We grow in the country a fragrant oriental spice dzhusay onion
Jusai onion is a herb also known as aromatic, savory, branchy, Chinese and wild garlic. The cultivation of dzhusai onions is widespread among Russian gardeners due to its excellent taste, pleasant, spicy aroma and ease of care. Subject to some rules, this plant can be an excellent alternative to the familiar feathery vegetable.
Jusai onion - the main features of the plant
The main features of the plant:
- Branched onions have elongated leaves up to 30-50 cm, bright green, with a slight waxy bloom on the surface.
- Onion feathers are thin, long and flat, with a characteristic garlic scent.
- The bulbs are small, false, up to 1.5-2 cm in diameter, egg-shaped. They have no taste and are therefore not eaten.
- The collection of fragrant leaves is carried out from the second half of July to early August. The length of cut feathers should be at least 20-30 cm.
- During the season, onion leaves can be cut up to 2-3 times, the last harvesting is carried out 2 months before the first frost. At the same time, the yield of greens is at least 4-5 kg per 1 sq. m.
During the flowering period, Jusai onions are covered with numerous small purple flowers, collected in rounded inflorescences with a delicate spicy aroma.
Growing onion jusai
The cultivation of spicy, fragrant jusai onions is possible in any climatic conditions. This plant is undemanding to soil and weather changes, easily tolerates minor frosts and drought.
When growing Jusai onions, it is necessary to properly prepare the seed material, observe the timing, planting scheme and the subtleties of care. This will provide a rich harvest of spicy greens. Jusai is grown in two ways - from seeds and by dividing the bush.
Choice of location and soil
For growing dzhusai onions, you can choose areas with any type of soil, except for sandy. In this case, the taste deteriorates and the shelf life of the greens is reduced. Experienced gardeners do not recommend growing Chinese onions in the beds after white cabbage and potatoes. Also, the site must be well protected from drafts.
The most suitable is a light fertile soil with a neutral or weak acidity reaction. It can be both black soil and loam and peat bogs.
Before sowing onions, the soil must be prepared - dig it up, fertilize with a mixture of humus (1 bucket), superphosphate (30 g), wood ash (200 g), potassium-containing fertilizers (20 g) per 1 sq. m. In the spring, just before sowing, re-dig the beds and feed with ammonium nitrate.
Sowing seeds
Growing Chinese sweet onions from seeds can be carried out in early spring, as the plant is not afraid of frost. Before this, you need to prepare the seed. To do this, fill the seeds with water heated to 40 ° C and leave for 8 hours. Then drain the liquid, fill it with clean and leave for another 48 hours.
The seeds are used to grow seedlings. Direct sowing in open ground is practically not used, since Chinese onion seeds are very poor germinating.
Dzhusai onion seed sowing scheme:
- Prepare a nutrient medium with sand, peat and garden soil mixed in equal parts.
- Disinfect the substrate by heating it for 30 minutes in the oven at 180 ° or watering it with potassium permanganate.
- Pour the prepared substrate into a plastic container, make fine grooves up to 2 cm deep on its surface.
- Place onion seeds in the grooves 2-3 cm apart.
- Sprinkle Jusai onion seeds with a thin layer of soil and moisten with a spray bottle.
- Cover the container with plastic wrap and place in a cool, well-lit area.
After about 6-8 weeks, 3-4 true leaves appear on young seedlings - after that it can be transplanted into open ground.
Transplanting seedlings into open ground
It is best to transplant Jusai onion seedlings into open ground in March or April, when the air temperature warms up to at least + 3 ° C.
Seedling planting scheme:
- make grooves on the prepared soil, leaving a distance of at least 30 cm between them;
- water the beds abundantly;
- make planting holes in the grooves at a distance of 20 cm;
- place onion seedlings in the holes.
After that, sprinkle the seedlings with a layer of soil. Do not compact or tamp it and water it again abundantly.
Growing by dividing rhizomes
One of the ways to grow jusai is by dividing the rhizome. For this, plants over 3-4 years old are used. Divide the rhizome of the plant into several parts in such a way that 2-3 strong and well-developed bulbs remain on each.
After that, make a furrow in the garden bed up to 6-8 cm deep, pour them with plenty of water. Place the bulbs in the wells at a distance of 15-20 cm. Fill the onion wells with soil and water abundantly.
Jusai onion care
Dzhusai onion refers to crops that are unpretentious in care. But for active growth and abundant fruiting of spicy greens, regular watering and feeding are needed. Also, an important role is given to the timely loosening of the soil and the fight against weeds that inhibit the growth of sweet onions.
Watering and feeding
For better rooting and rapid growth in the first year after planting, it is advisable not to water the jusai onions often. It is enough to moisten the soil during the drought period, as the soil dries up. But it is impossible to completely deprive Jusai of watering - in this case, the greens become lethargic and acquire a bitter taste.
In the second year after sowing, the spice plant should be watered much more often - up to 2-3 times a month. For each 1 sq. m. you will need at least 3-5 buckets of warm, settled water.
During the first year after planting, feeding of Chinese onions is carried out twice. The first time fertilization is applied in the spring, immediately after the appearance of strong green shoots. For this, urea is introduced at the rate of 5-10 g per 1 sq. m. After feeding, the plants need to be watered. Also, sprouts of dzhusai onions are simultaneously sprayed with a solution of the drug "Epin Extra".
After 15 days, additional feeding is carried out - but already with the Ferovit preparation, which ensures the full development of the culture. Starting from the second year of cultivation, branch onions are fertilized with a solution of chicken manure diluted with water in a ratio of 1:12.
After the harvest of spicy greens is collected, the soil must be fertilized with a mixture of superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride. Such feeding helps to strengthen the immune defenses of the plant and prepare it for the winter season.
Dzhusay onion is a fragrant greenery native to eastern countries, which is loved by many Russian gardeners. The fragrant plant is highly valued for its excellent taste, many useful properties, ease and simplicity in care. Observing the simple conditions of agricultural technology, dzhusai onions can be grown on their own plot, using for culinary and medicinal purposes.