Many summer residents probably had problems with storing onion sets - small onions that react very sharply to the slightest changes in the weather, conditions of detention and quickly shoot arrows. You can buy onion sets in any store or market, but it is also easy to grow it yourself on your own plot. Below we will find out why the bow goes into the arrow, and consider several effective ways to combat this phenomenon. We will also try to figure out how to properly care for the seed.
Firstly, immediately after harvesting, it is necessary to sort the bulbous heads and conditionally divide them into groups depending on their size. The largest healthy bulbs are capable of producing a large number of seeds, the medium heads will go to the feather or will be used for culinary purposes, and the small ones are stored for spring planting.
Onion sets make high demands on the conditions of detention. The small bulbs only form a pair of arrows. However, this statement is considered true only under the condition of proper storage and care of the crop during the growth period.
The number of arrows depends on the size of the head. For example, bulbs up to 1 cm in diameter grow arrowless, and heads up to 3 cm in diameter are likely to go into the arrow. The formed arrows spoil the crop yield and reduce its quality.
Onion storage methods
It is recommended to store onion sets in a cool place where the air temperature does not exceed 3 ° C. Lowering the thermometer by a couple of degrees will not cause any harm to the children.
In order for the onion that will be used for food to retain its taste for a long time, some rules should be observed:
- In warm weather, the bulb heads are kept indoors at room temperature.
- In the winter season, they are transferred to a room with temperatures up to 1-3 ° C.
- With the arrival of spring heat, the seedlings are brought back into the room and warmed up for several days at a temperature of 25 ° C. Then stored at 18 ° C until the soil is ready for planting.
If you plan to get onion sets for the purpose of seed culture for the next year, the heads are stored according to a completely different scheme:
- Bulbous arrows begin to grow at air temperatures of up to 5 ° C.
- Before planting the babies in the open ground on the site, the bulbs are warmed up to 20 ° C for two weeks, which has a beneficial effect on increasing the quantity and quality of seed material.
Important! Another prerequisite for full storage of onion sets is maintaining humidity in the room. High humidity removes small bulbs from hibernation and starts vegetative processes. Soon the arrows hatch. In addition, the risk of developing rot increases, since the neck of the vegetable is heavily saturated with moisture. Rotten heads should not be used for food.
The room where the onion sets are stored must be regularly ventilated, the heavy and musty air also has a bad effect on the quality of the planting material.
