There is an opinion that the top dressing must be selected correctly, otherwise the plant will begin to actively develop tops from an excess of nutrients. In such cases, we are not talking about a good yield. The principles of forming the composition of fertilizers, when to feed onions and the rules for their introduction are described in this article.
Do onions and onions need top dressing?
Even the most unpretentious plants need enough nutrition. The composition of the soil has a direct effect on the growing season, the formation of fruits, therefore, in order to get a good harvest, it will be necessary to observe not only the conditions for growing the crop, but also to introduce complementary foods in a timely manner.
The peculiarity of the bow is that it literally absorbs all nutrients from the soildraining her. At the same time, there is no need to use all fertilizers.
During the season, you need to feed the culture at least 2-3 times.
The technology of spring planting or planting in May includes the preparation of the beds in the fall. The site is enriched with humus or compost at the rate 5-7 kg of fertilizers per 1 m2.
If the soil is depleted, minerals cannot be dispensed with, it must be fertilized before planting something. Open ground must be dug up so that a fertile layer is formed during the winter period, where the shoots of root crops will ripen.
When to fertilize and feed
After planting, after about 2 weeks, when sprouts appear on the surface of the soil, you need to enrich the soil and pour nitrogen fertilizer to stimulate the growth of greenery. If the season at this stage is characterized by high humidity, mineral stimulants should not be added. The nutrients from the autumn feeding will be quite enough.
3 weeks after the first feeding, a new portion of nutrients is introduced with a lower content of nitrogen substances, but a large amount of potassium-phosphorus microelements. This procedure is required already to form the onionso that it sprouts well and grows well.
Fertilizers attract pests, therefore, before applying them, you need to treat the plants with folk remedies - tobacco or wood ash.
A deficiency of any trace elements is immediately accompanied by certain symptoms:
- lack of nitrogen is recognized by slow growth, pale color of feathers, yellow spots;
- potassium hunger is expressed in the formation of necrosis on the tops of the feathers with a gradual advance towards the onion;
- lack of phosphorus slows down the growth of the plant, large brown spotsspreading throughout the feather;
- zinc deficiency is noted in twisted greens either spread over the surface of the soil;
- lack of copper provokes feather thinning, removal of pigment, as a result of which the greens look faded.
It should be noted that these signs are not clearly manifested. With nutritional deficiencies an integrated approach is required, because depleted earth lacks many micro and macro elements.
Sometimes, when planting an unfamiliar area, it is difficult to determine the degree of nutritional value. In such cases, it is worth focusing on the behavior of the plant during the growing season and introducing complementary foods taking into account the symptoms.
What means to feed in spring
The fertilizer use schedule is drawn up taking into account the purpose of growing bulbous crops. The easiest way is to get greens. An integrated approach is used to form a full-fledged turnip.
In early spring (in March), you should dig up the selected area. If the soil on it is dense, it is recommended to introduce into it sand and peat... This will make the structure lighter and increase looseness.
In the absence of autumn preparation, the dug-up land is enriched with a mixture, which includes:
- humus (5-6 kg per 1 m2);
- urea (20-25 g);
- superphosphate (30 g);
- potassium salt (15-20 g).
Complex processing replenishes the lack of nutrients on depleted areas and facilitates the care of turnip onions.
Onions do not react well to the introduction of fresh organic matter of animal origin, so such feeding should be discarded.
To fertilize the soil in the spring, it is recommended to use:
- humus;
- peat;
- wood ash.
After the emergence of shoots above the soil surface, it is recommended to enter nitrogen composition... It is worth delaying the treatment in case of heavy rainfall, since nitrogen is water-soluble and the benefits of the procedure will be insignificant.
Three seasonal fertilizer options
Method 1
- a solution of water (10 l) and ammonia (3 tbsp. l.) - pour through 2 weeks after disembarkation;
- water (10 l), ammonium nitrate (1 tbsp. l.), salt (1 tbsp. l.), potassium permanganate (a couple of crystals) - through 3 weeks after the first feeding;
- water (10 l), superphosphate (2 tbsp. l.) - through 4-5 weeks after the second feeding.
Method 2
- water (10 l), means "Vegeta" (2 tbsp. l.), urea (1 tbsp. l.) - water for 15 days after disembarkation;
- water (10 l), Agricola 2 (1 tbsp. l.);
- water (10 l), means "Effekton-O" (2 tbsp. l.).
Method 3
- soak bread crumb (500 gr.) with water (10 l), add fresh cut grass (500 gr.) and fresh yeast (5 small packs), add after 2 days of standing;
- water (10 l), nitrophoska (2 tbsp. l.);
- wood ash (250 gr.) Pour boiling water (10 l) and leave for 2-3 days.
How to fertilize onions in summer
If the culture is planted on fertile soil, properly treated in the fall, then in addition spring nitrogen fertilizers it is not necessary to introduce complementary foods.
In other cases, in summer, the procedure can significantly improve the quality of the harvest of onions, batun or bulb heads, so you should not give it up.
In the summer period (end of June - first half of July) falls third stage of feeding... The composition used should be rich in potassium, phosphorus, copper and other nutrients. The enrichment with valuable trace elements has a positive effect on the formation of the turnip so that it can grow well.
Gardeners often use mixed fertilizers, they increase the efficiency of processing. It is necessary to introduce the working solution in the evening hours, preferably after precipitation or irrigation.
When working with nutrient solutions, you should carefully introduce them into the soil. Contact with feathers will provoke their yellowing.
Top dressing in autumn
The planning of the landing zone for the new season is carried out in the fall. The first step is to carry out activities to disinfection of soil... The day before the introduction of food, watering is performed with a special solution: water (10 l) with copper sulfate (15 g). This amount is enough to spray 5 m2.
The most basic feeding for onions is carried out at the stage of preparing the plot for the beds - in the fall. To begin with, the soil is dug up and cleared of weeds and old roots... For digging, humus or compost blanks are introduced (4-6 kg are used per 1 m2).
For sowing onion set the soil is enriched with dolomite flour (up to 150 g per 1 m2), chalk or a special substrate that neutralizes the acidic environment. For these purposes, wood ash and fluff lime are also used. Yeast feeding should not be used.
On depleted soils, it is recommended to use potash-phosphorus mixtures along with organic matter. They quickly restore the balance of nutrients. If you plan to cultivate red and sweet varieties, then preference should be given to the potassium composition.
From all types of nutrient mixtures and solutions, it is recommended to use mineral and organic, and even better mixed fertilizers.
Most Popular:
- superphosphate;
- fertika (granular complex with a reduced nitrogen content);
- humic "Onion, garlic";
- nitroammophoska;
- potassium sulfate.
Some onion varieties are planted for the winter. It is necessary to enrich the soil with valuable trace elements 2-4 weeks before landing... Fertilized soil needs to stand a little so that the active components have time to combine with the soil environment.
Not worth applying for autumn treatments the following fertilizers:
- manure;
- nitrogen-containing.
This food will provoke a quick ejection of feathers just before the very frosts, which will cause the plant to die.
Growing bulbous crops with regular feeding, you can get a good harvest and get quite high-quality root crops with excellent taste and a long shelf life.