Early onions are considered to be those that take no more than 90 days to ripen. Bow Alpha- you will find a description of the variety, reviews and cultivation features in this article - it ripens in just 60-80 days! Thanks to this, it has gained incredible popularity among gardeners.
Today we will take a closer look at what the Alpha onion is, what those who planted it say about it, and what should be taken into account when planting and caring for it. Remember, onions of any kind are rich in vitamins, help fight colds, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and improve sleep. There should be beds with this crop on every plot of land.
Description of Alpha onion
What you can hope for by planting the Alpha onion is incredible. early harvest, you already understand. But what does it look like and what does it taste like? The bulbs of this variety are round with a thin neck, the scales are golden in color, which changes to brown when dry. The average weight of each of them is 100 g. It can be clarified that this onion is small-cavity and single-budded. The taste is semi-sharp.
The yield of this variety is up to 6 kg/m². It is characterized by good disease resistance and the ability to be stored unchanged for a long time. Farmers are certainly pleased with the high yield of marketable products. Feather length - 30 cm.
From the reviews of gardeners, several advantages of onions of the Alpha variety can be identified:
- early maturation,
- consistently high productivity,
- possibility of long-term storage.
How to grow onion sets from Alpha variety seeds?
Alpha onions are grown in a two-year culture. What does it mean? In the first year, onion sets are grown from seeds (nigella), and only in the next season can a real harvest be obtained.
The first thing farmers should remember is that for sowing they need to take only last year’s nigella. Otherwise the germination rate will be low. Seeds purchased in the store do not require any additional processing. Those grown independently must be disinfected and treated with a growth stimulant. To make seedlings appear faster, the most impatient summer residents germinate small black seeds before sowing.
Sprouted seeds can be placed in dry soil, but unsprouted seeds can only be placed in well-watered soil. A distance of 25 cm is left between the furrows. You can sow immediately with the required intervals of 1.5 cm, or as it turns out, with further thinning. The layer of crumbly soil above the seeds is 2-3 cm.
If you reduce the depth, the bulbs will outgrow; if you increase the depth, they will become shallow.
After sowing, it is advisable to mulch the beds and cover them with special material. This will speed up germination. With the appearance of the first shoots, the shelter is removed. And if you sprinkle the soil with sand, it will retain heat better.
How to choose a place for Alpha onions?
Tips for choosing and preparing a site for the Alpha bow:
- You should avoid those areas where it grew last season.
- This place should be sunny, well-ventilated and not in a low area.
- The culture thrives in non-acidic loamy soils with good air permeability.
- It is good to plant onions after crops for which the soil has been well fertilized.
- The area where The groundwater pass too high.
- Neighborhood with carrots will be beneficial for both of these crops, as they repel each other’s pests.
- An area where fresh manure was applied in the previous season is not suitable for onions.
- In the fall, the site is dug up and fertilized.
When and how to plant onion sets Alpha?
Planting seedlings can be done in spring and autumn. In the first case, this is the end of April and the beginning of May for the center and north. For the south - the end of March and the beginning of April. The smallest seedlings are planted first, and then the larger ones. The earth should warm up enough. This culture develops well at temperatures ranging from 12 to 26 ° C. Too early boarding can cause the entire bow to become arrows.
In the fall, they usually plant the smallest onion sets (up to 1 cm), which simply will not survive until spring. This is done when there are two or three weeks left before stable frosts. This way the onions will not freeze and will give a good harvest.
You should not plant spoiled bulbs, as they will disappear anyway. For ease of care, it is better to separate onion sets by size. A few days before planting, the planting material is warmed up to room temperature to avoid shooting in the future. Onion sets should be deepened by 3-5 cm. The distance between neighboring plants is 5-10 cm. About 30 cm should be left between rows.
Growing Alpha onions: care and cleaning
Experienced gardeners know what needs to be done to get a good onion harvest. They willingly share their observations. Here's what they advise:
- The beds must be regularly weeded and loosened so that oxygen penetrates well and moisture does not evaporate so quickly.
- All arrows formed should be broken off at the root.
- At the very beginning of the growing season, onions need good watering, in the second half of the growing season, the amount of moisture must be reduced.
- At the end of June - beginning of July, watering stops so that the bulbs ripen well.
- Harvesting takes place at the end of August or beginning of September. By this time, the feathers should lie on the ground, and the scales should acquire a color indicating maturity.
- It is necessary to harvest the crop before prolonged rains so that the onions are well stored.
- Before storing, Alpha onions must be dried outside or in a well-ventilated, dry room.
Now you know everything about Alpha onions: description of the variety, reviews, planting features and care nuances. This variety has become extremely popular among gardeners and farmers with and without experience. It ripens quickly, gives a good harvest and stores well. How can you not love him? There are absolutely no reasons for this!
Decorative onions represent a whole family - alliums. Latin word“Allium” is translated by different sources both as “onion” and “garlic”, as if confirming that our garden friends garlic and onions are close relatives. There are also several variants of the origin of the word “allium”: one version goes back to the adjective “burning”, the other to the verb “to smell”. This is what allium is like – spicy and aromatic.
Different types of alliums are similar and dissimilar to each other at the same time. Fans of decorative onions will be able to find short kids (about 5 centimeters) and real giants (one and a half to two meters) for their garden. The coloring of flowers gives a huge scope for imagination; it seems that the lush caps of blooming alliums compete with the rainbow. Probably everything is represented in the palette existing colors and their shades range from white to almost black.
What is allary?
Perhaps, after reading this combination of “garden of onions”, you imagined something like this:
It is well-groomed and clean, but this is not an allery, but a garden bed. Allaria flower garden looks something like this:
Sometimes allary is called “onion hill”, hinting at the similarity with rock garden and their relationship. However, not every alpine hill with a couple of planted decorative onions is an allaria. We will be closer to the truth if we call this several types and varieties of onions planted in harmonious groups, preferably large ones. It is clear that not everyone’s dacha space allows them to organize a large onion experiment, but it is still possible to organize a small allery.
