Processing onion sets before planting with potassium permanganate and salt. Planting onions before winter - optimal timing and suitable varieties How to process the garden before planting onions

Not all summer residents know how to properly plant onions before winter and why this is necessary. In this simple, at first glance, business, there are several subtleties that should be observed in order to get a plentiful and early harvest.

Not all onion varieties are suitable for winter planting, however, choosing the right variety does not guarantee you the result. Only a combination of competent agricultural technology, high-quality planting material and compliance with the onion planting dates will allow you to enjoy fresh greenery next spring.

How to plant onions before winter

For the autumn planting of onions, a garden bed is suitable, on which tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, any cereals, beets, mustard, rapeseed, and salads were previously grown. It is not recommended to plant onions after beans, potatoes, alfalfa, red clover, because this can lead to nematode damage. But you can plant onions after onions only once - in the third year you will not get a good harvest.

The soil for winter onion planting must be prepared in advance. The best harvest will be on loose fertile soils. Therefore, when digging, add 5-6 kg of humus, 10 g of potassium salt and 20 g of superphosphate per 1 sq.m. Before planting, sprinkle the soil with wood ash at the rate of 10 g per sq.m.

Then weed the bed, level and compact its surface. Cut the grooves at a distance of 20 m from each other and lay dry seedlings in them, leaving 5-7 cm gaps between the bulbs. Gently fill the bulbs, but do not water them - there is enough moisture in the soil in autumn. With the onset of frost, mulch the plantings with dry leaves, spruce branches, coniferous litter and cover the mulch with branches so that it is not blown away by the wind. If the winters in your area are snowy, you can do without additional shelters.

It is also important to know how deep to plant onions before winter. Bulbs that are too deep in the spring will germinate longer, waiting for the soil to warm up, and those located near the surface may freeze or get wet. Therefore, the optimal depth of the sowing during planting is 5 cm.

Processing onion sets before planting

Regardless of whether you purchased planting material or grew it yourself, onions will have to be sorted and sorted before autumn planting. First of all, remove all diseased, rotten, dried and mechanically damaged bulbs.

Then divide the remaining onion by size:

  • up to 1 cm in diameter (oatmeal);
  • from 1 to 3 cm in diameter (sevok);
  • more than 3 cm in diameter (sample).

The first and second options are great for planting on the bulb, and the third gives early and abundant greens.

If you are not sure about the health of the seed, it is advisable to decontaminate it before planting.

What onions can be planted before winter

Before winter, you can sow almost any onion, and the soil for it is prepared in the same way, regardless of variety and variety. But in agricultural technology there are some differences.

Black onion before winter

Growing onions from seeds allows you to adapt the variety to your soil and climate, as this growth is as close to natural conditions as possible. In addition, sowing nigella allows you to save on planting material and be sure of the quality of the onion.

Nigella is sown in frozen ground at the rate of 100 seeds per 1 linear meter of groove. The bed is covered with a layer of humus or peat, but not watered. In winter, it is advisable to ensure that there is always a layer of snow on the ridge with crops. If your winters are not snowy, mulch the nigella with leaves or sawdust, and remove the mulch in the spring before germination.

Onion on a turnip before winter

The autumn planting of onions on a turnip is good not only because it frees time from these troubles in the spring, but also because the onion fly damages the plants less. Indeed, by the time it begins to attack your ridges, the bulbs are already forming a dense bottom and a developed root lobe. Apart from the timing of planting, this onion will be no different from the rest, and you will need to take care of it in the same way as you would for the onion that you always planted in the spring.

Bow-batun before winter

Batun onions, popular due to their juicy greenery, are sown only before winter, and already in frozen ground. It does not have full-fledged bulbs, so the seeds are poured thickly, laying holes at a distance of 20 cm from each other. After sowing, the ridge is mulched with humus or peat, covered with foil in the spring.

Shallots for the winter

Shallots are planted before winter a month and a half before the onset of frost, however, in this case, almost half of the bulbs do not tolerate winter. His planting technique is the same as that of an ordinary onion, but you only need to choose the smallest onions - they are better adapted to the cold. It is necessary to deepen shallots by 10 cm when planting, but this should be just laying in ready-made holes or pits. It is impossible to press a tender onion into the ground - this injures its root system.

