Harvesting onions is a simple matter, as it seems at first glance. In fact, it is important to know the exact maturity, collection technology, follow the preparatory steps. Especially in adverse weather conditions. The shelf life of the bulb culture depends on this.
How to determine the onion harvest time?
Onion harvesting begins after the heads mature fully. The term largely depends on the type of culture - early ripening, mid-ripening or late ripening. This is also influenced by factors such as weather conditions, climate, proper care, etc.
This video shows how to determine the readiness of the crop, as well as practical tips for harvesting onions:
By external signs
If you do not know exactly which onion variety is planted, or for some reason cannot determine the harvest time, carefully inspect the plant, as the external signs will speak for themselves:
- The color of the feathers changes - they acquire a yellow color. But this does not always happen, some varieties of onions remain green.
- The aboveground part falls to the ground. In some types of culture, it is too strong, so it may not fit.
- The root system becomes weakened - the roots are shortened, thinner, dry out.
- The neck of the head becomes thin, soft and dry.
- The husk acquires a golden hue or color corresponding to varietal characteristics.
- There is a peeling of integumentary flakes.
According to the lunar calendar
Many gardeners use the lunar calendar, which increases the shelf life of the heads. The calculation scheme is simple - root vegetables are harvested on a waning moon. It is categorically undesirable to collect at the full moon and new moon.
Based on the lunar calendar for 2019, the onions are dug up in the following numbers:
- August - 19-26, 29-31;
- September - 16-22, 25-27.
Mathematical way
If it is impossible to determine the exact maturity of root crops, carry out mathematical calculations. For this, you need to know exactly the date of planting the vegetable and the variety (respectively, the ripening period). Early ripening takes 3 months, mid-ripening varieties - 120 days, mid-late - 140 days, late - 150. Thus, add the ripening date to the planting date and you will get the harvest date.
Example:
- onions were planted on April 15;
- growing season - 120 days;
- 15+120=135;
- starting from April 15, count 135 days on the calendar - it will turn out on August 13.
Please note that dates may shift due to weather conditions. If the summer is rainy, then the ripening time increases.
Depending on the region
Russia is divided into regions, each of which has its own climatic conditions that affect the ripening period of vegetable crops. Onions, based on regionality, are harvested in the following periods:
- southern strip - the end of July;
- middle lane - early August;
- Northern areas - mid-end of August.
How to prepare onions for harvesting?
The preparation of bulbous plants is required if there is a need to accelerate the ripening of the heads (for example, under impending adverse weather conditions). What can be done:
- If the stems are located under the topsoil, fold the soil, so that the foliage turns yellow. Shorten the roots a little (by 5 cm), which will lead to the fastest ripening of the bulbs.
- About a month before harvesting, artificially bend the stems to the surface of the earth. Thus, nutrients will flow exclusively to the heads, which will begin to rapidly increase in size.
- 15 days before harvesting, stop wetting the soil.
Harvest technology
Onions are usually removed from the beds in 2 ways:
- Manual method It is used for harvesting in small areas (cottage or home garden). With loose soil, it is enough to pull the stem by hand and pull out the turnip. If the soil is dense, use a tool (pitchfork, shovel). Bulbs are dug up, and then pulled out.
- Mechanized technology involves the collection of bulbs with onion harvesting equipment. Used in the fields with significant volumes.
Onion Harvesting Rules
If you follow the rules for harvesting onions, you can increase the shelf life of the heads, preserve the nutritional value and taste of vegetables. Primary requirements:
- Stems should not fall to the ground completely, only 70-80% - the taste and pungency of the culture depends on this. This percentage is observed 7-10 days before the exact harvest date.
- Weather conditions should be favorable.
- Harvest time is morning. The fact is that immediately after the heads are removed from the soil, the onions need to be laid out in the garden for drying. If the tops are not dry before evening, cover the vegetables with plastic wrap, which eliminates the risk of moisture.
- Do not pull out 2-3 bulbs at the same time, even if the soil is very loose.
- Try not to damage the husk, act carefully.
- It is unacceptable to knock off soil residues from the heads (about any objects, hands, the surface of the earth, etc.) - wait until the natural drying and shedding of the soil occurs.
Do not cut the stems immediately after harvesting - this leads to a quick infection of the bulbs by pathogens.
Collection rules
Sevkom refers to bulbs grown from seed obtained in the first year. It is advisable to plant them next year to get full heads. The size of the set usually does not exceed 2.5 cm, so pay special attention to this.
Harvesting rules do not differ from the requirements for collecting onions, but in this case it is categorically undesirable to dig out planting material in rainy weather. The fact is that the root system can re-release roots, due to which the bulbs will become unsuitable for planting until spring. For this reason, it is permissible to dig a sowing earlier.
How to harvest in adverse weather conditions?