Allary is more of a collection garden, and less of an alpine hill. Hence a reasonable question: is it worth adding other plants to the onion flower garden? Yes. But the first place should be occupied by a variety of bows, although they combine perfectly with flowers and decorative foliage.
To preserve the decorative appearance of “pure allaria” for the entire season, you must initially carefully select species with different flowering periods, and then promptly remove yellowed foliage and cut off dried flowers. And if you can still forgive the “dried” appearance of flowers (they are more or less decorative), then it is almost impossible to hide bald spots from outdated greenery. The disadvantages of pure allaria are predictable: the short flowering period of most species and short life foliage, so most often the onion garden is supplemented with other plants.
And yet, pure allary is a dream that can come true. Check out our table, which shows the approximate flowering times of various ornamental onions. In some cases, the beauty time for alliums can be slightly adjusted by planting them a little earlier or a little later. You can also plant individual allium bushes in containers and add them to the composition when they are in bloom.
| Name | Appearance | Flowering time |
| Aflatun onion (Allium aflatunense) |
Color purple in various shades, height 80-100 cm, cm, flower diameter about 7 cm | Late May-early June |
| Giant onion (Allium giganteum) |
The color is purple, height 120-180 cm, flower diameter about 10 cm | The end of May |
| Color purple or pink, height 100-120 cm | The end of May | |
| The color is purple, height 100-150 cm, flower diameter up to 8 cm | The end of May | |
| Color purple, height 100-150 cm | The end of May | |
| Color purple, height 70-170 cm | The end of May | |
| Color purple, height 50-70 cm | June | |
| The color is purple, height 40-60 cm, flower diameter up to 25 cm | June | |
| Schubert bow (Allium schubertii) |
The color is gray-pink, height 40-60 cm, flower diameter from 30 cm | June |
| The color is dark pink, height 20-35 cm, flower diameter about 12 cm | June | |
| Blue onion (Allium caeruleum) |
The color is blue, over time the color fades and becomes pink, height 70-100 cm, flower diameter about 5 cm | June July |
| White color, height 50-80 cm, flower diameter up to 15 cm | June | |
| June | ||
| The color is dark red, height 50-80 cm, flower diameter about 4 cm | June | |
| Color white, height 40-60 cm | May June | |
| Dark red color, height 20-30, drooping inflorescences with 5-12 bell-shaped flowers | June | |
| Pink color, height 60-80 cm | June | |
| Yellow color, height 60-80 cm | June | |
| Large onion (Allium grande) |
Color white-pink, height 50-70 cm | June |
| Black and purple onion (Allium atrovilaceum) |
Color dark purple, height 60-80 cm | June July |
| Yellow color, height 20-30 cm | June July | |
| Mountain-loving onion\Ostrovsky (Allium oreophilum\Allium ostrovskianum) |
Purple-pink color, height 15-20 cm, fragrant flowers | June July |
Allaria is a difficult flower garden, but it is edible. The tender feathers of some types of onions (before they bloom) can be eaten, supplying the body with vitamins and other nutrients, which are abundant in fresh greens. Try adding some chopped leaves of a giant onion to the salad; its delicate aroma is slightly reminiscent of garlic, the taste is spicy-hot and slightly hot. We will talk about other edible alliums in this article, but for now let’s talk about care.
Allium care
Despite different size, color, shape of leaves and flowers, all decorative onions require approximately the same care. There is nothing fundamentally new: the flower garden needs to be weeded, the soil periodically loosened, and mulched as needed.
Alliums love the sun. The illumination of the place chosen for planting affects the color of the onions (both foliage and flowers) - the more light, the brighter the color.
Alliums prefer loose, fertile soil with neutral acidity. Too acidic soil needs liming. For good growth, decorative onions require potassium; with a lack of this element, the bulbs develop poorly and the foliage loses its color saturation. Feed your pets with ash, it will revive them and make them more beautiful. Plants will also be grateful for spring feeding nitrogen fertilizers.
Decorative onions easily forgive the mistakes of novice gardeners, who may forget to water the plants, and then overdo it and cause a small flood. Of course, if you practice such violations too often, the plants will not be pleased with their appearance... Alliums should be watered moderately and regularly; sufficient moisture is especially necessary at the beginning of the growing season.
Experts do not recommend immediately removing yellowing allium leaves, since at this time the bulbs continue to accumulate nutrients. In order for the plants to be as strong next season, you need to wait until the foliage dries and only then remove it. Then the bulbs must be dug up and stored in a dry place until autumn, after which they can be planted. However, there are several important points here...
In Central Russia it will not be possible to replicate the climate of Central Asia, but this is the homeland of most alliums. Therefore, when caring for decorative onions, the gardener will have to imitate some features weather conditions, in particular – dry and warm summer. No, your pets will be able to grow under almost any circumstances, but you need to pay great attention to storing the bulbs.
After alliums fade in their hot homeland and their leaves dry out, the bulbs remain in dry soil. The sun warms the soil, there is no rain... These are ideal conditions for storing bulbs!
It is impossible to leave a plant that has completed its cycle in its original place - it will most likely be flooded with rain, and the heat has been very inconsistent lately (+8 in July has happened more than once!). And to prevent allium bulbs from dying, they must be carefully dug up, dried and hidden in a dry place with a comfortable temperature.
In the fall, around mid-September, pets can be planted. The planting depth can be easily determined by the size of the bulbs themselves: three bulbs should fit in each hole. But, of course, we plant one onion at a time! Mulch the planting areas of the bulbs that you left to overwinter in the ground.
