Increasingly, gardeners are trying to grow bulbs using seeds rather than from heads. Among them is Chalcedony onion. It was bred in Moldova and has proven itself to have excellent yields and long-term storage.
Characteristics of the variety
Chalcedony is one of the many varieties of white onions. Characteristics of the advantages of onions:
- disease resistance;
- possibility of growing in large areas;
- excellent taste;
- abundance of microelements;
- long-term storage and presentation.
This is a small list of the benefits of Chalcedony.
The variety is early ripening - only 100–110 days pass from planting seeds to obtaining bulbs. It is grown in open areas in two ways. Sowing seeds for seedlings or directly into the garden for growing. Seeds for seedlings are sown at home in February-March; the resulting small heads are transplanted into open ground with the onset of warm days.
Continue to grow in the garden until harvest. The yield of the variety is high - up to 7 kilograms of mature fruits are harvested from one square.
Description of the variety - heads of medium size, round or flat-round in shape, golden in color. The core is white. In the beds, the bulbs ripen up to 130 grams. A variety with a sweet-sharp taste without the pungent odor that most bulbs have.
The variety is suitable for growing on plantations because it is stored for a long time and does not lose its taste. The feathers are tall, reaching a height of 15 centimeters. The taste is a little spicy, sweet, piquant. Great for preparing summer salads.
Growing methods
Typically, onions are grown by planting small bulbs in a garden bed. Sevok is sold in seed stores. But Chalcedony is not the case; in the southern regions of Russia it is successfully grown by planting seeds in the ground, as well as by growing feathers in winter in heated greenhouses.
Planting seeds through seedlings
In order to grow bulbs from seeds, the latter need to be prepared for sowing. To do this, several manipulations are carried out:
- calibration;
- disinfection and soaking;
- germination.
Fertile and loose soil is prepared for sowing seeds. Seeds are planted in late February early March; at the time of transplanting into the ground, the seedlings should have grown to an age of 60 days.
Selected seeds are soaked in a strong solution of potassium permanganate and soaked in damp gauze until germination. Then the sprouted grains are planted in the prepared soil and covered with film until greenery appears. When the feathers appear above the surface of the earth, the film is removed, and the seedlings are placed in a warm sunny place for further growth. When it gets warmer outside, the seedlings are transplanted into the garden in fertilized soil. After planting, manipulations are carried out to care for the plants.
Planting seedlings
It is much easier to buy ready-made seedlings in the store and plant them on the plot in April-May. Thus, gardeners save time and effort on growing seedlings using seeds from other plants. Before planting, the seedlings also need to be prepared. To do this, all heads are heated to a temperature of 40 degrees, then soaked in a solution of Fitosporin, brought to a temperature of 36 degrees with the addition of urea: 1 teaspoon per 5 liters of water. This event destroys pathogenic bacteria and nourishes the seed material.
The seedlings are planted on the ridges at the end of April, when the air temperature outside is above zero. Before planting, the soil is prepared, dug up and fertilized. Then the onion will ripen faster and grow large.
Biannual rotation of onion cultivation
This method is used by those who want to plant their own self-grown seedlings in the garden next year. For propagation from onion seeds, Chalcedony is grown in beds when warming sets in, until heads suitable for planting next year are formed.
Sowing seeds on a feather
This onion variety is popular among gardeners who grow feathers in winter in heated greenhouses.
Onion plant care
Caring for onions, like all other varieties of plants, consists of:
- watering;
- weeding;
- loosening;
- soil fertilization.
Watering is carried out as the soil dries, and when the heads are filled, you need to reduce watering, then when storing onions will not rot. It will have more dry matter.
Weeding is carried out as the grass grows; this procedure is mandatory. Otherwise, the heads will not grow to the desired size.
Loosen the soil around the heads so that there is air access to the roots and the plantings develop correctly.
It is not necessary to fertilize; each gardener decides for himself whether this procedure is necessary or not.
Harvesting
Onions are harvested selectively when 2-3 dry orange scales form on the head. The neck has dried out and become thin. The feathers withered and turned yellow.
Harvesting is carried out in dry sunny weather, leaving the heads to dry in the sun. At night and in the rain, the heads are hidden under cover. After drying, the onions are sorted, cleaned of sand and excess scales and stored for long-term storage. In this way, the harvest is stored until spring.
Due to its productive qualities, onions have received numerous reviews from amateur and professional gardeners. They are characterized by early ripening, the ability to grow seeds, excellent taste and much more.