When can you plant onions before winter

Planting onions in the fall is carried out without reference to the calendar - you should focus only on the weather and climatic conditions. It is important to remember that from the moment of planting until the soil freezes, the onion should have time to take root, but not start growing. For this, ordinary onions require 2-3 weeks.

How to understand that it is time to plant onion sets before winter? Follow the thermometer - as soon as the temperature outside drops to 5-7 ° C and stays at this mark for several days in a row, you can start planting. If autumn in your area is unstable, try dividing the onion into two parts. Plant one in mid-October, the second in early November. But there is no point in planting onions after the onset of stable frosts - it will simply freeze and will not rise in the spring.

Where to plant onions before winter

The choice of a place for the winter planting of onion sets is not fundamental - this culture will take root well and sprout both on classic ridges, and on high ones, and in greenhouses. However, if you plant an onion before winter in a greenhouse, it will turn green much earlier than its street counterparts. If you don’t have a greenhouse, and you want to add onions to the salad already in April, just cover the garden bed with spunbond or film as soon as the snow melts.

Since the onion calmly tolerates small frosts, planting it on a warm bed does not make sense, leave it for more delicate crops. In addition, if your region has a mild and protracted autumn, with such heating, the onion will have time not only to take root, but also to start growing, and then it will inevitably freeze, which will have a bad effect on the next year's yield.

The best varieties of onions for planting before winter

When buying onion sets, always specify what kind of variety is in front of you. After all, the first, even beautiful, large and healthy seed that comes across may turn out to be one of the southern varieties and, under the conditions of a short daylight hours, simply will not take root, and will not rise in the spring.

Pay attention to the bulbs themselves - their diameter should not exceed 1 cm, and upon the most careful examination, no traces of rot or damage should be detected. Each region has special varieties of onions, but proven options are most often in demand, for example, Radar, Danilovsky, Senshui, Sturon, Shakespeare etc.


Processing onions before planting helps protect the plant from gray rot and pests. The processed planting material does not suffer from temperature changes, sprouts faster and forms even bulbs.

Onion processing before planting before winter

Purchase seeds in specialized stores. Do not buy deformed and sprouted planting onions: they will grow weak and painful. Sort the seeds before planting, discarding dried and cracked bulbs.

Source: Depositphotos

Onion processing before planting is carried out with chemical and folk remedies

2-3 days before planting, warm the onion by spreading it on a newspaper near the stove or radiator. This will protect the plant from the formation of arrows and inflorescences. Instead of heating, you can pour the bulbs for 2-3 minutes. hot water.

Soak the seed for 1.5–2 hours in the nutrient mixture of ammophoska or nitroammophoska in the proportion of 10 liters of water per 1 tbsp. l. composition. The drug will increase the germination of onions, protect the heads from damage by the onion fly.

Process onions at the end of September just before planting in the ground. After contact with chemicals, it should not be eaten.

Treatment with copper sulphate prevents fungal diseases in young plantings. The drug kills spores of the rot pathogen and disinfects the soil. Dilute 1.5 tsp. copper sulfate in a bucket of warm water. Before planting in the ground, soak the bulbs for 3-4 hours in the resulting solution.

To protect onion sets from powdery mildew, treat seed with TMTD solution or fentiuram. The preparations will destroy fungal nematodes, healing and strengthening the rhizome of the plant.

Processing onions with folk remedies

You can rid the seeds of diseases and ensure a rich harvest with the help of folk remedies. They are safe for humans, do not change the structure of the soil and are effective plant nutrition.