If in your climatic zone Summers are hot and dry, so you don’t have to dig up alliums. But keep in mind that every year they will grow thicker, causing fewer flowers and causing the plants themselves to become shredded.
If you prefer spring planting, then in winter store the bulbs (especially small ones) in sawdust, sand or peat so that they do not dry out.
Allium propagation
The first way to propagate alliums is by seeds. Do not cut dried flowers, but wait until the nigellas ripen and collect them. The seeds of the giant onion, aflatun and stalked onion must be sown before winter so that they are hardened by harsh weather, and only after that they will be able to show themselves with dignity. Other species can be sown in spring.
When planting alliums with seeds, do not expect a quick effect, since some types of decorative onions “gain weight” for several years and take the appearance expected by gardeners in 3 years, or even more.
Alliums can be propagated with the help of children. They are formed on the mother’s bulb, but they themselves do not become “mothers” immediately, but only in the third year. It is necessary to separate the children in the fall, when transplantation is carried out. The correct onion for planting should have small roots and a living shoot (or better yet, two shoots).
Rhizome species of ornamental onions are preferably propagated by division. A good division, like a baby, has living roots and intact shoots.
Bulbs are well suited for propagating onions - small bulbs that form on peduncles during flowering. Their appearance can be accelerated; for this, the buds are cut off and treated with plant growth stimulants.
We protect allium from pests and diseases
Possible pests of alliums are the same as those of the usual garden onions and garlic. For example, onion fly. The insect larvae gnaw into the bulbs and live inside, tormenting the plant until they grow. If the tips of the allium leaves begin to turn white and the bulbs begin to rot, then it is necessary to urgently begin a rescue operation.
To combat the fly, experts recommend foliar application of ammonium carbonate salt, and folk experts suggest mixing half a teaspoon in a 10-liter bucket of water boric acid, 3 drops of iodine, a little light pink solution of potassium permanganate and a tablespoon ammonia. Pour a little less than a glass of the mixture under each onion, it should help.
Frankly speaking, it is better to prevent onion fly control. To do this, you can sprinkle the ground near the alliums with a mixture of tobacco dust and ash; instead of tobacco, you can use black pepper or crushed dry wormwood.
Do not store bulbs in areas with high humidity, and be sure to warm them up before planting. The temperature for warming up should be 40 degrees, the time should be about 12 hours. This simple procedure will protect alliums from many diseases, for example from false powdery mildew. To avoid neck rot, which occurs when storing bulbs, it is necessary to dry them very well in the sun immediately after digging them up.
Before planting, be sure to inspect the bulbs: there should be no mold or plaque on the outside. If in doubt, try keeping the onions in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. Keep a close eye on your garden pets, feed them on time, and avoid overwatering, then troubles can be avoided.
Types and varieties of alliums
For gardeners and hobbyists landscape design Such characteristics of decorative onions as the height of peduncles (tall, medium and short), flowering time and flower color are important. Although there is another one - the edibility of one species or another! Let's start with the most delicious...
Edible and beautiful
One of the popular and fragrant guests of our gardens is chives.
Its thin tubular leaves have delicate taste, and the small but lush flowers are pink, lilac or purple. Chives will be an excellent basis for a border along a path, it will decorate a rock garden or become one of the tiers of a “multi-story” flower garden. Dried inflorescences hardly change color, so they can be used to create dry bouquets.
It will not be possible to eat it and admire the flowering at the same time, because the foliage of the chives becomes coarser. But this species is considered frost-resistant: and if, after collecting the seeds, you cut the leaves almost to ground level and feed the plant, then after a couple of weeks you can again feast on the tender greens, and so on until December...
Despite the unappetizing name, it is considered one of the most delicious slime bow. Its leaves are flat, juicy and fragrant, with a light garlic aroma.
This plant is incredibly useful: it contains a lot of different vitamins, microelements, amino acids. Experts have calculated that 10 kilograms of onion contains so much useful substances that they will last a person for a year! There is even a recommendation for use - eat 27 grams of leaves per day, then the body will thank you.
In nature, the slime onion grows both in meadows and in rocky places, so it will feel equally comfortable in a flower garden, a rock garden or a rock garden. Lush greens and lush flowers will decorate borders and mixborders, and just the garden bed will look bright, especially during the flowering period.
AND victory bow often combined with one name - wild garlic. They differ in that the victorious one has coarser leaves, its greenery appears later than that of the bearish one, and the flower umbrellas are denser.
Ramson is another “fount of health”. The garlicky aroma of the leaves will enliven any spring or summer salad, and at the same time cure an unexpected cold and become a source of vitamin C.
Lush greenery and delicate flower caps provide ample scope for using wild garlic for decorative purposes. Just have time to prepare delicious greens Before the plant blooms, the foliage becomes coarser.
From wild plants sometimes moves into the gardens long pointed bow(long-stemmed), it is also called wild garlic.
Incredibly tenacious and reproducing well, it can become a weed in the area, so plantings should be carefully monitored. The feathers and bulbs of long pointed onions have a sharp, spicy taste and can compete with garden garlic.
Tenderness and pleasant taste the greens are different blue onion, but spectacular blue flowers any plant can be jealous! For the noble appearance and the exquisite beauty of blue and blue-blue onions is called royal.
In early spring, the first leaves of this species appear, do not spare them - go straight to the table! The delicate garlic taste and delicate aroma will make any dish tastier and complement it with vitamins, which are found in blue onions great amount. The bulbs of the plant are also edible.
Blue onion inflorescences reach 7 centimeters in diameter and change color over time: they gradually turn pale and turn pink. Such a “plant chameleon” will be able to add zest to the garden, changing the appearance of the flower garden during the flowering period.