If the summer is rainy, then you don’t have to focus on a particular day for harvesting (wait for sunny warm weather), although it is not recommended to dig bulbs under such conditions. The same applies to climatic conditions with high humidity.
What could be the consequences for the culture:
- Onions do not like excessive moisture, as the root system begins to die out against a background of rotting.
- During prolonged rains, the ripening period increases, the heads remain underdeveloped. The reason lies in the fact that water contributes to the growth of green mass, and not root crops.
- Overmoistening reduces the immunity of the plant, so it is exposed to fungal diseases. Most often it is powdery and downy mildew, root rot.
- The shelf life is reduced.
You can minimize risks and preserve the harvest for long-term storage in advance (if it is known that the summer will be rainy), using the recommendations of specialists and gardeners:
- Correctly select the variety (there are species resistant to putrefactive diseases and dampness).
- Plant the crop in the right place - well-ventilated, with a slope for rainwater to drain.
- Treat with anti-fungal diseases more often.
How to act in adverse weather conditions:
- After about 20-30 days, stop fertilizing. If rains are planned at the time of harvest, then stop the watering completely.
- A few days before harvesting, cover the beds with plastic wrap. To do this, install wooden pegs around the perimeter, on which to pull non-woven material. This will not allow raindrops to irrigate the onions directly and, at the same time, the bed will be aired.
- Heads should be dug out during rain without shaking off clumps of dirt.
- After harvesting, ensure high-quality drying - lay the vegetables in a well-ventilated area (install fans if necessary). Drying time depends on the degree of bulb getting wet.
- When drying, turn heads several times a day.
- As the mud dries, clean the root crops, but do not use sharp objects so as not to damage the scales.
Storage
The shelf life of onions depends on various factors - weather conditions, agricultural techniques of cultivation, care, and proper harvesting. But an important aspect is the accuracy of preparation of heads for storage, compliance with conditions. During the preservation of the culture, be sure to inspect the bulbs once a month, revealing damaged elements, since they are subject to the formation of mold and rot.
How to prepare onions for storage?
Preparatory activities include the following main actions:
- Drying root crops immediately after harvesting the bulbs from the beds.
- Cleansing the heads of the remnants of the earth.
- Cutting feathers and neck (its height should be 4-6 cm).
- Subsequent drying of the bulbs at a temperature of +25 degrees (if sunny, vegetables are laid out on the street).
- Cutting roots by 2 cm.
- Removing a layer of scales.
- Inspection of each head for damage - rejection.
Today, an intensive method of drying root crops is used, which helps to increase the shelf life. For this, the bulbs are dried for 12 hours at a temperature of + 38-40 degrees. The method simultaneously destroys pathogenic microorganisms that develop diseases.
Drying Procedure Requirements:
- Immediately after harvesting, it is advisable to dry the bulbs on the street - under direct sunlight. To do this, lay the heads on the surface of the earth (can be placed on a woven material to ensure breathing). If this is not possible, transfer the culture to a ventilated, warm room. Time - from several hours to 2 days.
- The second drying is longer - 15-20 days. To do this, onions can be placed in the attic or in any room, providing access to fresh air.
- Be sure to bend the neck, so the greens will not pull the juices out of their heads.
- Root crops are laid out on wooden surfaces or hung with tops of up.
- If the bulbs are collected during rain, remove 1-2 layers of husk, which will allow the heads to dry faster.
- How to determine complete drying - the feathers become yellow and thinned, the neck, tops and roots - completely dry.
How to store a vegetable?
To store onion crops, it is necessary to choose the appropriate room, which should meet the following requirements:
- It can be a cellar that meets the standards: air temperature - from 0 to + 4 ° C, humidity level - 75-85%. Mandatory presence of a ventilation system. The heads are suspended or stacked. Vegetables can be sprinkled with dry sawdust, sand, chalk, dried grass, onion husks.
- Room in the house / apartment: air temperature - up to 20-22 ° С, humidity - up to 70%. In a warm room, the bulbs provide darkness. Avoid direct sunlight.
Ways to store onions:
- Wooden crates with holes in the walls, that is, designs from individual boards. If the container is solid, you can make holes with the help of tools or pour sawdust and sand into them.
- Plastic boxes usually do not have holes. Therefore, they can be drilled (diameter 3 cm). Today on sale there are special models designed for vegetables. Their advantage is to save space in the room, as containers are stacked on top of each other.
- Cardboard boxes (banana boxes, containers for household appliances, food, etc.). The material is considered to be natural, it passes air well, but since the onion needs plenty of ventilation, you will have to make small holes.
- Natural Vine Baskets - The best option, as flexible wood and weaving provide maximum ventilation inside. Note that you need to choose baskets of small sizes, since the middle part of the bulbs located in them will not breathe. The optimal volume is 3-5 liters.
