At least a small patch of winter onion is probably in every summer cottage. This plant is among domestic gardeners, of course, very popular. In the care of the onion batun, or, as it is also popularly called, Tatar, is absolutely unpretentious. To grow this culture is quite within the power of even an inexperienced gardener.
Biological features
The birthplace of winter onions is Asia. It was from this part of the world that he was once brought to Russia and Europe. In the wild, batuns can usually be found in Mongolia and China.
Externally, this garden crop is very similar to ordinary, well-known to all, onions. To distinguish between these two plants in the aerial part, for example, is almost impossible. In the photo of the onion of the batun presented on the page, this is clearly visible. These two plants differ only in the underground part. The heads of a batun, unlike onions, never grow too large. Russian summer residents cultivate this culture exclusively on the feather.
The batun belongs to the group of perennial plants. In the suburban area, it is usually grown in the same place for several years.
Batu feathers appear in spring much earlier than any other greenery. Moreover, they contain 2 times more ascorbic acid than any other onion. Also, the green mass of the batun is rich in such beneficial substances as potassium, magnesium, carotene, volatile.
Preparing planting material
In Russia, this type of onion is grown almost everywhere. It is sown in suburban areas as residents of the south of the country and the middle lane, as well as Siberia and the Urals. In this case, most often, domestic summer residents grow, of course, onions, and batun from seeds.
Planting stock of this culture can be easily purchased at almost any specialized store. At the same time, purchased seeds of a batun are almost always of high quality. However, before sowing, planting material of this culture, like any other gardening, of course, needs to be prepared.
To prevent further diseases of various kinds, the seeds of the batun are usually first soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for about 20 minutes. After this, the planting material is additionally placed for a day in warm water for swelling. After easy drying (to a loose state), the seeds of the batun are sown on the beds.
How to choose a place
To the composition of the soil, onion batun is absolutely undemanding. But to plant, like almost any other garden crop, it is best still on loose, moisture- and breathable soil rich in nutrients.
The batun does not like too bright illumination. Therefore, it is usually planted near trees, shrubs or fences. A feature of this culture is a love of moisture. The drought is not well tolerated by the batun. However, planting such an onion, for example, in swampy or flooded places in the spring is still not worth it.
It would not be a good idea to sow the seeds of this crop where garlic, onions, carrots or cucumbers used to grow. Good predecessors for this plant are salad, radish, cabbage and dill.
Features planting onions
Before planting this crop, the soil in the garden intended for it, of course, should also be prepared. The depleted soil before planting the rod is usually improved using organics. At the same time, a little slaked lime, dolomite flour or ash is also added to acidic soil. Of course, the site for this culture, among other things, is thoroughly digged and leveled.
You can sow batun onion beds from early spring to June. This culture is not at all afraid of frost. Sprouted feathers of a batun, for example, can easily withstand even short-term drops in air temperature to -7 .
Very often summer residents plant this plant in the fall. In this case, the sowing time should be chosen taking into account the fact that the feathers of the rod must germinate before the onset of frost.
If onions were planted in spring or early summer, experienced summer residents recommend not cutting them during the season. After harvesting, the batun will begin to intensively release new feathers due to the development of the root system. And this, in turn, can lead to freezing of onions in winter. At the same time, the feathers of a planted brass can be cut off for the next season.
How to sow
Onions are planted on the beds, usually in rows with a row spacing of at least 25-30 cm. In this case, the sowing rate of 1.2-1.6 g of seeds per 1 m 2 is observed.
The depth of incorporation of planting material of this crop depends on the type of soil on the site. On dense clay soil, the onion will sprout, of course, is difficult. Therefore, in this case, the seeds are usually embedded in the soil by no more than 2 cm. On light ground, planting material is buried by about 3 cm
After sowing, a site with onion and a batun is usually mulched with humus. Then the soil on the bed is slightly compacted and watered. The first feathers, this culture usually releases 11-17 days after planting.
How to care for onions throughout the season
Growing onion batun in a suburban area is a simple matter. In leaving this culture, as already mentioned, is absolutely unpretentious. During the season, this onion, like any other garden plant, you just need to water and fertilize on time.
Of course, care for onion with a rod consists in timely weeding and cultivation. From the overgrown beds, in any case, it will not be possible to get a large crop of this crop.
How to water
Moisten the bed with a baton planted on it should be regularly. Due to lack of water, the feathers of this crop can become coarse, fibrous and too bitter. During overflows, the green mass of this plant acquires a pale green color and also changes its taste qualities not for the better.
The required frequency of irrigation of the rod when growing on a suburban area depends primarily on the climate of the area. In the Moscow Region, for example, the beds under this crop are usually moistened no more than 1 time per week at the rate of 10 liters of water per 1 m 2 . In the steppe regions, batuns are usually watered more often. In arid areas, this procedure can be performed up to 3-4 times a week. At a time when growing in the steppe regions, up to 10-20 liters of water per 1 m 2 are usually poured onto a bed with a brass.
Weeding and loosening this onion for a good crop is recommended after each watering. Among other things, in this case, the batun will give a much more tender and juicy feather. Loosening this onion should be done carefully, being careful not to damage its roots.
How to fertilize
Feed the onion batun begin in the second year after planting. The first time this is done in early spring, using mainly mullein, cooked in a ratio of 1: 8. You can also feed onions after wintering and bird droppings. The infusion of this fertilizer before watering the beds should be diluted in a ratio of 1:20.
Later, during the season, winter onions are fed two more times - in summer and autumn. When this is mixed:
The resulting composition is diluted in 10 liters of water.
How to harvest
The feathers of a batun are usually cut for the first time 25-30 days after germination. After about 50-60 days, this procedure is repeated. In any case, it is necessary to cut off the feathers of the rod when they reach a length of approximately 30-35 cm
Harvesting this onion, of course, should be correct. It is impossible to cut the feathers of the batun too low. Otherwise, later onions may rot. After cutting feathers above the surface of the earth, their part should remain at least 5-6 cm long.
It is believed that the planting of onions of batun, among other things, should also be rejuvenated. This procedure is usually carried out during harvesting. During this period, all three-year-old plants are removed from the garden.
Winter preparations
One of the peculiarities of growing a batun in a suburban area is that its feathers are not cut in the fall. This onion is left under the winter in the same form that it grew in the summer. The yellowed fallen feathers of this crop are harvested only in the spring using a rake.
In the winter, the bat does not need shelter for the winter. Even the most severe frosts, this unpretentious culture can tolerate without any harm to itself. If you wish, for fidelity, in the winter, for winterizing, you can throw a little more snow on the bed with this plant for warming.
What can cause onions
Growing onion from a seed from seeds, as well as caring for this crop during the season, is relatively simple. This plant does not cause any special trouble to summer residents and in terms of diseases. Gardeners can encounter similar problems mainly only in case of violation of the technology for growing the rod - overflows, rare weeds.
Most often, a batun, like its closest "relative" - onions, becomes infected:
With a mosaic disease, elongated dots and stripes appear on the feathers and inflorescences of this culture. Plants begin to develop worse and lose significantly in productivity. With downy mildew on the green mass of the batun, a gray coating is usually clearly visible.
Cottagers usually struggle with the diseases of this onion, usually using Bordeaux fluid. They process this means of planting a rod most often in the spring.