Has amazing healing properties Suvorov's bow. Wide leaves and a large purple ball on a high stem make this allium indispensable for decorating the back row of mixborders, and the complex of substances it contains makes one compare onions with ginseng.
The first greenery breaks through in early spring. The tender leaves are rich in vitamins and have a pleasant garlicky taste. Onions have a different taste from greens and may not be to everyone’s taste, but they can also be eaten, although be careful - no more than two cloves, and it is better to first soak them in a salt solution. An overdose of Suvorov onion can cause an allergic reaction or even poisoning, but moderate use will be beneficial. Suvorov's onion contains vitamins C, D and E; the plant strengthens the immune system, has tonic properties, and improves memory.
A lot can be said and written about the edibility of alliums, so it’s better to stop for now. It's time to focus on beauty! Next, we will separately describe tall and short alliums - this will make it easier to figure out which bow and where to place it.
Tall types of decorative onions
The first place in popularity is allium giant. The tall peduncle (about one and a half meters) is topped with a large purple umbrella.
It is better to protect this “Uncle Styopa” from the wind and plant it in sunny places sheltered from bad weather, or tie the peduncle to a support, so it will definitely not break (although in this case the decorativeness of the composition may suffer). The giant onion blooms in early summer, and in July the leaves turn yellow and die. By the way, in the spring the leaves of the giant onion can be cut into a salad or put on a sandwich - tasty and healthy.
Among tall alliums it is known Aflatun onion. The peduncle reaches a height of one and a half meters, the fluffy purple balls of flowers have a diameter of up to 10 centimeters and smell pleasant, which attracts bees.
Aflatun onions are resistant to lack of moisture and cold. The first allium leaves emerge from the ground in early spring, even if the snow has not yet melted. Hurry up to replenish your supply of vitamins - the fleshy leaves with a garlic flavor are rich in useful substances!
When inflorescences appear, the foliage begins to turn yellow, so they must be removed in time to preserve the beauty of the flower garden. Because of this feature, it is better to plant allium in the background or in the center of the flowerbed, so that the lower tier is hidden on all sides by other plants.
(or McLean's onion) looks like a giant allium, but its flower stalks are not so high - from 100 to 120 centimeters. Fluffy flower white gradually change color to pink or pale purple.
Its name is similar to the previous allium, but it can shine in height - from 70 to 170 centimeters. Purple flowers will delight the owner's eye for 2 weeks after the giant onion has faded - an excellent change for a continuous flower garden.
Dense fluffy flowers onion have a rich purple, although there are varieties of other colors, such as the white ‘Mount Everest’.
The stalked onion reaches a height of one and a half meters, the flower balls have a diameter of up to 12 centimeters. Allium leaves are very delicate and are easily damaged by spring frosts, so it is advisable to plant this plant in the background of the flower garden.
Medium-sized types of alliums
Not a giant, but a big handsome man - Rosenbach bow. Its spherical inflorescences decorate the garden in June and look like delicate lilac lace.
Rosenbach's onion actively reproduces and can fill the entire area, since it is not picky about the soil and can grow in the shade and in the sun. Openwork allium umbrellas look good in rock gardens, rockeries and in the background in borders.
Allium Star of Persia, which is officially called Christophe's bow. Purple balls grow up to 25 centimeters!
The openwork ball looks even larger in comparison with the fact that the height of the flowering bush does not exceed 60 centimeters. The fluffy star, gradually drying out, does not change its appearance and can decorate a flower garden for more than a month and a half. Christophe's onion combines harmoniously with cereals; it is nice to look at its proximity to ground cover.
It is distinguished by large inflorescences and Schubert bow, but his balls are so delicate and delicate that they look more like fireworks. This effect is created due to the different lengths of the pedicels: from 1 to 20 centimeters.
Probably no one has a more original appearance. garden plant. Schubert's bow will make an unusual accent on an alpine hill, it will look good in the foreground of a flower garden, and in itself it is very unusual.
Very winter-hardy and effective Neapolitan onion charms gardeners with delicate white bouquets of bell-shaped flowers. This species is good for group plantings, looks wonderful in borders, and is also great for cutting.
Among the tender pastel shades most onions have a rich dark red color round onion(ball-headed). The diameter of the spherical inflorescence is not so large - about 4 centimeters, but its deep color makes it indispensable for creating bright compositions.
The inflorescence of the ball-headed onion seems to be divided into two parts - for now Bottom part retains an immature green color, the crown of the flower already has time to gain dark paint.
One hundred percent lives up to its name nice onion– it is really very cute, and its inflorescences look like a firework explosion or a fountain. This plant is planted to decorate borders or rocky gardens. The charming allium loves warmth, so during cold weather it is better to cover the wintering site.
Similar shape, but different color yellow onion– bright, sunny, juicy yellow. Loose lacy inflorescences consist of many bell-shaped flowers on thin threads.
A slightly disheveled umbrella is crowned by a peduncle reaching a height of 80 centimeters. After flowering, the allium foliage dies off, so the resulting void will have to be hidden somehow. By the way, the breeders liked the shape so much yellow onion that they also bred a white variety, although the name of the parent species remained the same - yellow.
Boasts a pure white color Zebdan onion, and if you spare no effort and time to care for this allium, then it will generously reward you lush foam colors.
This allium is great in groups! It can grow in sun and partial shade, and pleasant aroma Blooming zebdan onion will delight you and attract bees to the garden.
(aka pink onion) needs the warmth and attention of the gardener, who will have to cover his pet for the winter, loosen the soil and ensure regular, but not too abundant watering. For such care, the allium will thank its owner with beautiful pink flowers, which can be admired not only in flower beds, but also at home - the cut flower stalks will last a long time in the vase.
