Watering is one of the most important agrotechnical procedures for growing onions. You need to know how to irrigate in greenhouses and in open soil, when to do it and in what quantities. Observance of such subtleties will allow you to grow a good and healthy crop.
When to start watering?
It is necessary to water the onion from the moment of planting, but an important condition is irrigation in moderation, otherwise the plant will be attacked by various fungi that develop in conditions of excessive importance.
In spring, onions are irrigated when the sun dries the earth after the winter period. As soon as greens and foliage begin to break through, you can water the plant.
General rules
Watering is necessary, because the plant instantly responds to any changes in the climate and in the soil. If the bulb is in a dry and not moistened land for a long time, it simply stops growing greenery and nourishes the tuber itself.
To collect a quality crop, follow the rules for irrigation of beds, which include the following items:
- make sure that water does not fall on the bulb itself and its leaves;
- the soil should be soaked with water to a depth of 20 cm;
- make sure that the soil crust does not appear;
- use water for watering, the temperature of which is from +14 to +17 degrees;
- water the beds in the evening;
- the most effective irrigation method is a drip system;
- stop watering a few weeks before harvesting.
From the moment of planting, the onions are watered for about two months, and the frequency depends on the level of soil moisture and weather conditions.
In the greenhouse
To get the onion crop as early as possible, the crop is planted in greenhouses. Greenhouse conditions make it possible to grow onions at any time of the year, the main thing is to take into account the features of irrigation:
- moisten the soil on the eve of planting, and for better moisture retention, mix the soil with sawdust;
- on the day of planting, carry out the first watering with a warm, weak solution of manganese;
- a week later, water the beds using the ecological biological product Fitosporin M (1 tablespoon per bucket of water);
- subsequent irrigation is carried out only in case of drying out the soil (water temperature is +17 degrees);
- then, based on temperature values, determine how often you need to water: at + 15-20 - once every 10 days, above +25 - once every 4 days;
- check the quality and condition of the soil and, depending on this, determine the required volume of water.
Fulfilling such simple conditions, you can harvest in 25-30 days.
In the open ground
Watering onions in open ground is a more complicated process than in greenhouses, since in the second case, soil moisture is easier to control. Under the influence of the sun and wind, open ground dries faster, which has a direct effect on the yield of onions. To obtain an annual stable crop, it is recommended to create a notebook in which to draw up an irrigation schedule.
The first time the soil is watered immediately before planting. Such irrigation is needed to settle the soil so that the planted onion does not later appear on the surface. Use approximately 20 liters of water per 1 sq.m.
After that, make grooves for planting and spill them, and then proceed directly to the onion planting. Sprinkle the culture with soil and carry out the first watering. Use water for irrigation with the addition of Fitosporin or potassium permanganate to disinfect the soil:
- Fitosporin added in the amount indicated on the package of the drug;
- potassium permanganate diluted in water until a pale pink solution forms.
Before the appearance of a green feather (5-10 cm), you do not need to water the onion. Then irrigate the plants until the water leaves the ground, and the next day loosen the soil.
In the future, irrigate no more than once a week and pay attention to weather conditions:
- in dry, arid weather, onions need one watering per week;
- after heavy rains, water the beds not earlier than a week after their completion;
- if it was hot weather, but it was raining lightly, water it according to the schedule, as if there was no rain at all.
After the onset of bulb formation and breaking off of the shooter, they need to be irrigated, since when the shooter is formed, the bulb practically stops filling, and all the moisture goes into this arrow.
Next, focusing on the ripening level of the onion, you must determine when to stop watering completely.
Watering methods for onions
Watering using a hose is a dangerous undertaking, since a strong jet of water can expose the bulbs, which makes them vulnerable. Also, you can not allow the erosion of the soil, so think about how you will water:
- Sprinkler - a more gentle method than a regular hose, however, even such a method can harm your crops - wash the seeds.
- Watering can - A simple inventory that is used when watering onions grown on the feather, but if you are interested in turnips, then water between the rows.
