A little-known culture is gaining popularity - allspice. The names that he received during his existence to some extent characterize his features. It is called mountain, wild, onion grass and garlic onion.
Homeland of wild onions
Onion grass originates in China. For thousands of years, wild garlic has covered meadows and hills. His favorite places were the dried up river valleys and stony soils. Over time, it spread to Asia and became known in Mongolia, Japan, India and Thailand. Now growing onion garlic is gaining momentum in Russia.
External description
Allspice, or Chinese garlic, represents the Liliaceae family, which, in turn, belong to the Onions.
The feathers of a mountain plant are thin and long. Unlike ordinary onions, which have a tubular form of aboveground organs, in the wild they are flat. Green color varies from light to dark shades. A miniature onion in diameter reaches 2 cm.
Bushes 40 cm long grow over the years. In the first season, about 6 arrows appear. In subsequent years, the mother’s bulb is surrounded by a lot of “babies” that have formed, and thus the plant begins to shrub.
On the 2nd year, onion grass throws an arrow with a unique ball. It consists of many small flowers that exude a pleasant aroma. From this the name "fragrant" follows.
Some grow wild garlic in flower beds, and it looks pretty good. This can be judged by the photo of the fragrant onion. It is also planted along the curbs and in hanging pots.
Cultivation methods
There are 2 methods for breeding wild garlic.
Vegetative. The overgrown bushes are divided into separate seedlings with bulbs and planted on the site. This can be done at any time of the year, except winter, and in the same year to get a crop. This method is practiced in small areas.
Seminal. Harvested seeds are sown in the ground, and the crop is harvested the next year. This method is preferred, for the reason that planting small bushes is too painstaking work. In particular, it is used for mass cultivation of crops. Next, we will talk about growing fragrant onions from seeds.
How is sowing carried out
Seed can be planted in three stages: in early spring, to early summer and closer to winter. To accelerate seedlings, seeds can be germinated.
After 15-30 days, feathers appear. After autumn planting, onions will spring in the spring, and this is natural.
In the early sowing of the benefits much more. First, the germination process is much faster. Secondly, seeds and seedlings are saturated with moisture, and the bulbs will be large and juicy. In addition, feathers do not need special care. Spring cultivation eliminates the next watering and weed control.
The row spacing is left at about 30 cm. The seeds are deepened by 2 cm. 2 kg of seeds are sown per 1 square meter.
If annual sowing of seeds is not planned, then fragrant onions can be left for 5 years in one place.
Proper care
Since a wild plant cannot be whimsical, caring for it will not be difficult. However, it is possible to increase the size of the bulbs and the meatiness of the feathers. The following recommendations will help:
- Fertilizers are applied after the seeds have been sown. Ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride are diluted in equal proportions with water (according to standard standards) and the planted area is watered. The mineral complex can be replaced with organic fertilizers.
- As soon as the feathers appear a little formed, shoots should be thinned out.
- The plant does not need too frequent watering, but after each moistening it is necessary to loosen the earth.
- Regular weeding will give a good result when growing fragrant onions from seeds. A piquant variety will look healthy and appetizing if weeds do not oppress it.
- With timely cutting of feathers, Chinese garlic yields several times a season.
- Landings need to be adjusted annually. Otherwise, onions will grow throughout the garden. The negative feature of growing a wild plant in the beds is that it quickly multiplies independently. To prevent such a process, it is important to have time to cut off the inflorescences.
- Before freezing, it is necessary to cut onion feathers on time. Several bushes can be transplanted into a pot and grown in winter on a windowsill. It will look like an ornamental plant.
- Wild garlic has no dormancy. It is grown in greenhouses and greenhouses all year round. If in the summer the onion was in a box, then it is simply brought into any heated room, and it continues to grow.
Seed collection
Obviously, the seed method is really practical. Therefore, it would be advisable to grow seeds yourself.
For this, a small area is allotted, away from other cultures. If fragrant onions grow close to the main garden, then it will clog it. This is due to the fact that in wild garlic the seeds do not ripen at the same time, and the gardener needs to wait until the whole hat with inflorescences dries. Meanwhile, the first seed is dispersed throughout the site.
To protect other vegetables from the seeds of Chinese garlic, they are sown in large boxes or you can construct a high bed.
Due to the above described feature, greenish seeds are found in cut inflorescences. There is no reason for this, because at room temperature they reach a proper degree of maturity.
If the culture is planted in order to obtain seeds, then their number is reduced. Sowing is carried out in one lane. Such measures contribute to improving the quality of seed material. This is important for the future cultivation of allium onion seeds. Chinese garlic will be powerful and less susceptible to weather extremes. The future harvest of a mountain plant will increase significantly, since the quality of the seeds affects the development of plants.
Varieties of Garlic Onions
In Russia, the plant is cultivated in Siberia. Aromatic onions can be found on household plots and farms. It is famous for its feathers, because unlike a nondescript bulb they have a salable appearance. The most common varieties include: "oriental", "a priori", "piquant", "stargazer".
Using Chinese Garlic In The Kitchen
The plant has all the properties inherent in onions and garlic. Therefore, it is added to salads, put in the second dishes, and even used to make pies. Arrows of onion grass marinate, stew and roast.
Some housewives like to add onions and garlic to salads at the same time, and they like the combination of these flavors. Something similar can be said about the taste of fragrant onions, but only it is not felt as pronounced as in ordinary vegetables of this family.
In Chinese cuisine, mountain garlic is used as a whole plant, do not divide it into parts.
Allspice onion goes well with any meat dishes. It is dried, crushed, mixed with other spices and used as a seasoning.
Useful properties of onions
Knowing which family a given plant belongs to speaks for itself. It's no secret that onions and garlic are always used for colds. For medical purposes, it is used in the treatment of pneumonia, gastritis and bronchitis. It is noted as an excellent diuretic and choleretic agent. In addition, such a bow has a positive effect on the nervous system.
Chinese garlic contains the following vital elements: iron, beta-carotene, potassium, sodium, and calcium. It is able to enrich the human body with an almost complete complex of vitamins, such as: C, PP, E and group B.
Reviews
People who are known for wild garlic find an advantage in its early appearance. As soon as the snow melts - the "vitamin complex" is already green in the garden. Feathers are very delicate and taste like wild garlic. It is cold-resistant and unpretentious. This characteristic can be found in reviews of scented onions. Many also enjoy the piquant taste because it is more delicate than ordinary garlic. And yet, gardeners admire the pleasant aroma of the plant and its appearance. Some plant such a bow between flowers.
Conclusion
Fragrant onion - a new culture, and every housewife has the opportunity to add a twist to the usual diet. For people suffering from gastritis, and for whom ordinary garlic is contraindicated, spicy onions will serve as an alternative food. Its mild taste will not cause harm to health and replenish the body with the necessary complex of vitamins. It will not be difficult for any gardener to allocate a place on a personal plot and to grow an unpretentious culture by the seed method, which was described in our article.