Most gardeners and large-scale farms prefer the promising Centurion onion variety for undemanding care, high-quality harvest and long shelf life.
The widespread vegetable crop belongs to the medium early varieties of the Dutch selection. It is a reliable hybrid and shows excellent germination results.
Description and characteristics of the centurion onion variety
Let's start with a description of the variety. The plant reaches a height of 80 cm and has tubular leaves, painted in deep green. The variety forms medium-sized heads. The weight of one onion ranges from 100 to 150g. The bulb is round, slightly elongated with a dense husk with a bright straw color. A small neck creates a reliable barrier against pathogenic microbes entering the white pulp, which protects the onion from decay.
Due to its shape, small bottom and narrow neck, the vegetable is convenient for cutting, unlike other types that have a spherical shape, which give a lot of waste. And the taste of the product, which is characterized by light pungency, piquancy and delicate aroma, absolutely satisfies the requirements of culinary experts.
Benefits
The variety has a lot of advantages, because of which it is of particular interest to vegetable growers. Positive characteristics include:
- high yield, from 1 m2 of plantings you can collect from 4 kg of turnips;
- successful growth in various climatic zones;
- excellent taste of the variety;
- resistance to shooting, so the variety is well suited for growing on feathers;
- disease resistance, characteristic of this variety, because of this, it does not need additional processing with the use of chemicals;
- well suited for long-term storage at home;
- a universal product, used both fresh and suitable for canning.
The peculiarity and characteristics of the variety allows Centurion to be included in the highest price category, which guarantees a decent profit for commercial cultivation.
To provide the whole family with onion reserves for the winter, you need to follow certain rules and requirements when planting a vegetable crop.
Landing dates
When building this variety, it is important to correctly determine the timing of planting, because a very early planting can expose vegetables to freezing, and a late planting will not allow the bulbs and feathers to fully develop.
The main condition is for the soil to warm up to 15̊C of heat and if it is not observed, the harvest may be small.
Soil requirement
When choosing a landing site, you need to pay attention to open and well-lit areas. Although the culture is hygrophilous, it does not tolerate excessive amounts of water, so you should avoid places where groundwater passes close to the surface of the earth.
Sandy loam soils are best suited for the Centurion variety. The acidity level should be neutral, as acidic soil leads to a significant loss of yield. To reduce acidity, furnace ash or cement dust can be added a year before planting.
The soil should be prepared in the fall by performing the following agrotechnical techniques:
- To clear the selected area from weeds, as they negatively affect the quality and quantity of the crop.
- Apply fertilizer while loosening the topsoil. This will help nutrients to get into the depths, as well as additionally eliminate weed residues;
- Before the winter period, dig up the beds to a depth of about 25 cm.
This culture is not recommended to be planted in the land of last year's planting; its location should be changed. The next time it will be possible to plant a plant in the same area only after 3 years.
Sowing rules
Record yields can be obtained with a two-year growing scheme.
Features of growing in the first year
The end of April - beginning of May is considered a favorable period for sowing seeds. The sowing process includes the following procedure:
- Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before sowing. Growth stimulants can be added to the water. Then put the seeds on a cloth and cover with foil.
- Prepare seed furrows 3-4 cm deep, keeping a distance of 20 cm between them.
- Equip the bottom of the furrow with fertilizers and evenly place the planting material at the rate of 3g of seeds per 1m2.
- Pour loose soil on top and compact it a little.
The yield of seedlings can exceed 15 tons per hectare. You can harvest the sevok 90 days after sowing. After that, it must be prepared for storage and placed for the winter in a specially designated room with an acceptable temperature and humidity level.
Basic rules for the second year of growing
First, it is necessary to sort out the sevok, removing damaged and rotten specimens. Then warm up the selected bulbs for planting under a cover for 3 days and proceed to the process of planting seedlings.
- Make planting holes, the depth of which is 6-8 cm. The distance between the rows should be within 10-12 cm.
- Introduce organic matter, which can be rotted manure, wood ash.
- Place the set in the prepared holes with a distance of 8 cm from each other.
- Cover the wells with earth and tamp lightly.
The onset of technical maturity occurs in 75 days. The crop can be harvested at the end of July - beginning of August.
A set of measures for onion care
When growing any vegetable crop, not only proper planting is important, but also further care, which must be performed in accordance with all the rules. This requires:
- Conduct regular watering during the growing season to activate leaf growth, which should be reduced by the end of vegetative growth, and completely stopped 3 weeks before harvesting. Water should be done carefully, without damaging the feather. Use only warm water, as cold water can provoke the appearance of downy mildew.
- Weeding together with loosening land to ensure good air exchange, this will have a positive effect on the development of vegetable crops;
- In due time to clear weeds, as they help to maintain moisture on the surface, which leads to an increased risk of resistance to various fungal diseases. Also, if the weeds are not destroyed in time, the neck will become juicy and this will negatively affect the storage of the vegetable, as it will begin to rot.
- Introduce nutrients depending on the soil in which the onion is planted.
- Constantly inspect plants for diseases and pests and, if detected, take appropriate measures.
Diseases and their prevention
The most common pest of the Centurion onion is the onion fly. When exposed to it, the leaves are incapable of such a process as turgor and, turning yellow, curl. It is necessary to get rid of the pest as soon as possible, since not only the leaves are affected, but also the stalk with seeds. There are many folk remedies and chemicals that are actively used in the fight against onion fly.
Onion moth, small brown butterflies can also be a dangerous pest. The harm is brought to a greater extent not by adult organisms, but by the larvae that eat away the plant parenchyma. For the purpose of prevention, you need to regularly weed the beds, and rationally distribute crops. PWhen treating onions, substances are used, the smell of which repels insects. This can be either a chemical product purchased in a store or prepared at home.
A wet spring with low temperatures provokes the appearance of downy mildew. Since rainwater accumulates on the leaves of the onion and accelerates the development of fungal diseases, when they appear, the entire garden can be infected in just a few days. For prevention and treatment, it is worth using fungicides every 2 weeks.
A very dangerous bacterial disease of the Centurion onion is bottom rot, which enters the plant through contaminated soil and is accompanied by the complete decay of the plant.... You can get rid of the disease only by using special means.
In order for the onion to grow healthy and not contain insect larvae, it is necessary to take timely measures to combat pests and diseases.
Harvesting and storage rules
With professional fit and proper care, the desired results can be achieved with ease. The onion harvesting period begins at the moment when the leaves fall, and the neck is not able to keep them evenly.
Zand a few weeks before harvesting, you need to stop watering and dry the soil a little. Cut the bulbs carefully without damaging the bottom. Before harvesting for storage, you need to carefully consider each bulb and set aside all suspicious specimens for use first.
It is necessary to place the harvested crop in the sun and let it dry a little. In rainy weather, place it under a canopy to ensure sufficient air circulation. Then put the onions in wooden boxes, nylon bags or nets. You can store vegetables in bulk.
If the required conditions are observed, the storage period can be up to 8 months. It is important that the room where the vegetables are placed is dark, cool and dry.
Centurion onion surprises with its spicy taste, which makes it a popular and demanded product in the preparation of culinary masterpieces. If you follow all the agrotechnical methods for the construction and follow the necessary care recommendations, you can harvest an excellent harvest of large onions.