April onions: growing rules

Description of the species

This plant has underdeveloped "false" bulbs and a giant (up to 1 m) hollow stem. The main reason for growing Welsh onions is for their greens. The greens of Welsh onions have a milder flavor than their onion counterparts. The flower of Welsh onions resembles a spherical umbrella with numerous flowers. They are perennial onions, so once planted, they can grow in the same place for up to five years.

There are different varieties of bulbous onions:

• April Welsh onion – with a sharp taste and a sweet aftertaste, ripens early and is resistant to most diseases;
• Bahia Verde variety – a low-growing variety, spicy-sweet, with a bright aroma;
• Russian Winter variety is another low-growing but frost-resistant variety, less spicy, but aromatic and juicy;
• Welsh onion Seryozha is another frost-resistant variety that also produces a harvest early.

You can plant Tatarka onions by seeds or by dividing the plant. The best method, of course, is to plant them as seedlings.

Soil preparation and planting

When choosing a location for your garden bed, follow crop rotation guidelines. Chives seedlings or seeds can be planted after tomatoes, peas, cabbage, and beans. It's not recommended to sow onions in the same bed where garlic, onions, carrots, and cucumbers were previously grown.

Welsh leeks thrive in soil with a high humus content. They grow best in loamy or sandy loam soil. Choose the site especially carefully if you plan to plant the crop for several years. About two weeks before planting, fertilize the garden with the following solution: add 1 tablespoon each of urea, superphosphate, and potassium phosphate to 8 liters of compost. Some people add 200 grams of wood ash to this mixture. The solution is applied per square meter.

How to plant Welsh onions from seeds? Growing Welsh onions from seeds takes quite a bit of time. First, prepare the seeds before planting. Soak them in a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for 10-12 hours. This will help disinfect the seeds. In open ground, sow them in furrows about 2 cm deep. Mulching the bed is recommended. How to grow Welsh onions from seeds faster? The only way to speed up the sprouting process is to soak the seeds in water for 24 hours. During this time, the water should be changed twice.

When to plant onions? Tatarka can be sown three times per season. You can start in April, then in June and July, and finally in October-November. Onions sown in winter will sprout as soon as the snow melts. It's best to mulch the bed. Planting chives in the fall can be done while renewing the bed—select the most beautiful bush and divide it into seedlings, which you space 10 cm apart.

Planting and caring for April onions is similar to other varieties. When should you plant this variety? It's best to do so before the cold weather sets in, allowing the plant time to harden. Fertilize after winter. It's not customary to thin out a single-year crop, as this will reduce the yield.

Growing in soil

Don't worry about whether or not leek will tolerate growing in the shade. This variety isn't as demanding in terms of light as other onion varieties. The plant thrives in moisture, but standing water isn't ideal. Sandy and peaty soils are also off-limits. Such soils will slow down the leek's growth and negatively impact the greens, making them tough and bitter.

Growing and caring for chives is a simple task, especially for experienced gardeners. Simply keep the onion beds clean and weed regularly. Water them weekly (10 liters of water per square meter), loosen the soil, protect them from pests, and fertilize.

Since batun is a perennial plant, it needs to be prepared for winter by pruning and fertilizing. Some gardeners dig up the bulbs for the winter and let them rest for about two months, after which they can be replanted.

Why do my onions turn yellow? Yellowing of the leaves is caused by insufficient watering, nutrient deficiencies, and onion gnats. What can I do to protect my onions from gnats? A tried and true method is to alternate between onion beds and carrot beds. Or, regularly sprinkle the beds with wood ash, which will also serve as a fertilizer.

If onions have bolted, a good harvest will not be possible. This happens if the planting material was selected or stored incorrectly, or if the planting timing was incorrect. To prevent this, you can plant the onions in winter. If your beds are already bolting, it's best to remove the flower stalks as soon as possible.

Growing on a windowsill and in a greenhouse

If you want to enjoy your harvest longer, you can grow Welsh onions on a windowsill. Growing onions on a windowsill is no more difficult than in a garden. You can dig up 2-3-year-old bushes with a lump of soil in the fall and transplant them into nutritious potting soil. Maintain high humidity and temperature for the bushes. Transplanted mature bushes will produce fresh shoots faster. Another option is to sow Welsh onions from seeds. The advantage of seeded Welsh onions is their longevity. It's best to mulch the pots containing the seeds.

If you don't have enough space at home, you can build a greenhouse. Choose a location with plenty of sunlight. Polycarbonate is best for construction. When building, make sure the roof is designed to prevent snow from accumulating on it. When to sow onions in a greenhouse? You can start in early November.

Collection and storage

The most productive years for batun are the first few years of its life. You can begin harvesting the tops from mid-summer. Harvesting stops no later than a month before the first frost. The greens are best suited for cutting when they reach 20–25 cm in length. Fertilize the onions after each cut. To ensure juicier greens, water the onions approximately three days before harvesting.

The cut greens, tied into a bunch, are cooled, wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator.

Video: How to Plant Chives

This video will show you how to properly plant chives.