Any plant needs care, and any care for it consists of watering, weeding, fertilizing and cultivating. This also applies to onions . Therefore, feeding onions is an important step in caring for it. In this article, we will tell you how and when to fertilize onions, and give tips and advice.
How many times to feed onions?
In general, onions perceive fertilizers well. The yield of this plant depends on how many nutrients it takes from the soil. Therefore, the earth should be fertile, loose and light, so that your onions can safely be fed from it. Onions are fed twice in the spring, one more time in the summer, and in the fall, after harvesting, the soil is fertilized.
First fertilization
At each phase of plant development, it needs to be fertilized. So the first feeding of onions is carried out after emergence, and the feathers reach about 10 cm in length. This phase is the initial one in development, therefore, at this stage, the main emphasis is on nitrogen-containing fertilizers. 10 grams of fertilizer is diluted with 10 liters of water, this is spent on about 1.5 square meters of land. However, if the plant looks healthy, that is, the feathers have a bright green color, then it is not necessary to feed. In general, it all depends on the soil. If the soil is poor, then the plant will have to be fertilized in any case.
Second fertilizer application
The second feeding of onions corresponds to the second phase of its vegetation. This occurs approximately one month after sowing. At this point, your onion no longer needs nitrogen, but there is a need for phosphorus and potassium. To do this, dilute 20-30 g of superphosphate and the same amount of sulfate per 10 liters of water and water the plants.
Third fertilization
Feeding onions for the third time is carried out when the bulb is fully formed, that is, its diameter reaches at least 40 mm. At this stage of development, the plant needs more calcium, since all the forces go to the maturation of the head itself. The best source of calcium is lime, which not only grows large bulbs, but also reduces the acidity of the soil.
Autumn fertilization
Many gardeners recommend fertilizing the soil before treatment in the fall. This is done in order to saturate the land depleted over the summer and prepare it for spring sowing of onions. For this, organics and minerals are used. As organic fertilizer is humus, as well as compost. Mineral fertilizers are mixed with organic fertilizers and are applied to the soil together. The same procedure is carried out in the spring before landing.
Tips for feeding onions:
- fertilizers should always be applied in small portions, since a strong concentration of salts is harmful to onions;
- Before applying fertilizers, especially calcareous, you need to study the soil for acidity, as well as know its mechanical composition and features;
- excess lime can lead to improper onion perception of other fertilizers;
- Autumn digging is carried out together with fertilizers introduced into the soil to a depth of the length of the onion roots (about 20 cm);
- in the spring, half of the nitrogen fertilizers are applied to the soil and digged together, and the rest when onion feathers appear;
- never apply fresh organic fertilizers, better rotted;
- fresh manure can be introduced only in the form diluted with water, after the slurry settles for at least a week in a barrel;
- organics attract some pests; tobacco dust and lime or sand with wood ash are used to control them.
This is how onion nutrition is carried out - one of the main stages of plant care.