Content
Turbo onion is a variety of Dutch selection that appeared in Russia and has proven itself to be high-yielding and unpretentious. It has a pleasant taste and is used in salads and other dishes. It is unpretentious to the conditions, so it can be grown in all regions of Russia.
Description and characteristics of onions of the Turbo variety
Turbo onion is a Dutch variety bred by specialists from SEED SUPPLY B.V. (Gelderland province). The culture spread across European countries and came to Russia. Included in the register of breeding achievements in 2015, approved for cultivation in all regions.
Appearance
The bulbs of the Turbo variety have a classic round shape, an average weight of 120-140 g, less often reaching 200 g. The scales are brown, quite bright in color. The number of dry scales is three, followed by juicy ones. The neck is of small thickness.
The greenery is emerald green, the arrows are dense, the average height is 30-35 cm.A waxy coating is visible on the surface, protecting the tissue from frost and damage. The plant is a biennial crop. During the first year, yellow sets are grown, which practically do not increase in size, giving all their strength to the greenery. In the second year the turnip grows.
Turbo onion peel of bright golden hue
Ripening time and yield
Turbo onion belongs to the medium (mid-season) crops. At the same time, ripening is slow, so the harvest is harvested closer to the end of September - beginning of October (subject to standard planting dates). The main criterion is that the greenery begins to dry out en masse.
The ripening rate of root crops on the eve of harvesting is 77%, after ripening is completed - 97%. Shelf life is average - 4-5 months, transportability is good. Storage conditions are standard: temperature 2-5 degrees Celsius, dark place, humidity - up to 70%.
The yield of the variety is 5-8.5 kg per square meter, with industrial cultivation - 250-340 c/ha. The maximum figure – 661 c/ha – was registered in the Moscow region. Marketable yield by 20 c/ha compared to the standard onion variety Stuttgarter Riesen.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Resistance to diseases and pests is average. This onion variety can suffer from fungal and bacterial infections, as well as insects (onion fly, moth, thrips and others). Therefore, preventive treatments are carried out at the beginning of the season. Turbo onion plantings are periodically inspected and, if necessary, sprayed with solutions (folk remedies, fungicides, insecticides).
Composition and properties
The pulp of the Turbo onion is pure white and juicy. The taste is semi-sharp, the aroma is pleasant. The composition contains vitamins, microelements and other useful substances:
- vitamins C, E, PP, group B;
- phytoncides;
- glycosides;
- flavonoids;
- pectins;
- macro- and microelements (potassium, phosphorus, iron, sulfur and others).
Application
Due to its moderately pungent taste, Turbo onions are used fresh (in salads, appetizers), in various dishes and preparations. Since the bulbs can be stored for no more than four months, it is better to immediately send them for pickling and salting.
Growing regions
Turbo onions are unpretentious, so they can be grown in regions with different climatic conditions:
- middle lane;
- Volga region;
- Chernozem region;
- Ural;
- Western and Eastern Siberia;
- Far East.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of the Turbo bow is its good consumer qualities. The bulbs are convenient in size, attractive in appearance, and have a pleasant taste with moderate pungency. In the climatic conditions of Russia, they may not have time to fully ripen, so you cannot delay the planting time.
Turbo variety bulbs have a regular round shape and convenient sizes
Pros:
- high productivity;
- good taste;
- beautiful appearance;
- moderate winter hardiness;
- transportability;
- excellent germination in the second year.
Minuses:
- average keeping quality;
- long ripening period;
- if the bulb is not ripe, it may rot;
- low immunity to pests.
When to plant Turbo onions
The timing of planting Turbo onions depends on the method of cultivation (seeds, sets), as well as on the climatic conditions of the region. The frost resistance of this crop is average, and the ripening rate is slow. Therefore, when selecting deadlines, it is recommended to focus on the following periods:
- Seeds are planted in open ground in the first half of May, when the soil warms up to a temperature of at least 10 degrees. You can check by burying the thermometer in the ground for 10-15 minutes.