- Hose. You can use a hose, but carefully monitor the pressure level - it should be small, and in the beds themselves between the rows make a groove into which water is poured.
- Drip irrigation system. It is best to lay a hose between the rows with small holes along the entire length every 8-10 cm. So watering is carried out between the rows, and the onion is enough, because of which you do not need to bend to the side to bring moisture directly under the root.
Features and norms of irrigation
Consider the need for watering at different stages of planting and ripening, because each period has its own characteristics.
After landing
Irrigation rates and the amount of water depend on the weather and onion planting methods. The scheme is as follows:
- Sowing seeds. The soil is well watered before planting, and after that it is simply adjusted according to the weather and drying out of the soil - several times a week at the beginning of the growing season in May-June, after which the watering stops.
- Sewk before winter. They do not touch the soil at all, do not water it and do not moisten it.
- Sewk in the spring. To root and form the bulbs, it is enough to water the beds twice a week with a water flow of 6-10 l / sq.m.
At the beginning of growth
After the bulbs take root and begin to grow, the need for watering is slightly reduced, but you need to irrigate as you consume and according to weather conditions.
With frequent and heavy rains, you can not water the onions, and in dry weather with a temperature of + 25-30 degrees it is recommended to water every 5-7 days.
When ripening
With the ripening of onions, watering is reduced, otherwise it affects the duration of storage of the crop and its taste. Because of this, a few months after planting, the intensity of irrigation is reduced depending on the planted variety.
Before harvest
A couple of weeks before harvesting, irrigation ceases altogether. Harvest must be harvested from dry land, otherwise the subsequent drying process will be delayed, and the bulbs themselves will be worse stored.
What mixtures are used for watering?
There may be situations when the onion feathers turn yellow and dry. Many gardeners believe that this is due to a lack of watering in hot weather and flood their garden harder, which causes even greater harm. The reason most often is the onion fly larvae, which eat up the roots of the onion, which causes yellowing and wilting.
Helps to cope with the problem of watering onions with salt water. Working broth is prepared from table salt and clean water. For one season, three waterings are carried out with a frequency of 10 days:
- The first watering is carried out when the feathers grow by 5-7 cm. The solution is made weak - 300 g of salt is dissolved in 10 l of water. For 1 sq.m half of this volume will be spent. You need to water under the root.
- During the second watering, the amount of salt is increased to 400 g.
- During the third - up to 600 g.
If the first watering helped to cope with the onion fly, then the other two can also be left at 300 grams. After each salt watering, be sure to water the onions also clean.
When to stop watering?
As harvesting dates approach, watering is gradually reduced. This helps to maintain humidity at the required level until a constriction appears on the neck of the onion (it becomes thinner and soft), and the feather begins to gradually run through.
When onion greens are actively laying on the ground, then approximately 2-3 weeks before harvesting, irrigation is completely stopped. It is important to monitor the weather during this period - if it rains and the onions are ready for harvesting, you need to protect the bed from precipitation.
Otherwise, secondary growth may begin, accompanying the re-launching of arrows, and this adversely affects the quality and quantity of the crop.
Danger
If you violate the watering regime, certain consequences may occur.
Overflow
During onion irrigation, consider that oversaturation with water is a rather dangerous factor for bulb crops. If the amount of water exceeds the norm, then at times the risk of developing pathogenic bacteria increases, which affects the duration of laying after harvesting.
In addition, onions, oversaturated with moisture, rot - turnips because of this become inedible, which negates all your efforts.
Lack of moisture
The lack of moisture has one significant minus - the plant can significantly slow down growth or even stop in development. Therefore, the issue of timely and standardized watering is very important.
From the presented video you will learn about the basic rules for watering onions:
Planting onions occurs in several stages, and irrigation plays an important role in this process. While the bulbs are growing, whether it is open ground or a greenhouse, the soil should be well prepared and watered. The better and better the irrigated land, the faster the culture takes root.