Content
Among the many varieties of onions, winter varieties are popular with gardeners, since they bring harvest earlier. Shakespeare onions have a number of advantages over many winter varieties, both in terms of care and yield.
Breeding history of the variety
Onion itself appeared as early as 4 thousand years BC. The homeland of this cultivated plant is China. But Shakespeare's onion is a Dutch variety. The variety appeared in Russia quite recently, but has already gained some popularity. Breeders bred a variety that is intended exclusively for planting in the fall; when planting in the spring, the yield is much smaller. This variety is sown with sevkom.
Description of the bow
Shakespeare onions - a winter variety, has a bulb weight of about 100 grams. Another advantage is the early ripening period.
The bulb is rounded, covered with round hard scales of yellow-brown color. The flesh of the fruit is white, rather juicy, and has a semi-sharp taste. It is not prone to shooting, which strongly distinguishes it from other winter varieties.
Characteristics of winter onions Shakespeare
There are several main characteristics that characterize Shakespeare's winter onion and give it positive reviews. First of all, it is an early ripening variety that yields one of the first among all known varieties of winter onions. The bulbs have excellent taste.
Yield
With proper care and competent agricultural technology, you can harvest the crop within 70 days after the first shoots. Onion yield is 3.5 kg / m2 ... The fruit has a dense shell that helps to withstand severe frosts. This makes it possible to grow the onion in question even in the conditions of the Siberian winter. It perfectly tolerates frosts down to -18 ° C.
Disease and pest resistance
Onions in the winter Shakespeare is perfect for novice gardeners, as it is resistant to most diseases and pests. But the onion fly still affects the plant, and therefore preventive measures should be taken.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Shakespeare variety winter onion has a number of advantages for which gardeners appreciate this variety.
Pros of the variety:
- sets do not need to be stored until spring;
- ripens much earlier than sown in spring;
- excellent taste;
- resistance to the formation of arrows;
- resistance to common onion diseases.
The only drawback of Shakespeare onions is the shelf life, but this applies to all winter varieties.
Planting and caring for Shakespeare winter onions
In order to harvest the maximum yield, it is necessary to follow the rules of agricultural technology. Shakespeare's onion set is winter because it is not recommended to plant it in spring. It is important to meet the deadlines and properly prepare the land. The timing, first of all, depends on the climatic conditions of the region where the planting takes place.
When to Plant Shakespeare Winter Onions
Planting time may vary each year depending on air and soil temperatures. This is usually the end of October and the beginning of November. Planting onions too early will result in early emergence and subsequent freezing.With a belated planting, the onion will not have time to root before the onset of winter. The air temperature must be +5 ° C. In this case, the temperature should remain at 0 ° C for about 2 weeks. Winter onion sets of the Shakespeare variety take root and grow even in Siberia, but according to reviews, it is important to plant it a couple of weeks before frost so that it does not freeze and has time to take root.
When to Plant Shakespeare Winter Onions in Siberia
Earlier dates are required for landing in Siberia. Before the onset of severe frosts, at least a month should pass after planting. Therefore, in Siberia, the planting date is set around mid-October or a little earlier.
Garden bed preparation
It is advisable to prepare the beds for planting in advance so as not to do this in the cold. First of all, the earth must be dug up and cleaned of the remnants of previous plantings. To improve soil fertility, you can use humus, potassium salt, superphosphate. And also to increase the nutritional value of the soil, wood ash is perfect, but you should be careful with fertilizers containing nitrogen. And also it is forbidden to use fresh manure.
It is advisable to choose a place for an onion bed that is sunny and dry. The garden bed is 15–20 cm high. The planting furrows are made at a distance of 15 cm. The bulbs must be planted at a depth of 3 cm.
How to plant Shakespeare onions in the winter
Initially, the seed should be disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes. This will prevent many diseases and strengthen the set before planting. Then dry the bulbs thoroughly and only then start planting. You can plant one bulb at a time, but planting in nests of 3-4 sets in one hole is also permissible for this variety. If you plant it deeper than 3 cm, then in the spring it will be difficult for him to ascend, and with a shallow planting, the onion can freeze in winter.
Growing onions
When growing, it is important to comply with the basic requirements for watering, feeding and care. Then the yield will be as high as possible. After planting, the onions must be mulched. In winter, make sure that there is enough snow on the beds. In the spring, the mulch should be removed, and then covered with a thin layer of ash on the beds.
Watering. After planting, the vegetable does not need watering. In the spring, there is enough natural precipitation, and therefore the soil is already wet. The first watering is needed no earlier than in the first half of May. The characteristics of the Shakespeare onion show that it is unpretentious in care, but you still need to monitor sufficient moisture.
Top dressing. For the first time, the soil must be fed while the bulb begins to ripen. The second feeding - after 14 days. Potassium phosphate fertilizers are perfect for this. The best option would be to apply fertilizers in liquid form, since they are better absorbed this way.
Be sure to weed the garden to weeds did not prevent the plant from growing and developing. And also be sure to loosen the soil, since the bulbs need air access.
Harvesting and storage
Approximately 2.5 months after the emergence of shoots, you can start harvesting the Shakespeare onion. The bulbs are dug in with a pitchfork. Shake off the soil from the bulb and spread the crop in the open air. Then the crop is transferred under a canopy to dry completely until the necks of the bulbs dry out. At this point, you need to cut off the roots and the remnants of the stem.
If you put the crop in a cool place, then it can last up to six months. The room must be completely dry and free from signs of mold on the walls. High humidity will not allow the harvest to survive.
Onion breeding methods
The main breeding method for the Shakespeare cultivar is the use of sevka. The sevok can be of various sizes, depending on the purpose of cultivation. Very small bulbs up to 1 cm are used to obtain crops with the longest possible shelf life. If you use a set with a larger diameter, it is possible to get a good feather for spring use.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The most common pest is the onion fly. To combat it, marigolds can be planted around the beds, which will scare off the pest. When the first signs of any disease appear, it is necessary to treat the plant with fungicides. And also the treatment with copper oxychloride is useful. In a more severe case, systemic fungicides are suitable.
Conclusion
Shakespeare onion is a Dutch winter variety. It is also grown on the territory of Russia, due to its frost resistance. It is unpretentious in care and resistant to many diseases. Has excellent taste. When planting, it is important to comply with the deadlines and be in time before frost so that the sevok takes root. Shakespeare winter onions are also suitable for cultivation in Siberia with proper care.
And when I planted Shakespeare's seedlings in the spring, the bulbs grew 1.5 times larger than before winter.