Onion "Baron Red": characteristics, cultivation and comparison with other varieties
Among the huge variety of onion varieties that are grown on the territory of Russia, a species was noted at a high level, which differs from most varieties in its excellent taste and bright color. Bow "Baron Red" ("Red Carmen") has many positive characteristics, which we will get acquainted with in the article.
Variety Description
Experts note that the popularity of the above mid-early variety is growing rapidly, due to many positive factors and differences compared to other types of this plant.
Distinctive features.
- The culture is unpretentious to the composition of the soil and can grow on almost any soil.
- Intense red color with a slight purple tint not only distinguishes the variety from the standard colors. Thanks to this coloring, it is ideal for decorating various dishes and snacks. Onions do not color other foods.
- Due to the excellent keeping quality, the crop can be stored until spring.
- Remarkable taste qualities are present in the product both in raw and processed form. The mustard is absent. There is a slight spicy aftertaste.
- The maturation period is approximately 3 months.
- Fruit shape is round.
- A strong and developed root system, thanks to which the onion is able to survive even a severe drought.
- The average weight of the bulbs is about 100 grams.Individual specimens reach up to 200 grams.
- Dense flakes of fruits adhere securely to the vegetable, keeping the crop for a long time.
- Leaves of a standard saturated green color with a characteristic bloom.
- Up to 3 kilograms of onions are harvested from one square of plantings. From 500 grams of sevka, you can get up to 15 kilograms of fruit.
- The volume of dry substance is 13.3%.
Additional information.
- The vegetable does not strongly irritate the eyes, and also gently affects the mucous membrane.
- Bulbs are rich in antioxidants and ascorbic acid.
- In the southern regions, the plant is grown using seeds. On the territory of the temperate zones, the variety is grown from sets.
- Onions easily lend themselves to various culinary treatments, giving the dishes an original taste.
There are practically no varietal flaws in the variety. However, it is worth noting that "Baron Red" is extremely susceptible to gray rot, jaundice and downy mildew, as well as pests such as onion fly and onion root mite.
Healing properties
Among the main differences between the Baron Red variety are the beneficial properties of the product. Experts are sure that red onions are much more useful than ordinary white species. The antioxidants contained in the vegetable have a positive effect on the immune system and protect the body's cells from free radicals.
Another element in the composition is quercetin. The substance fights spasms, helps get rid of inflammation. This variety is recommended for people suffering from diabetes.
Preparing for landing
beds
The key to a rich harvest is the proper preparation of the beds for planting. This will help to significantly increase the yield, as well as increase the size of the bulbs. The landing site is selected in the fall. A well-lit area is ideal, without stagnation of moisture and dampness.
The soil is pre-mixed with peat. Two buckets of this component will be enough for 1 square meter of land.
If the vegetable is grown for arrows, a tablespoon of potassium nitrate is added to the soil. Experienced summer residents use superphosphate in order to get large and juicy bulbs.
Universal top dressing
There is a universal composition that is recommended for use in the process of preparing the land before planting.
Per square meter of beds use:
- half a bucket of humus;
- a glass of wood ash;
- a tablespoon of superphosphate.
You can feed the soil both in spring and autumn. The procedure is carried out 2-3 weeks before sowing or planting small bulbs. For planting onions, high beds are prepared so that excess moisture does not stagnate in the ground. This can lead to crop damage.
seeds
Before sowing seeds, you need to properly prepare it.
- First of all, the seeds are hardened. They are dipped in hot water for a few minutes. The optimum temperature is from 50 to 60 degrees Celsius. After heat treatment, they are placed in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
- Next comes the treatment in a solution of manganese. The seed is dipped into the composition of a faint pink color for one hour.
- Another composition for hardening seeds: a few drops of the Epin stimulant and half a cup of honey, previously mixed with natural aloe juice, are added to a glass of water. The grains are soaked for 18 hours.
- Before you start planting, the seeds are dried a little.