Fantastic appearance features hybrid variety Allium 'Hair'(translated from English this word means “hair”).
Finding a mate for such an upstart is not easy, but in the company of openwork cereals he will remain a soloist and find a worthy background. The onion grows up to 50-70 centimeters, and the diameter of the “hairy head” reaches 15-20 centimeters. ‘Hair’ blooms in June-August; during flowering, the funny “hairs” of the onion change color from green to beige.
Low growing alliums
Among the low decorative bows, one of the most popular is karatavi onion. Its large spherical flower is usually colored pink color, but white, cream and red varieties can be found.
It’s hard to believe that the Karatavi onion belongs to alliums - it looks so unusual. Wide leaves, short peduncle... A star spread out straight on the ground! This allium will decorate an alpine hill and add a little originality to the coastal area of a garden pond. The low Karatav onion will fit perfectly into any flower garden and will gladly play the role of the first tier in a flower “high-rise building”. The foliage remains decorative even after the allium has faded, so there is no need to hide the baby from prying eyes.
Another unusual representative of alliums - daffodil onion, its original flowers decorate the garden in June. The graceful drooping inflorescences do not at all look like daffodils, and are also lilac-pink or red in color...
This onion aristocrat is thermophilic. Ideal place for daffodil onions, where it will be clearly visible. Such exquisite beauty cannot be hidden, so give allium a prominent corner in the flower garden or decorate the rock garden with it.
Bring a little sunshine to the garden Moli bow. This charming, bright yellow, undemanding allium looks particularly impressive in a group planting.
The mysterious grass “moth” is mentioned in Homer’s poem “The Odyssey”: this plant was given to Odysseus by the god Hermes so that the hero could protect himself from the evil magic of Circe. Despite the fact that the description of the mythical plant does not at all fit the appearance of the Moli onion (“... its root was black, its flowers were milky ...”), allium was given exactly this name and began to be considered a symbol of good luck.
Such a handsome guy would be good company Ostrovsky bow(mountain-loving) - the loose, bright pink umbels of allium appear at the same time as the yellow flowers of the Moli onion, and also emit a very pleasant aroma. Flower beds, borders, rock gardens... There are no forbidden flower beds for Ostrovsky's onion!
Ostrovsky's onion grows slowly. Its bulbs can be planted in spring, but autumn planting preferable, so the allium will grow and develop better.
Decorative bows in flower beds
Tall and bright allium can be a wonderful accent in a colorful flower garden. Decorative onions go well with irises, geraniums, peonies, hostas, delphiniums and lupins.
A combination of allium and rose will be a win-win. This couple looks wonderful both in the garden and cut in bouquets.
A flower garden looks great when decorative onions are combined with geraniums.
Flower beds made from alliums of different heights look impressive. As in the photo below: a three-story mixborder made of giant allium, red-yellow flowers of helenium variety ‘Moerheim Beauty’ and ball-headed allium.
Two tiers of alliums and cereals look interesting and very delicate.
Decorative onions do not bloom for long, and this feature can be used to change the appearance of a flower garden in just a couple of weeks.
Flower garden with various shades one color always attracts attention. A wide palette of decorative bows allows you to choose desired color to almost any plant. Using alliums with blue colored umbrellas next to forget-me-nots and delphiniums, you will create a fresh and noticeable blue corner. A snow-white garden can easily be created from alliums with white flowers (for example, allium multibulb), adding to it night violet variety ‘Alba’, white lupine, mock orange ‘Variegatus’, olearia and iberis.
White, silver, pink... Monochrome gardens made of alliums and other flowers look incredibly impressive! The number of color combinations and variations is limited only by your imagination and capabilities.
Decorative bows are frequent guests at alpine roller coaster. For planting, choose low-growing types of alliums, such as caratavian onions, slime onions and chives. In rock gardens, most onions feel good, since the abundance of stones and relative dryness are reminiscent of the conditions of mountainous terrain, that is, the distant homeland of alliums. Against the background of stones, these plants are noticeable and very harmonious.
Do not forget to keep an eye on alliums, because they quickly lose their decorative effect. Remove leaves in a timely manner, remove dried inflorescences so that they do not spoil the appearance of your composition.
Decorative flowering onions are very popular abroad. Those who do not have bulbs are ready to decorate their gardens even with artificial alliums.
Plastic or metal imitations of decorative onions are not for everyone. If you know how to care for plants, love your land and want to decorate your area with beautiful flowers, then it will not be difficult for you to grow alliums. Try it just once, perhaps you, like many gardeners, will “get sick” of decorative onions and every year you will replenish your flower and onion collection, making your garden brighter!
When we're talking about about onions, our subconscious immediately displays a picture of a turnip, which is covered with yellow or purple husk. These bulb colors are the most popular in our world, however, in addition to the main colors, white onions are becoming more and more common on sale. It is significantly different from the turnips we are used to, because the white fruits are slightly larger than the golden ones and they have more benefits. Why is white onion so useful, what varieties are more in demand in Russia, when to remove onions from the garden for storage and how to store them harvested, let's sort it out.
Characteristics and description
White-headed onion belongs to perennial plants, and to get a good harvest, you need to spend three years growing. The sequence is as follows: first, nigella (seeds) are collected, then sets are grown from them, and only the next summer, after planting small onions, large turnips are collected. However, the process can be shortened by initially purchasing sets.
This onion grows only in noble soil with the maximum amount of fertilizer and a warm climate. In our country it is little known and therefore you rarely see it in gardeners’ beds, but white onions are very popular abroad. Some peoples have come up with dishes whose main ingredient is this vegetable. But its main purpose is salads.
If you compare photos of white and golden bulbs, you can immediately see that the whitish fruits are slightly larger and have a rounded shape; elongated specimens are not found in nature. As the name implies, the color of the fruit is white, sometimes translucent. The delicate, pleasant aroma and almost non-spicy taste are highly valued by gourmets who like to add this product in salads.