Folk remedies for processing onions:

  • Dilute in 1.5 liters of water 1 tbsp. l. soda and soak the seed in the resulting solution for 1-2 hours. This will help to avoid shooting the bow and rotting of the heads.
  • Treat the seeds affected by the onion fly with an infusion of wood ash. It kills insect larvae and eggs, strengthens the rhizome and regenerates onion scales.
  • To protect the onion from gray rot and the mealybug, roll the seeds in charcoal crumbs. It corrodes harmful microorganisms, preventing the disease of seedlings.
  • A weak saline solution will disinfect the bulbs from nematodes. 3 art. l. dilute salt in 2 liters of water. Dip the onion in the solution for 4-6 hours.
  • Dissolve 40 g of potassium permanganate in 10 liters of water, immerse the seeds in the solution for 1-2 hours. Potassium manganese disinfects heads, kills onion mite larvae, eliminates bacteriosis and gray rot.

To protect the onions from frost, cover the plantings with a layer of dry peat or humus. Mulch the beds with dry hay, sawdust, chopped straw, or fallen leaves.

Processing onions before planting is a preventive measure that protects the bulbs from diseases and pests. It is carried out with the help of chemical and folk remedies.

Onion is the main vegetable, without which it is impossible to cook tasty and healthy dishes. But in order to grow a crop, it is not always enough to follow the rules of agricultural technology, because, like any other crop, onions have their own pests and diseases that can nullify all the gardener's efforts. Therefore, experts recommend protecting the sevok even before planting, which will save you from many problems in the future.

The need for pre-sowing onion treatment lies in the fact that against each pest and disease there is a specific medicine that is better to use in advance as a preventive measure than to subsequently treat an already affected plant.

This procedure is especially important if the planting material was purchased on the market, and there is no 100% confidence in its quality. Then processing the seed before planting is a mandatory, not a recommended procedure.

Pre-sowing processing of onions allows you to achieve the following goals:

  • the percentage of germination increases;
  • the growth of the feather and the bulb is rooted;
  • the development of powdery mildew and decay is prevented;
  • protects from the effects of pests;
  • the percentage of shooting is reduced to a minimum;
  • productivity increases.

High-quality and timely processing in the spring will allow not only an experienced gardener to achieve a good onion harvest, but also help the beginner avoid many problems, as well as strengthen the immune system and resistance of the crop to negative factors.

Diseases and pests of onions

To achieve a good onion harvest, you need to know that the plant is susceptible to various diseases and pests. Moreover, some lie in wait for it during the entire storage period, while others - throughout the growing season, which reduces not only the quantity and quality of the crop, but can completely destroy it.

To understand who you have to fight and what poses a danger to the crop, you should study the common diseases and pests of onion sets. This will help in the future to realize how important spring onion processing is before planting.

  1. Peronosporosis or downy mildew. The gardener will be able to recognize this disease by the characteristic light spots, which, in the process of further development, acquire a dark purple hue. As a result, the affected onion feathers begin to dry out prematurely. The causative agent of the disease hibernates in the bulb, and does not betray its vital activity. When planting, the sowing develops normally within 3-4 months, after which the plant is inhibited.
  2. Neck rot. This disease is the most common, which is associated with improper storage of sevka in the winter. In this case, the pathogen enters the thick neck of the bulb.
  3. Cercosporosis. The disease can be recognized by the characteristic spots of irregular brown color with a light edging, located on the feathers of the onion. The disease progresses during the growing season, thereby causing premature drying of the leaves. The infection persists in the sevka for a long period of time.
  4. Rust. Appears as light, slightly convex pads. Then they increase and acquire a dark shade. The disease leads to premature drying of feathers, which negatively affects the future harvest.
  5. Onion moth. Damage to plantings is caused by the larvae of the caterpillar of this pest. They settle in the middle of onion feathers and develop and feed there. As a result, the leaves dry out, starting from the apical part.
  6. The peak of the mass destruction of onions falls on the end of May - the beginning of June. The damage to plantings is caused by the larvae of the onion fly, which gnaw through the passages in the bulbs of the set. This leads to their decay, which causes the death of the entire plant.
  7. Stem nematode. It is a cylindrical worm of light color. The pest infects all parts of the plant, which leads to deformation of feathers and bulbs. As a result, the plant acquires a dwarf form.
  8. Scoop. The revival of caterpillars after winter occurs at the end of May. Eventually they penetrate the leaves of the onion or eat out large cavities directly into the bulb.
  9. Beetle secretive proboscis. The appearance of a pest can be recognized by the characteristic small cavities on the feathers, which is a sign of its vital activity. Its larvae feed on the inner pulp, eating away its longitudinal strips, without violating the integrity of the upper shell. This leads to the drying of the leaves and to a decrease in the vitality of the plant.

