Simply multiply onions: this is how it works

Onions are one of the most popular and versatile vegetables. Whether raw, fried or braised, they give many dishes a special flavor. Cultivation and propagation in the home garden are unproblematic.

Increase by sowing

Corresponding seeds can be purchased or obtained from existing specimens. In order to be able to sow in spring, they must be taken out of the ground together with the flowers in autumn of the previous year and hung upside down to dry. The dry inflorescences are dried and then stored in a cool and dry place for the winter. About a month before sowing, put them in a warmer place with temperatures of at least 25 degrees.

Tip: To catch the seeds, you can, for example, pull a paper bag, not foil, loosely over the inflorescences.

Carry out a germ test

Onion seeds usually remain viable for up to three years. However, not every seed germinates. It is therefore advisable to test the germination capacity before sowing. All you need is a bowl of water and the seeds.

• Fill the bowl with water
• Put the seeds in the water and wait
• Germable seeds sink to the bottom of the bowl quite quickly
• Non-germinable swim on the surface
• Can be fished there with a fine hair sieve
• Then pour the water with the good seeds through a sieve
• Germable seeds remain in the sieve
• Let the seeds dry for a while and then sow them

Best time to sow

The right time depends on the variety. Are you talking about summer or winter onions or about growing your own onion sets from the seeds? Summer onions are sown as early as possible, ideally from March to April and winter onions between mid and late August. To grow onions yourself, the seeds should be planted between the end of March and April.

Preculture

In order to be able to harvest leeks as early as possible, a preculture is ideal for propagation. As early as mid-February, young plants can be sown on the windowsill or in a heated greenhouse.

• To do this, fill small pots with growing medium
• Spread seeds on it
• Onions, four to six seeds per pot
• Vegetable onions, one or two seeds
• Seeds Insert about an inch deep
• Cover with substrate and moisten
• Row spacing of 20-30 cm is recommended in the greenhouse

Depending on the type of onion, the optimal germination temperature is 15-20 degrees and the germination time between 14 days and three weeks. At first, small, thin, stalks appear. As soon as they are a bit stronger, depending on the variety, they can be separated or cut down to five to ten centimeters. be planted out.

Tip: In order to have a positive influence on the development of onions and to protect against onion or carrot flies, a mixed culture with carrots is recommended.

Propagate via direct sowing

For a harvest in the same year, sowing in the garden should be done early and preferably in a sunny location and in loose, humus-rich and, if possible, unfertilized soil.

• First make grooves in the ground
• About an inch deep
• Spread seeds in it, not too dense
• Cover with earth and press it down
• Carefully water with the watering can
• Germination occurs after two to four weeks
• Separate young seedlings to onion starch
• Sow and harvest spring onions within one year.

Tip: Onions obtained by sowing usually have a longer shelf life than those obtained from onion sets. Late varieties in particular can be stored until March of next year.

Pull your own onions

Onions for the coming year are sown directly in the bed at the end of April. The onions are harvested as soon as they have reached the size of a hazelnut. In order to be able to stick them in the next year, let them dry and overwinter them in a cold, but frost-free, and dry place. About four weeks before planting, put them in a warmer place with temperatures of at least 25 degrees.

Tip: Under no circumstances should these vegetables be planted or sown where leeks, chives, garlic or chives were previously located (break from cultivation of at least five years).

Propagate over onion sets

Winter onions for the spring harvest are planted from August to October. They stay in the bed through winter and ripen in spring. In the case of summer onions for the autumn harvest, the time corresponds to that of sowing. Even if onions are middle and low eater, they should not be fertilized. It is best to make grooves again, this makes it easier to insert. You put it so deep that the top third of the onion can still be seen. Finally, the whole thing is watered.

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