By the way, unlike other onions, white onions retain their beneficial properties only for 12 hours; after that time, the chopped turnips will not be suitable for consumption, therefore, it is advisable to eat dishes with the addition of fresh white onions immediately and not leave them the next day. Otherwise, the taste of yesterday's food may not change for the better.
Attention!
Salad onions are suitable for home preparation and canning.
Varieties
White onions are divided into several varieties, each of them different from each other. After all, some were bred by breeders for cultivation in the northern regions of Russia, others, on the contrary, for southern cities. As mentioned above, white varieties of bulbs are not so popular among Russian residents, however, gardeners identify only 5 types of salad onions, which take root well in our climatic conditions and are less affected by diseases.
Alba
Alba variety of onions is the most common type. Its juicy and aromatic turnips retain their beneficial properties. for a long time and if stored properly, vegetables do not spoil for up to six months. The mid-late variety is ready to bring a rich harvest 130 days after planting the sets. On average, onions weigh up to 80 g, but with ideal conditions growing, the weight of the fruit can double. During the growing season, the plant emits an odor that pests do not like, so onion flies and weevils are very rare in onion beds.
Comet F1
The hybrid takes root well in areas with warm climates. Vegetables of this variety contain a lot of sugar and almost no pungency. Even a child will like this fruit. It will be possible to collect onions from the garden 120 days after planting, therefore, we can conclude that Comet belongs to the mid-late varieties. Seeds obtained by crossing bring a good harvest small bulbs, which weigh up to 50 g, sometimes larger specimens weighing up to 70 g are found. As for storage, the breeders took care of this and the hybrid can lie quietly without spoiling for up to six months.
Nevada
For the early ripening variety Nevada, the growing season lasts only 90-95 days. This allows gardeners to harvest white turnips, whose weight varies from 50 to 80 g, much earlier and taste them. The collected product cannot boast of particularly keeping quality and can be stored for no more than 5 months. If the previous varieties can only grow in the southern region, then this type bulb crop is intended for cultivation in middle lane globe.
Toluca f1
This hybrid, bred by Dutch breeders, differs from ordinary white onions in its good disease resistance and ease of cultivation. The yellowed tops, which will eventually fall to the ground, will tell you when to harvest from the beds, but the growing season lasts up to 110 days, therefore, knowing this information, you can make a mathematical calculation and find out the exact date of harvesting the turnips for storage. By the way, the Toluca variety is intended for cultivation anywhere in the country with a short summer.
Snowball
Resistance to shooting and strong immunity - these are the qualities that the Snowball variety of onions can boast of. To grow this onion in the garden, you need a little fertilizer and sunlight. The early-ripening variety is ready to please summer residents with the first fruits weighing up to 150 g already 100 days after planting the seedlings. This onion has many positive characteristics, however, they are negated by the only negative - the poor keeping quality of the fruit. It is advisable to consume turnips within 3 months, otherwise the harvest can simply be thrown away.
Before the purchase planting material We recommend that you carefully read the product description and find out for which region the seed is intended. After all, the list of white varieties can be listed endlessly, since there are other subspecies of onion crops, whose husks are painted white. However, we will not dwell on this, because in our country other varieties are not as popular as the above and many of them simply do not take root in our soil.
White onions: benefits and harms
Beneficial features The list of white onions can be endless, because the vegetable contains vitamins such as: B1, B6, B9, C, PP, E and H. In addition, turnips contain phytoncides, which help destroy pathogenic microorganisms. Glucinin lowers blood sugar levels; by the way, thanks to this hormone, white onions are allowed to be eaten by people suffering from diabetes.
Regular use fresh onions removes toxins from the body, helps reduce cholesterol, restores the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, improves appetite, reduces swelling, improves lymph flow, actively fights anemia, improves immunity, prevents the development of sclerosis and anemia,
Attention!
It has been scientifically proven that white onions, when consumed daily, prolong youth and maintain skin elasticity.
White onion's harm fresh can only bring if you have an individual intolerance to the components or if allergic reactions on the product. In addition, it is not recommended to eat turnips for people with increased acidity and high blood pressure. In other cases, you can eat onions without fear for your body. Although white varieties are different from golden and purple ones, still be prepared for unpleasant smell from the mouth after eating the head.
When to harvest and how to store onions
The timing of harvesting onions differs in each region, so it is impossible to give an exact harvest date. After all, in addition to climatic conditions, the growing season also affects onion harvesting, and as we have already found out, each variety has its own ripening time. You can resort to traditional methods, do mathematical calculations and get the specific date and month in which you need to harvest. The calculation is very simple; it is important to know the date of planting the seedlings in open ground and fruit ripening period. These numbers are added up and you get a specific date and month.
There are other ways to find out when to remove onions from the garden. The most common method is to change the feather of the bulbs. Before ripening, the tops begin to turn yellow, dry out and fall to the ground. Be careful, yellowed foliage does not always indicate the ripening of the bulbs; sometimes you can notice the same changes when attacked by insects or diseases. Therefore, before you start digging, make sure that the onion crop is intact.
Attention!
A thin, dry neck and the rustling of the husk, which is easily separated from the turnip, also indicate ripe fruits.
Three weeks before harvesting the bulbs, stop watering the plants. If the turnip is planted deep, then it will not be able to ripen well in the sun, so you need to dig it up a little, leaving only the root system in the ground. Considering that the fruit is larger than ordinary onion heads, it will ripen under straight sun rays they will be a little longer.
To get a good harvest, you need to use high-quality seeds. The most productive varieties can be ordered on the official website "Gardens of Russia". Big choice varieties for every taste.