Important! One of the biggest problems when growing onions is their shooting, but it should be understood that this is not a disease, but a natural phase of plant development.

How to treat onions before planting from diseases and pests

There are many ways to treat sevka before planting, but there is no single method that can simultaneously provide protection from diseases, pests and shooting. From viral diseases and white rot, in general, there is no way to protect. The only thing that can be done in this case is to prepare onion sets in advance and disinfect the soil, which will increase the resistance of plants to pathogens.

Before carrying out pre-sowing preparation of onions, it is necessary to sort out the sets and sort them by size. Separate planting of large and small bulbs will greatly facilitate their care in the future.

Important! Without regret, it is necessary to throw out deformed, dry, rotten specimens, as well as those that do not inspire confidence.

Another procedure to be followed is cut dry top down to living tissue. But it should be borne in mind that when growing onions on a feather, it is necessary to cut them more dramatically, as this will speed up the germination of greenery, and when planting on a turnip, it is recommended to remove only the upper dry tip without damaging the bulb itself. With unwillingness or lack of time, this stage you can skip.

Important! You can not cut the bottom from which the roots are formed, otherwise you can forget about the future harvest.

Video: preparing onion sets for planting

How to process a bow before planting from shooting

To prevent the early appearance of arrows at the bow, it is necessary to apply warming up bulbs. This can be done on a battery by scattering seedlings on corrugated cardboard or on a window in the sun.

The first 2 weeks of warming up should be carried out at a temperature of 20 degrees, and then 10 hours at a temperature of 40 degrees, but at the same time clearly monitor the time so as not to overexpose the planting material.

Then you should carry out hardening, which will help the set to develop resistance to temperature extremes in open ground. To do this, it is recommended to heat the water to a temperature of 45 degrees and lower the onion into it for 15 minutes. After the time has elapsed, it is necessary to soak the sevok in cold water for 10 minutes. Then dry the seed, and then planted in open ground.

Video: why the onion shoots from the set and what to do

Important! This method cannot completely rid the bow of shooting, but its percentage will be minimal.

Video: how to prevent archery

How to treat onions before sowing from fungal diseases

There are different ways to treat sevka from rot and other diseases. Their choice depends on the capabilities and preferences of the gardener.

The simplest is the processing of onions before planting. food soda. This will require 1 tsp. dissolve soda in 1 liter of warm water, then dip the seeds into the solution for 2 hours. After the time has elapsed, the seed must be laid out to dry.

Video: using soda when planting onions

Another method is processing blue vitriol. This method is especially relevant if there are doubts about the quality of the seed. To prepare a working solution, you need 1.5 tbsp. l. Dissolve the drug in 1 bucket of warm water. Stir the mixture until a characteristic shade of copper appears. Dip the seedlings into the solution for 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the bulbs. At the end of the procedure, the seed should be dried and planted.

Important! Processing onions with copper sulphate cannot be combined with soaking in potassium permanganate or.

Another common way to treat onions for diseases is to soak the sevka in a solution. potassium permanganate. To do this, it is necessary to prepare the product in a ratio of 3 g per 10 liters of water, that is, the solution must be saturated purple. Soak the seedlings for 2 hours, then rinse with clean water and dry before planting.

It is effective to carry out the treatment with a biological product, which is sold in the store. In order for the tool to give a result, it is necessary to take into account the features of its preparation. To do this, dilute the drug in a ratio of 10 g per 6 liters of water 2 hours before treatment in order to activate the active substance of the biological product. Then soak the sevok for 2 hours.

How to treat onions before planting from pests

To protect seed from pests, you can use a simple method of protection. It is necessary to process the onion before planting salt. To do this, you need to prepare a saline solution in a proportion of 1 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. Soaking is carried out for 6 hours. Then the sevok should be dried. This method is especially effective against stem nematodes, thrips and mites.

