Growing onions on a feather in sawdust at home

green onionsThe fragrant onion greens grown in an apartment are in no way inferior to those grown in the beds in the garden.

Feathers contain vitamin K, C, beta-carotene, folic acid and minerals.

Growing onions on a feather in sawdust at home allows you to get a fairly large crop of feathers within a few weeks without the hassle.

The main advantages of this method are the rapid growth of greenery and the ability of wood chips to retain the moisture necessary for onions.

What you need to grow onions in sawdust

Before you learn how to plant onions in sawdust on the windowsill, you should prepare everything you need to create a “bed”. To expel a pen at home use:

  • Onion turnips;
  • Box or container for planting;
  • Sawdust from wood.

There are no strict restrictions in the choice of containers and planting material. Bulbs of different varieties and sizes are suitable for growing. Any sealed, low container can act as a container for planting. Knowing a few recommendations will help you properly organize the preparatory stage and start growing homemade greens.

Selection and preparation of containers

onions on the windowsill

The capacity for planting is selected based on the number of bulbs that are planned to be planted. The heads should fit snugly together.

The height of the container or box can be arbitrary. To save space and sawdust, it is recommended to use a low container. This can be a flower seedling bowl, a disposable plastic container for a cake, or another container that is on hand.

It is important that in the container for growing onions on the windowsill in sawdust it is possible to make holes for excess liquid to escape. Otherwise, stagnant water will lead to rotting of the plantings.

Do not use containers in which products that could be harmful to human health were stored.

Before planting, the containers are washed with soda and rinsed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Preparing onions for distillation in sawdust

The amount of harvest depends on the characteristics and competent preparation of planting material. Bulbs for forcing feathers at home are selected in accordance with the following requirements:

  • The diameter of the heads should be 2,5-5 cm;
  • Turnips should not have black spots, signs of rot or mold;
  • The heads should remain firm when pressed.

preparing onions for planting

Fungal or bacterial rot spreads very quickly in sawdust and spreads from one bulb to another. If you plant at least one diseased head, the crop will be in jeopardy. Do not use specimens that are deformed when pressed to extrude the pen. This indicates that the flesh has begun to rot. Preparation of turnips selected for planting includes 3 mandatory steps:

  1. The bulbs are freed from the top layer of the husk:
  2. Soak for half an hour in a pink solution of manganese, then washed and dried;
  3. Cut off the upper part by 1-1,5 cm to increase the number of sprouts.

You can meet the recommendation to process the onion before planting in a growth stimulator. Despite the fact that such a measure accelerates the appearance of feathers, it is undesirable to use it. The preparations contain chemicals that reduce the benefits of green onions.

sawdust preparation

Any wood shavings are suitable for planting, with the exception of softwood sawdust. They have high acidity, which makes it difficult to build green mass. You should not choose wood fillers intended for pets as a substrate. The shavings are treated with special chemicals that accumulate in the green.

sawdust for pets

sawdust in a tray

Before planting, sawdust is shed with hot water with the addition of potassium permanganate. The solution is drained after the liquid has cooled to a temperature of +18-20°C. The procedure reduces the risk of developing fungus and bacterial rot, reduces acidity. Sawdust swollen after hot water acquires a loose structure, which contributes to the aeration of the onion root system, accelerates the germination of greens.

Creating the necessary conditions

growing onions in sawdust

The culture is unpretentious and yields a green crop in normal conditions for an apartment. The temperature required for germination varies between +20-25°C. Lower values ​​slow down feather growth. In winter, onions on the windowsill in sawdust need sunlight and protection from a sharp drop in night temperatures. A container with turnips is placed on the south or southeast window. Illumination affects the color and length of feathers.

Juiciness and taste depend on the variety of turnips and proper care of the bulbs. To get the maximum yield, it is necessary to properly organize the planting of onions in sawdust at home or in an apartment.

Under favorable conditions, the length of green onions grown on sawdust reaches 30 cm.

Growing onions in sawdust

Following simple recommendations for planting and caring for bulbs, you can get the first crop of juicy, tasty feathers in 2-3 weeks.

The procedure involves several sequential steps:

  • The prepared container is filled with a moist substrate by 2-3 cm. The height of the sawdust should correspond to the size of the bulbs. When planting, they are deepened by about a third.
  • The heads are immersed in sawdust as close to each other as possible. A dense planting will make it difficult for the turnips to grow, the main forces will be spent on growing green feathers.
  • The free space between the bulbs is filled with a layer of wood chips so that the upper part remains free.
  • A container with onions is placed on a well-lit windowsill, protected from direct rays and drafts.
  • The first watering with settled water is carried out 2-4 days after planting, as soon as the substrate dries out slightly.

Further care of the onion involves regular watering. High humidity is necessary for the roots to grow green throughout the entire period.

Water deficiency gives the feathers a darker color and an overly bitter taste.

Not only a box or container is suitable for growing onions on a feather in sawdust on a windowsill. You can plant the bulbs in a plastic bag. Landing technology has several nuances:

  • Choose a transparent bag without holes;
  • A layer of wet wood substrate is laid at the bottom;
  • Bulbs are planted on top until the entire diameter of the bag is filled;
  • Fill the container with air and tightly fasten the top with an elastic band or tape;
  • Placed away from light sources until the roots grow;
  • After that, they are transferred to a light windowsill.

After 10-14 days, the feathers will stretch 20-25 cm and rest against the top wall of the bag. The container should be opened and kept until the entire crop is harvested.

Feeding onions in sawdust

The growth of greenery continues for several weeks. During this time, the supply of nutrients from the bulbs and sawdust is spent. Additional fertilizer is usually not required.

You can feed onions only if the feathers grow sluggish and pale.

As a fertilizer, you can use calcium nitrate or other liquid top dressing for onions. The concentration of the spray solution should not exceed that recommended by the manufacturer.

comfort

Rules, secrets and tricks

There are several additional recommendations on how to grow green onions at home in sawdust. They avoid common problems such as root rot or onion fly.

  • Activated charcoal or wood ash is added to sawdust before soaking in boiling water. In addition to reducing acidity, this contributes to additional protection against diseases that cause decay.
  • After the roots grow back, a container with bulbs is shed with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. To do this, mix 500 ml of water and 5 ml of a 3% preparation. This procedure increases the immunity of the bulbs.
  • When watering, make sure that the liquid does not fall on the top of the bulbs and the growing point. Moisture quickly leads to rotting of the pulp and shortens the period of feather growth.

Onions for greens in sawdust are grown all year round. In winter, fragrant greens are not only a delicious seasoning for dishes, but also protect the body from colds.

Unlike the traditional way of planting onions in the ground, sawdust avoids debris and dust on the windowsill.

Fresh greens contain the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals, which are destroyed within a few days after cutting.

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Anna Evans

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