Onion crops are dug up only when they are ripe, and before sending the onions from the garden bed to the cellar, they are first transferred to a well-ventilated room for a couple of weeks so that the turnips dry well. After drying, the processing of the heads begins. The root system and neck are cut off, not reaching 10-15 cm to the fruit itself. Such precautions will keep the bulbs from getting viruses and fungi inside.
White bulbs belong to the sweet varieties, and as we have already found out, such onions can be stored for a maximum of six months under certain conditions. Therefore, you first need to choose a storage option and container. Well, with a vessel everything is much simpler; ventilated wooden or plastic boxes are suitable for storing onions; if you don’t have any, you can use a wicker basket or nylon mesh. As you can see, the choice of containers is not large, but they are the ones that are suitable for storing onion crops.
As for the premises, here things are much more complicated. Basements and cellars are perfect for storage, but they must be dry and temperature regime should not exceed the zero mark. The ideal temperature for sweet varieties is -1 degree. The most important rule is that you cannot place boxes with turnips on the ground; it is better to make shelves or a table for such containers on which the bulbs will be stored.
Before you send the onion for storage, you need to sort it out, weeding out rotten or limp fruits, and then divide it into fractions by size. You cannot collect all the onions in one pile and put them in the basement, because if some fruit begins to rot, then you risk completely losing your harvest of sweet onions. It is advisable to check the heads for integrity twice a month to avoid large losses.
In addition to normal storage, onions can be processed, for example, cut into half rings and frozen, if, of course, there is room in freezer. And as needed, remove the onion from the freezer and add it to dishes. You can, of course, dry onion rings using an electric dryer or stove; according to experts, this way the onion retains its beneficial properties longer and its appearance remains more attractive.
Conclusion
White onions are a unique vegetable. Thanks to its extensive composition, this fruit can be used not only for preparing various dishes, but also for medicines. Nowadays, folk cosmetics have become popular, to which white heads are also added. Therefore, we can conclude that white onions are an indispensable product in cooking, medicine and cosmetology. Therefore, you should not neglect such a miracle vegetable.
Onion (Allium cepa L.) belongs to the onion family (Alliaceae) of the order Liliales. This is a biennial plant that produces a bulb in the first year of life and seeds in the second. Onion is a cold-resistant plant. Seeds begin to germinate at a temperature of 3-4˚C. Optimal temperature for seed germination 18-20˚С. The seedlings can withstand temperatures down to minus 2-3˚C without damage. The optimal temperature for the formation and growth of leaves is 18-24˚C. At temperatures below 10-15˚C, bulbs do not form, and at temperatures above 30˚C, their growth stops. Biological feature onion is the ability, under unfavorable conditions (drought, lack of nutrition, soil compaction, etc.), to stop leaf growth, quickly complete the formation of the bulb and go into a dormant state. If the onion has stopped leaf formation and the formation of the bulb has begun, then no agricultural practices (watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil, etc.) can stop this process. As a result, due to unsatisfactory agricultural technology or untimely implementation of certain cultivation techniques, a significant part of the harvest can be lost. The onion plant is distinguished by its relatively low water consumption. At the same time, onions have high demands on soil and air moisture. Root system poorly developed and located in top layer soil. At different periods of onion development, the requirements for moisture content in the soil are not the same. When the seeds germinate and the bulb forms, the soil moisture should be high, and when the bulb ripens, it should be low. Onion roots at a temperature of 5-10 C grow faster than the aboveground part (leaves), so sowing and planting should be carried out as early as possible so that by the period high temperatures the roots were well developed and could provide the leaves with sufficient nutrients. Onions grow and develop best in the first period of life in sunny weather at a temperature of 18-20 C, and in cloudy weather - at 12-15 C. Elevated temperatures (20-30 C) contribute to faster formation of bulbs. It takes 100-100 to produce a ton of harvest. 160 cubic meters of water, including 40-90 cubic meters of irrigation water. The moisture requirement of onions varies depending on age. An exceptionally great demand is made in the first period of plant life, that is, during seed germination, growth and development of leaves and bulb formation. During the ripening period of the bulbs, a lack of moisture promotes good ripening. Most of all, onions need moisture during the period of development, when there is a rapid growth of leaves that ensure the formation of the bulb. When the growth of leaves stops, watering can be done less frequently and stop completely as soon as the outer leaves begin to turn yellow and begin to lie down. Precipitation cannot fully satisfy the onion's need for water. The resulting moisture deficit is compensated by irrigation. Onions should be watered when the soil moisture level drops to 80% MPV. The irrigation rate on ordinary heavy loamy chernozem before the formation of the bulb is 200 m3/ha, during the period of bulb growth 320 m3/ha. To maintain this soil regime, 7-8 irrigations are carried out in a dry year, and at least 6 in an average year.
When you mention onions, everyone remembers the usual yellow onion, less often the red one. But there are also white onions! He is an infrequent visitor to grocery stores and markets. They plant it in the garden beds Central Asia, Spain and Mexico. Scientists estimate its age at 5-6 thousand years. Onions are biennial. Taste white look very different from yellow, it has a sweetish taste and an amazing, refined aroma. This feature is appreciated by gourmets all over the world.
Description of white onion
The shape of this variety resembles yellow. Its color is white, slightly transparent. The heads are round in shape, elongated ones are rare. The taste is delicate, practically without bitterness, onions do not add harshness to dishes. This feature makes it popular among gourmets; it is grown specifically for salads.
In Russia, white onions are little known, but in some countries they are very popular. These countries include Asian countries, as well as Mexico and Spain. In France, the legendary onion soup is made from this species.