Processing onions from onion flies

Can be used for onion fly Birch tar, which is sold in a pharmacy. For processing, dilute 1 tbsp. l. funds in 1 liter of water at room temperature. The duration of soaking is 2-3 hours. Then dry the seedlings and plant.

Video: processing onion sets from onion flies with birch tar

By the way, when the feather grows 10-15 centimeters, you can also water the onion from the onion fly salt. You will need 1 cup of salt per 10 liters of water. Watering rate - 1 cup of salt water for each bulb. The next day, it is recommended to water the plantings with water and feed with ashes.

Video: processing onions from onion flies with saline

Processing onion sets before planting in the spring from pests and diseases, according to experts, is a mandatory procedure. But the gardener must decide for himself whether to process the sevka before planting or not. However, in its absence, one should not be surprised at the lack of a proper harvest.

Video: processing onion sets before planting

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To get a good harvest of onions, many gardeners use sevok grown from seeds as planting material. Simple preparation and processing before planting will help to get friendly shoots and create protection for the crop from pests or diseases. The measures taken will also affect the vegetation process and the formation of the head.

Before planting and sowing in open ground, onion seeds must be prepared in a special way - disinfected or pickled, cut off the top, treated with phytosporin from fungus or to reduce bolting.

Experienced gardeners remember the times when there was no talk of preparing onions for planting. It was believed that the onion is a plant enough unpretentious, not requiring special attention. They managed only with a bulkhead to remove the damaged bulbs.

With the current ecology and the vagaries of the climate in different regions, it is not worth dreaming that culture will grow by itself.

In addition, each stage of the preparatory process gives the planting material advantageous qualities:

  • growth promotion;
  • destruction of harmful bacteria by disinfection;
  • strengthening immunity (resistance to a number of diseases and pests);
  • turnip rot prevention;
  • increasing resilience to weather disasters.

Harvesting a bountiful onion crop isn't just about proper care. The lion's share of success depends on the quality of seed preparation for planting.

How to do pre-sowing treatment of sevka in the spring

It is possible to strengthen the immune system of sevka for resistance to pests and diseases. by soaking. There are a lot of recipes for solutions for the pre-sowing procedure, you can easily make and choose a convenient option.

Popular components include:

  • salt;
  • potassium permanganate;
  • copper sulfate;
  • baking soda;
  • ammonia;
  • Birch tar.

The main enemy of the bow is onion fly. To prevent its invasion of the beds will help the treatment of the sevka with a saline solution. The same way will save the culture from thrips and ticks.

And in the fight against fungal spores, it has proven itself well. potassium permanganate. Soaking in a weak solution will help destroy microorganisms on the planting material, the main thing is to drain the solution in time.

To obtain fast shoots, various growth stimulants are used. Pre-planting treatment accelerates the germination of shoots by 3-6 days. Among the effective means solutions of zircon and humate, "Energen".

Proper handling

Planting material begins to prepare for the planting season in the fall.

During storage, it is necessary to observe the temperature regime and prevent an increase in the humidity of the air in the room. Good ventilation or regular ventilation prevent damage to the seedlings. In the spring, immediately before planting, the onion undergoes complex processing.

From pests and diseases


Sevok for planting is purchased or used, grown from nigella seeds. It is impossible to visually determine the presence or absence of fungal spores and other harmful bacteria in it, therefore it is recommended to carry out disinfection procedure.

There are many drugs and various means that can cope with this task. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, which must be taken into account before use.

Many gardeners use the old proven method of processing planting material - soak it in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20-25 minutes. Another method involves the use of saltpeter (2-3 grams), which is diluted in a bucket of warm water.

To increase immunity and get rid of harmful bacteria will help the usual salt. In a bucket of water, 5-6 tablespoons of salt are diluted, after which the sevok is immersed for 4-5 hours. A little less concentrated salt water is poured over the soil under the beds for the purpose of disinfection.

