers and substrate;
- painstaking work when planting.
Suitable varieties
You can grow different types of onions for greens in plastic bottles. But there are certain types that show maximum effectiveness and are characterized by a high content of vitamins and minerals.
Recommended onion varieties for growing in a plastic bottle on a windowsill:
- Rostovsky.
Rostovsky has more than three rudiments
- Karatalsky.
Karatalsky - multi-nest onion
- Chalcedony.
The Chalcedony harvest retains freshness for a long time when cut.
- Slime.
Slime emits a garlicky odor when touched
- Schnitt.
The length of chives leaves reaches 50 cm
- Shallot.
Shallots are superior in yield to all other species
How to plant onions in a plastic bottle
To get enough fresh herbs, it is recommended to grow onions in a five-liter plastic bottle on the windowsill. But before you start planting, you need to first prepare the container and fill it with a suitable substrate. Any disregard of the recommendations in this case may cause failure.
Bottle preparation
To grow onions for greens, you can use any plastic bottles with a volume of 1 to 5 liters. But the wider the bottom of the container, the more convenient it is to plant. The container must first be rinsed and dried.
Then you need to initially cut off the neck of the plastic bottle to its widest part, so that it is convenient to pour in the soil and lay out the bulbs. You need to make drainage holes in the bottom of the container to remove excess water. After this, use a marker to draw holes for the bulbs on the surface of the plastic bottle. Moreover, they need to be placed taking into account the diameter; the larger it is, the further away from each other, so that the onion is well illuminated during the growth process.
The bottom row of holes should be at a height of 6 cm from the bottom, and the subsequent ones every 2 cm. There should be 5-6 cm of space from the last tier to the top of the plastic container. The markings must be applied in a checkerboard pattern.
You need to cut the holes with scissors or a stationery knife. Experienced gardeners recommend first collecting water in a container and freezing it. In this case, making holes will be much easier, since the plastic will no longer bend. When cutting holes, you need to act slowly so as not to get hurt on the sharp edge. At the final stage of preparing the plastic container, it is necessary to pour a layer of drainage 1-2 cm thick on the bottom.
Soil preparation
Growing onions in a five-liter or other bottle is not difficult if you use the right substrate, namely, it must have good moisture and air permeability, be loose and neutral.You can purchase it in a specialized store, choosing the one marked “universal”.
You can prepare suitable soil yourself at home. To do this, it is recommended to mix peat, humus and turf in a ratio of 2:1:1. You can also add 30 g of wood ash to the soil and mix everything thoroughly. If peat is not available, it is recommended to replace it with coconut fiber or vermiculite.
The soil should be watered with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate 2-3 days before planting and slightly dried until characteristic flowability appears. This will disinfect it and prevent the development of soil fungi and bacteria.
Preparation of planting material
Onion bulbs also need preparation before planting. To do this, you must first select specimens with a diameter of 2-4 cm, without signs of rot or mechanical damage.
After this, immerse the selected bulbs in hot water at a temperature of +50-55 °C. But first you need to add a little potassium permanganate to it so that the liquid acquires a pink tint. After 20 minutes, transfer the bulbs to cold, clean water and keep for ten minutes. After the waiting period, remove the planting material, dry it and cut off the top by 1-1.5 cm.
Preliminary preparation of the bulbs contributes to their rapid awakening
Rules for planting onions in plastic bottles on greens
Planting an onion on a feather in a plastic bottle consists of several successive steps, the implementation of which determines the further growth of the greenery.
Algorithm of actions:
- Pour nutrient soil onto the bottom of the container over the drainage so that it reaches the lower holes.
- Moisten it generously and compact it slightly.
- Arrange the prepared onions so that the cut edge extends out into the hole.
- Sprinkle the substrate on top to the next row of holes.
- Repeat the procedure until the container is completely filled.
- The top bulbs should be planted vertically, close to each other.
At the end of the procedure, the structure must be placed in a deep tray and transferred to the windowsill.
Necessary conditions and care
To successfully grow green onions in a plastic bottle with soil, it is necessary to provide favorable conditions. This is not difficult to do if you properly organize the care of the crop and choose the optimal place for it on the windowsill.
It is not recommended to fertilize greens while growing in a window due to their accelerated growth rate. After all, the onion contains a sufficient supply of nutrients. The use of fertilizers can provoke the accumulation of nitrates in the crop.
Lighting
The growth of onions directly depends on its lighting. Therefore, southern and southwestern windows are optimal for it. During the growth of greenery, the structure must be periodically rotated, which will ensure uniform growth of the feather. If you need to get a quick harvest, it is recommended to turn on an additional lamp in the evening, hanging it at a height of 30 cm above the bottle.
Temperature
After planting in the first week, it is necessary to ensure that the onion is kept within the range of +23-25 °C. This temperature promotes rapid rooting of the bulbs. In the future, the mode can be lowered to +18-20 °C, which promotes uniform growth of the feather.
The growth rate of greenery depends on the maintenance regime
Humidity
To successfully grow onions in a bottle, regular watering and a moderate level of air humidity are required. The taste of greens directly depends on this. After all, onions belong to the category of moisture-loving crops. Therefore, poor moisture and regular drying of the substrate in a plastic container provokes the appearance of excessive pungency. In this regard, you need to water the onions generously as the soil in the bottle dries out. During humidification, excess water should flow out of the holes, which is normal.
In this case, you need to ensure that the substrate in the bottle has time to dry slightly between waterings. Otherwise, stagnation of moisture can lead to rotting of the bulbs and the appearance of insects. To water onions, it is recommended to use settled water at room temperature.
Also, during particularly hot periods, it is necessary to spray the greens with a spray bottle to prevent them from wilting. The procedure should be carried out in the morning or evening, spraying water around the plants in the form of a mist.
Harvesting Rules
Greenery can be collected as it grows. The first harvest ripens 2-3 weeks after planting the onion in a plastic bottle with soil at a moderate temperature. Make the cut with a knife or scissors.
The harvest can be harvested within two months. Subsequently, the bulbs lose their potential, and this leads to a slow growth of feathers, loss of taste and beneficial qualities. If you need to grow greens year-round, you should plant new bulbs every month so that the bed on the windowsill constantly produces a harvest.
Conclusion
Growing onions in a plastic bottle is not that difficult if you organize the process correctly.First of all, it involves preliminary preparation of containers and planting material, as well as placing the bulbs in a container, taking into account their development. In the future, caring for such a bed on the windowsill will not be particularly difficult; the main thing is to water it moderately and create favorable conditions for feather growth.