- Seeds are also sown in open ground until mid-May.
- In the case of pre-winter sowing, they are planted in the first half of October (air temperature no higher than 5 degrees Celsius).
Methods for planting onions Turbo
Turbo onions can be grown in several ways:
- from seeds (for turnips and greens);
- from sets (for turnips);
- from sets (for greens, winter sowing).
Growing Turbo onions from seeds
A week before planting, Turbo onion seeds need to be prepared by following several steps:
- hold for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- place in warm water for several hours;
- let dry at room temperature;
- soak for several hours in a solution of a growth stimulator (“Kornevin”, “Epin”);
- wrap in gauze, place on a saucer with water and keep for a week at room temperature.
The planting site should be open and protected from winds, without stagnant moisture (lowlands are excluded). The soil is fertile, light (loam or sandy loam). If the soil is depleted, it needs to be fertilized during digging by filling in a complex mineral fertilizer (40 g per 1 m2) or organic fertilizer (compost, humus in the amount of 5 kg per 1 m2).
Before planting, mark several furrows 2 cm deep at a distance of 10 cm. Then the seeds are planted at intervals of 10 cm, sprinkled with soil and watered a little.
Seeds and sets are planted to a depth of 2 cm
Sowing seedlings in spring
Preparing the soil before planting Turbo onion sets is exactly the same. At the same time, the set itself also needs processing. Choose healthy seed without damage. The bulbs are heated for 6-8 hours at a temperature of 45 degrees.
Then pickle in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide for half an hour. Spread in one layer and leave to dry at room temperature.The planting pattern is similar - depth 2 cm, interval 10 cm, distance between furrows 50 cm.
Planting Turbo onions before winter
Planting before winter begins in October, when during the daytime the temperature does not rise above 5 degrees Celsius. The area is cleared, the soil is dug up and fertilized. The sets are prepared as described above and planted in the same way.
Onion care Turbo
Onion Turbo does not require special care. Basic rules of agricultural technology:
- Moderate watering - the soil surface should have time to dry out. During drought, watering should be increased (at least once a week). Three weeks before harvest, water is no longer given, even if there is no rainfall.
- After each watering or heavy rain, the soil must be loosened. Thanks to this, the roots will receive enough oxygen.
- It is enough to fertilize twice a season. When the feathers grow to 10 cm, give organic matter (mullein, humates), and after another three weeks - complex fertilizer (30-40 g per 10 liters of water per 1 m2 landings).
- Within two weeks, weeds will appear - from this moment on, regular weeding is done. To ensure that there are as few weeds as possible, the plantings are mulched with straw, grass clippings or sawdust.
- If necessary, treat onions from fungal infections and pests.
Disease and pest control
The Turbo variety is not highly resistant to diseases, so prevention must be observed:
- do not overuse watering;
- periodically loosen the soil and remove weeds;
- follow the rules of crop rotation (do not grow in the same place for more than four years in a row).
To prevent onions from suffering from diseases, the sets are pickled in potassium permanganate before planting.
If signs of damage are detected (bacterial, gray, fusarium rot, downy mildew), it is necessary to treat with folk remedies:
- infusion of wood ash;
- onion peel decoction;
- whey solution.
You can also use fungicides - “Alirin”, Fitosporin”, “Skor”, “Tattu” and others. If insects are detected (onion fly, moth, thrips, mite), also spray the onion plantings with Turbo using folk remedies. In extreme cases, you can use insecticides - “Fitoverm”, “Match”, “Karate”, “Inta-Vir”, “Decis” and others.
Conclusion
Turbo onions are grown in all regions of Russia. It does not require care, although it ripens slowly. Therefore, planting should be planned no later than mid-May. The yield is good and the appearance is attractive. The crop can be cultivated both on personal and on farms.
Reviews from gardeners about Turbo onions