- Fabric bags (cotton, linen, burlap). Their size should be small - a maximum of 5 kg of vegetables. If there are no such dimensions on the farm, the bulbs are put in large bags, but not to the eyeballs, and the container is laid on its side. Thus, the heads inside will breathe.
- Old nylon tights will be found in every woman. Bulbs are laid in bulk, the structure is suspended. For better safety, you can use another method - put one head in the stocking, make a knot, place the next one and tie it again. This is done until the grid is completely filled.
- Paper bags, bought in a supermarket, are well ventilated, eliminate the risk of putrefactive diseases.
- Polypropylene Mesh - Another of the best options, as it provides maximum air access.
- Braid weaving with feathers that do not need to be cut, and rope. There are several universal methods that not only preserve the bulbs, but also save space in the room, create a special flavor in the interior design. The simplest braid weaving method is based on a three-strand connection of bulbs - like braiding a normal braid. You need to take a long twine, fold in half, make a loop in which to insert the first bulb with feathers. Further, on the one and the other side, the rest of the heads are interwoven. The bottom row is fixed with twine (knot tied).
Regardless of the method chosen, onion vegetables can be stored simply in a room, in a pantry, under a bed, on shelves and even in a refrigerator, whole or cut into rings:
- A small amount of onion is placed in the refrigerator on the lower vegetable shelf - for use throughout the month.
- A vegetable is stored in the freezer for a long time. Bulbs need to be cleaned and chopped in a way convenient for you. Put in plastic bags in portions, freeze.
- Powder - cut peeled and washed heads with rings, the thickness of which should be up to 4 mm. Next, cut the rings into 4 parts, put in a saline solution (50 grams of sodium chloride per 1 liter of water). Soak for 5 minutes, then dry to dry completely, grind into powder. Used as a seasoning, stored in a glass jar.
- Rings - cut into thin rings, dry.
How to dry onions for powder and rings:
- Under the direct rays of the sun.
- On the heater.
- In an electric or gas oven. Turn on the device at 50 degrees, lay the chopped onion, dry for 6 hours.
- In the oven. Pre-dip the onion rings in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Turn on the oven at 70 degrees, dry for 2 hours. Next, reduce the temperature to 40 degrees, bring to complete drying.
How to store sevoc?
Seed, which will be planted in the spring, is preliminarily prepared in the standard way, but sorting out the oatmeal (small root crops up to 10 mm). These elements are not able to fully survive until the spring planting, so they are planted for the winter or on the windowsill for greenery.
You need to store sevka in the same way as ordinary onions, but strictly observe the following rules:
- With a warm storage method, onions are placed in a room at temperatures up to + 25 ° C.
- With the cold method - in the cellar, the temperature is from 0 to + 3 ° C.
- Sevc is better preserved in the dark.
- Before planting, the onion is aged in a warm room for 10-12 days.
What will happen if you do not harvest on time?
Onions, like other crops, require strict adherence to harvest dates. This is due to the fact that the following can happen:
- Taste is deteriorating.
- The content of nutrients is reduced.
- If the harvesting is too early, the husk does not have time to fully form, due to which the bulbs are exposed to diseases.In addition, the neck does not have time to dry out, so it remains thickened and juicy, and this leads to a reduction in shelf life.
- With overexposure of the heads in the soil, the risk of rotting, the occurrence of diseases against the background of wet autumn weather increases. Reduces storage time and excessive buildup of the root system (also due to increased humidity).
Possible errors and useful recommendations
Sometimes the crop deteriorates during storage, which is associated with the commission of some errors. How to prevent this - useful tips:
- The conditions of temperature and humidity, collection and drying of bulbs are not observed.
- Onions do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature, so when transferring it from one condition to another, lower or increase the degrees gradually.
- The heads are not stored for a long time if there are unripe elements in the middle of the total crop (they must be used first of all). You can identify them by the thickness and juiciness of the neck.
- You can not cut the neck before storage under the shoulders of the bulbs - you need to leave at least 4 cm.
- When the heads are dry, the husks crack, exposing the heads. This helps to reduce shelf life and the development of diseases.
- Many beginners to accelerate the ripening time of the bulbs completely cut the tops, and not break it. It is forbidden to do this, since the heads are fed from the feather part.
- Bulbs cannot be damaged mechanically - throw, tap to clean from dirt, use sharp objects.
- When shortening the drying time, the vegetable is affected by fungi.
- It is undesirable to dry the heads in several layers - their inner layers of scales will not dry out.
- Store onion plants separately from other vegetables.
If you strictly followed the rules of harvesting and storing onions, but you did not manage to keep the crop for a long time - do not be discouraged, because experience comes over the years and practice. Be sure to consider the regional climate, the conditions for a particular variety and remember the timing of planting the vegetable.
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