Unfortunately, white onions do not have a long shelf life. After being collected from the garden, it begins to deteriorate after a couple of months. Therefore, you need to use it for food as quickly as possible. And it’s better to eat salads with it in one sitting, without leaving it for tomorrow - due to the loss of valuable nutrients.
Known varieties
When choosing varieties of white onions to plant in their gardens, gardeners strive to purchase ones that have a long shelf life and have excellent taste. The most popular varieties:
- Comet. An amazingly sweet variety that can be stored for up to 6 months. The disadvantages include small size bulbs and long term ripening (up to 120 days).
- Alba. The bulbs are large, on average 80 g, can grow up to 200 g with good care. Grown for up to 120 days, stored for 6 months.
- Nevada. Early ripening variety. The bulbs are medium in size and ripen in 90 days. The variety is suitable for regions with short summers.
- Snowball. These bulbs have the largest size - up to 160 g. They ripen in 105 days. However, they are stored for no more than 3 months.
- Sterling. A variety with a short shelf life, no more than 4 months. The bulbs reach 120 g and have an excellent sweet taste. The variety is resistant to onion diseases.
These are the main names of white onions grown in garden beds. Based on these characteristics, you can choose a variety that best meets the requirements of any gardener.
Valuable qualities and consumption
White onions contain many vitamins and useful elements. It contains a lot of B vitamins, there are also vitamins C, E, H, PP.
In a vegetable a large number of minerals necessary for humans - manganese, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus.
Doctors advise people suffering from high sugar levels in the body to use white onions as food. After all, one of the main components of the vegetable is the component glucinin, which reduces the amount of sugar. Regular consumption of onions helps activate the formation of red blood cells. For this reason, people with anemia are advised to consume onions. In addition, the vegetable promotes the production gastric juice, thereby increasing appetite. A plate of salad dressed with onions for lunch or dinner will significantly improve anyone's appetite.
In addition to these valuable properties, white onions normalize lymph flow, eliminate cholesterol and increase the impermeability of vascular walls. Beneficial effect You can achieve benefits from using white onions by adding even a small amount to your food.
White onions, a photo of which is presented in the article, will help diversify:
- salads;
- soups;
- second courses;
- sauces.
White onions, unlike regular onions, when added to a salad will not add bitterness to the taste, so they are preferred by those who do not like sharp sensations. Dishes with such onions become real culinary masterpieces.
Traditional French onion soup is made from this vegetable. And who, if not the French, knows a lot about delicious recipes!
Is there any danger?
In addition to the benefits, there are also harmful aspects. For example, eating onions that have not undergone heat treatment, can lead to irritation of the mucous membranes in digestive system and increase stomach acidity.
Onion dishes can increase nervous excitement and arterial pressure. Another disadvantage of onion consumption is bad breath. Allergic reactions are possible in children.
People suffering from migraines should use onions with caution. Also, it should not be abused by those who have serious problems with the heart, liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Eating foods with onions can cause increased gas formation.
Planting and care
White onion varieties are grown for two years. In the first year, seeds are sown in the beds and onion sets are obtained in the fall. The next year it is planted and by autumn you get full-fledged bulbs.
It is better to plant onions in beds where beans, beans, as well as cucumbers and tomatoes previously grew. In autumn, ash and humus are added to the soil and dug up. At the end of April, the sets are planted at a distance of 10 cm from each other. Frosts down to -4°C are not harmful to sevka.
In the first weeks after planting, it is important to weed the beds from weeds so that they do not choke the young shoots.
Poor soils must be fed. Suitable:
- nitrophoska;
- superphosphate;
- urea.
When applying fertilizers, it is important not to exceed their concentration.
Water the beds twice a month, and once a week during dry periods.
Harvest and storage
Is the pen starting to dry out? The onion is ripe! This usually happens at the end of July, and by the end of August - beginning of September, onions can be harvested.
If the leaves do not fall on their own, they are crushed by hand. You don't have to wait for it to dry completely. The feather will dry out during the drying process.
Onions are pulled out of the beds or dug up. It is stored in a cool place under a canopy for a week. It is important to dry the onions properly, this will ensure their long-term storage. White salad onions do not last long, but they will last until December when created. necessary conditions he can do it very well.
If the harvest is large, this allows it to be used for home canning. The beautiful appearance of the bulbs makes them suitable as an addition to other vegetables, as well as for preparing canned winter salads.
Other uses
Except food use, onions are used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Onion compresses can relieve inflammation in case of frostbite, burns and insect bites.
An onion hair mask will get rid of dandruff. The main thing is not to keep it on for too long so as not to burn your scalp. Rubbing the skin of the face with onion juice makes it elastic and eliminates acne.
Medicinal prescriptions
Traditional medicine offers several useful recipes for using white onions:
- For dandruff. Onion juice is mixed with cognac in a ratio of 5:1, rubbed into the scalp an hour before washing, and washed with mild shampoo. The procedure can be performed twice a week.
- For furunculous acne and callous formations on the skin. The onion is baked, mixed with butter, ready mixture Apply to the area of inflammation and secure with gauze.
- From burns. Cover the damaged area with onion pulp and fix it with gauze. The method is also good for frostbite.
- Against cough. Onion pulp is mixed with honey and stored in a cool place overnight. The resulting syrup is taken one tablespoon at a time.
- For otitis. The chopped onion is placed in gauze, kept over boiling water in a colander for 10 minutes, then applied to the ear, wrapped in a scarf and kept for up to one hour.
- For insect bites. Immediately after a bite, it is useful to wipe the skin with a white onion, this will help prevent swelling and inflammation.
- From deprivation. Onion rings are applied to the affected area, secured and held for two hours.
- For rheumatic pain. Onion juice is rubbed into sore joints and covered with a gauze compress.
These recipes traditional medicine are provided for information purposes only. The use of any prescription requires mandatory consultation with a doctor!