Do not abuse the amount of salt or frequent use. This will help protect plants from diseases, but it will spoil the soil for a long time. It is recommended to carry out one-time procedures.


From fungal infections, onions will be protected by treatment with the drug Fitosporin. In a bucket of water, 35 gr. Fitosporin and immerse the prepared heads in the liquid for 20-30 minutes.

To stimulate growth

In order for the seeds to grow quickly and give a good harvest, it is recommended to treat it with growth stimulants before planting. The most accessible and popular way is to use wood ash rich in potassium and natural antiseptics.

A procedure besides accelerating growth prevents rotting material in the ground. It will be necessary to dilute 250 gr. in 5 liters of water. ash, then immerse the bulbs in the solution for 10 minutes. Then for 2-3 hours you need to dry them.

Effectively copes with the task of the drug Epin-Extra. 1 capsule is added to heated water up to 50 degrees. The soaking time of the heads is 10-15 minutes. You can also use other means: Biostim, Silk. The solution is prepared in the proportions indicated in the instructions.

Epin Extra - to stimulate growth

When planting onions before winter, the material is not processed with growth stimulants.

To reduce shooting

Warming up needed to prevent early arrow formation. Some gardeners carry out the procedure in the sun (at a temperature not lower than 20 degrees).

Others send sevok (in a cardboard box) to the battery, where, under the influence of heat of no more than 40 degrees, the planting material is kept for about 10 hours. It is important at the same time not to overexpose the onion and not overheat.

If there is no time to warm up, and the planting time has already come, you can fill the hay bulbs with hot water (about 50 degrees) for 15 minutes, after which you must pour cold water. Such express processing will not completely eliminate the release of arrows, but will significantly delay the time of their formation.

When soaking, it is recommended to immerse the onion in the solution in the grid. On top of it, you need to lay out a small weighting agent so that the sevok does not float up. Too heavy objects should not be used, as they will damage the integrity of the heads, which will spoil the planting material.

Preparation before processing

The preparatory process consists of the following steps:

  • sorting of planting material;
  • drying;
  • warming up;
  • soaking and disinfection;
  • drying.

When sorting, it is important not only to remove damaged onions, but also to sort out material suitable for planting. by size.

Large turnips are planted first on the beds, after them medium ones are sent to the soil, and the smallest ones germinate the fastest, so their turn is the last.


By planting seedlings of approximately the same diameter on the beds, it is provided uniform seedling development and feather forcing. In turn, root crops will be formed of approximately the same size, which is convenient for subsequent storage.

After the soaking procedures, it is important to rinse the sevok in clean water, changing it 2-3 times. Few people mention this fact, and inexperienced gardeners miss this stage.

Do I need to cut off the top of the onion set before planting?

If the landing is planned in a small area, then it is rational to supplement the process with pruning the bulbs.

For large plantations, this cut is difficult due to large volumes. Removing the top of the head accelerates shoot germination and creates favorable conditions for good vegetation.

In addition, proper trimming makes the soaking procedure more efficient, it is much easier for the solution to penetrate between the scales of the head. Careful preparation virtually eliminates unpleasant surprises during bulb cultivation.

When trimming, do not remove too large a fragment of the top. This will cause the planting material to rot or prevent the onion from releasing the greens.


Methods for pre-planting onion pruning

When growing onions on a feather from large heads cut off 1/3 of the top. This makes it easy to remove the greens when they reach the desired height. If the goal of agricultural technology is to obtain a root crop, then it is worth cutting off only the tail without hitting the white skin.

Some varieties (for example, Msergey) are cut on both sides: and top and bottom. This is done to accelerate growth and the rapid formation of the root system. Such manipulation gives the result literally the next day, when the process of shoot growth already begins. On a dry bottom, roots form much later.

According to the reviews of experienced gardeners, in any case, there is a reason to remove the woven part of the top. It is quite difficult for feathers to break through a dense barrier, and this is the factor that inhibits vegetation.

Having weighed all the pros and cons of preparing a seed for planting, we can state with confidence the need for these procedures. The cost of time and money will be minimal, and the quality of the bulbs and the entire crop increases significantly.