Technology for forcing onions on a feather in a greenhouse, hydroponics and sawdust
Forcing onions onto feathers is considered a lucrative business in winter. Fresh herbs contain a complex of valuable vitamins and minerals that the body needs. Especially during the progression of viruses, when a person's immunity is weakened. Among other things, such spring gifts dilute holiday dishes with their appearance, taste and delicious aroma. It is a great addition to fried and stewed culinary delights. Salads with herbs take on a whole new life. In order for forcing onions on a feather at home to be successful, you need to know the technology of the process, as well as the features of the choice of varieties.
Preparation of materials
- sawdust;
- hydroponics;
- soil with fertilizer.
It all starts with preparing the material for planting. This must be done correctly and in a timely manner. The place should be well lit. Otherwise, already grown greens will be covered with yellow spots. The room temperature should not be lower than 23 ° C, because the sprouts are very tender. Containers should be made of wood or plastic. For convenience, they are stacked. Preparatory work for forcing onions for greens begins with the following:
- selection of good quality bulbs - no rot or damage;
- a soaking process to speed up germination;
- cutting off the tops so that oxygen enters the kidneys (1/4 of the whole fruit), but this should not be done for germinated specimens.
Bulbs suitable for planting must be firm and resilient. In healthy fruits, the scales are shiny, the shape is even and there is no rot.
The selected bulbs should be soaked in warm water (up to 30 ° C). This procedure reduces the resting period of the kidneys. The soaking time is 12 hours. After that, they need to be taken out and dried thoroughly.
Sawdust
In some cases, experts advise to forcing onions on a feather on sawdust. A distinctive feature of the method is that the porous structure quickly passes water. Therefore, water the substrate slowly. Before planting, treat wood particles with boiling water to disinfect the material. As a result, the sawdust will swell and become fluffy. It will not be superfluous to soak the bulbs for 3-4 hours in a solution of potassium permanganate.
A way for the lazy
Another germination option is simpler. All the bulbs are piled up. The room must be warm. Then the entire substrate is poured with warm water (no more than 30 ° C, so that they do not cook). Then the mountain must be tightly wrapped in burlap for 4 days. After this period, it is worth sorting the bulbs by moving them into the ground.
You can start landing in mid-October. Agronomists advise using southern varieties for this, which have an average fruit size.
Technology
The total period for forcing green onions ranges from 14 to 20 days. If all the requirements are met, the owners will see the first shoots in 4 days. Productivity or sprout growth is 2.5-3 cm within 24 hours.
Shallots are a great option for winter germination.However, it has a very long resting period. Experience shows that varieties should be planted in mid-February.
Now it is important to properly master the technology of forcing onions on a feather, then it will turn out juicy and have a presentable appearance. Here's a step-by-step guide to the process:
- Prepare the planting soil... For 1 m² there should be 10 to 12 kg of soil or sawdust. The earth is fertilized organic or minerals.
- Use the bridge method of disembarkation... The bulbs are planted close to each other, the distance between them is up to 1 cm. You need to press them well into the ground, but do not bury them very deeply, because this harms the root system.
- Watering the beds follows every 5-10 days. It all depends on the humidity in the room. The main principle is that the ground should be relatively moist. The water temperature is 20-25 degrees.
- Lighting... For two-week-old sprouts, it is necessary to organize quality lighting.
- Cut off feathers when they reach 25-35 cm.
Fertilizer for soil. First you need to mix humus with vermiculite. Put the resulting mixture in a container. The height of the layer is 7-10 cm. Then treat the soil mixture with potassium permanganate (its solution) and pour water from a hose.
You can also grow greens in plain water. To do this, you need to take a pallet. Place the onions close to each other, their diameter can be 4-5 cm, and fill with warm water (20-25 ° С). One fourth of the fruit should be in water. As the liquid decreases, it is important to periodically replenish its supply.
Hydroponics
The fastest and most productive technology for growing greens in winter is forcing onions in hydroponics, in other words, bubbling. Thanks to a unique technique, a small area is used. The growth rate doubles, as does the yield. The device for quick awakening of "sleepy" kidneys consists of:
- sprayer;
- a volumetric tank made of opaque material (from 40 liters);
- compressor.
First you need to take a sheet of styrofoam and cut funnels on it, and then cover the tank with it. The water temperature should be at least 25 degrees, and pH = 7. Pre-peeled and selected bulbs are immersed in the holes (the head size is more than 3 cm in diameter). Forcing onions on a feather begins with the fact that the compressor is turned on and the bulbs are bubbled for 6 to 12 hours. The longer, the more effective.
To speed up the growth process, you can add vermicompost to the water. Three liters of liquid should be diluted with fertilizer and the missing volume should be supplemented.
After 2-4 days, the roots grow. For the next 8-10 days, pale green feathers grow intensively. For the final stage, you need a bright lighting... A fluorescent lamp is perfect for this. It is turned on on the 11th day, and it runs for 72 hours. Alternatively, you can expose the container to the light. This method of additional lighting is also relevant for forcing onions in the basement.
The illumination lamp must be placed in an upright position. This will prevent the young shoots from breaking.
In the greenhouse
For this it is necessary to select good containers. If they are wooden they should be free of mold or other defects. It is also important to choose high-quality plastic. The composition of the soil may include:
- peat;
- compost;
- humus.
The earth is sprinkled with lime flour (fluff) to prevent mold. The boxes are filled with soil. The bulbs are planted at a distance of a centimeter, pressing them into the ground. The initial stage of forcing onions on a feather in a greenhouse is carried out under the following conditions:
- daytime temperature from 20 degrees, and nighttime - up to 15 ° С;
- watered every 5 days and make sure that the soil is constantly moist;
- regularly ventilate the room;
- after 12 days of growth, the containers are moved to special racks for forcing onions.
You need to store containers with sprouts from 5 cm at temperatures above 23 degrees. In this case, they should be provided with twelve hours of daylight. If this cannot be done, then lamps are used. You also need to apply fertilizer to the soil.
Dry nitrogen (ammonium nitrate: 30 g per sq. M) or potassium (potassium chloride 10 g per sq. M) feed is scattered over the entire surface of the soil. And then it is poured and washed off with running water.
Varieties
Growing period and yield by 80% depends on the type of crop. Here are the main characteristics of popular forcing onions:
- Slime... Resistant to frost. Grown throughout the year. He keeps up very quickly. It emits a slight garlic smell. Long leaves curl at the tips.
- Schnitt... Delicate and thin feathers that do not become stiff for a long time. The maximum plant height is 50 cm.
- Onion. He is very whimsical. This variety should be grown in small containers (45x60 cm) in order to move them freely. Planting begins in early March.
- Shallot. Adapted to different weather conditions. At low temperatures, foliage does not wilt. Sufficiently fertile culture.
- Batun... Unlike other varieties, the shape of its leaves is perfectly even.
- Multi-tiered... Suitable for growing in cool and poorly lit areas. Ovaries appear at the tips of the leaves for the next tier.
The secret of the productivity of forcing onions on a feather is that you need to choose large heads: from 3 cm in diameter. They have more plates for the formation of feathers, which means that the output will be up to 2 kg of greens. So, observing the temperature regime and planting technology, as well as the irrigation and feeding system, the owners will receive a luxurious reward.