Sowing in the ground
Sowing seed into the soil begins in the period from late April to early May. Some summer residents make the mistake of postponing sowing to the end of August. At this time there is a risk of a cold snap. Also, massive seasonal rainfall can spoil the harvest.
Seeding rules are as follows:
- groove depth - one and a half centimeters;
- the optimal distance between the beds is 15 centimeters;
- seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of no more than 1.5 centimeters;
- at the end of the work, the onion is poured with warm water.
The bottom of each groove can be sprinkled with light fine sand so that the seed is visible. Seeds must be carefully sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. If you want to get seedlings as soon as possible, the beds can be covered with a thick transparent film. The average period for the appearance of the first shoots is from 2 to 3 weeks.
Planting sevka
If you want to get juicy green onions at the end of spring, opt for growing the species using sets. In this case, large bulbs can be harvested at the end of August.
To achieve the expected result, it is necessary to properly prepare the sevok.
- The tips of small bulbs are cut a few days before planting (3-4 days). This will help the feather grow better.
- The material is soaked for 12-15 hours in water, the temperature of which is about 35 degrees.
- Experienced summer residents recommend hardening the onions in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. They are left in the composition from 30 minutes to an hour.
- At the end of the work, the onion must be dried.
Tips from experts
The best time for planting seedlings in open ground is when the air warms up to a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. A higher rate will negatively affect the taste of the crop. Fruits can lose juiciness and become bitter. When planted early, the plant will produce abundant greenery, but the size of the bulbs will be small.
Basic Rules:
- the average distance between rows is 20 centimeters;
- the seed is immersed in the ground by 3-4 centimeters at a distance of 10 centimeters;
- as soon as the onion is planted in the soil, it must be sprinkled with earth and watered.
Features of care
Proper care of the plant is the key to a rich and high-quality harvest. The plant is unpretentious, due to which even a beginner in the field of growing vegetable crops will cope with it.
To increase the yield of a variety, the following actions should be performed:
- weed removal;
- periodic loosening of the earth for oxygen access to the bulbs;
- timely watering;
- thinning bulbs;
- fertilizer application;
- treatment of plants with protective agents.
Watering
In the period from the last spring month to July, the varieties are watered 1-2 times a week. The regularity of the process depends on weather conditions. It is recommended to use a watering can with small holes so as not to destroy the integrity of the soil.
After moistening the soil, loosening is carried out, at a maximum depth of 3 centimeters. If necessary, get rid of weeds. Also, the beds are sprinkled with wood ash, mothballs and sand in a ratio of 1: 1. This will protect the plant from flies and rot.
Thinning and fertilization
Regular thinning of seedlings is necessary for large-sized bulbs. As soon as the first feather forms, a distance of one and a half centimeters is left between the bulbs. After the appearance of another pair of feathers, the gap is increased by 2 times (3 centimeters). When 4 feathers are already visible on the plant, the minimum condition should be 6 centimeters.
During the season, red onions are fed several times. A variety of formulations are used, depending on the growing season of the plant.
As soon as 3 feathers form on the bulb, the following compositions can be applied to the soil:
- a solution of mullein with water, in a ratio of 1: 15;
- chicken manure mixed with water - 1: 12;
- superphosphate-based composition - dilute a tablespoon of the substance in 10 liters of water.
The plant is stopped watering and fertilizing from mid-July.
Protection
Despite the resistance to various diseases and attacks from pests, experienced gardeners carry out the prevention of onion protection. To protect the plant from the onion fly, follow the following tips.
- Weed plants periodically.
- Sprinkle the soil with a mixture of sand and naphthalene. This is done for disinfection.
- If necessary, treat the onion with special means. Such products are actively used: "Fly Eater", "Aktara".
Red onions sometimes suffer from downy mildew, also called downy mildew. Symptoms - the greens are covered with a fluffy coating of gray. The disease leads to the death of foliage and loss of density of the bulbs. To prevent infection, follow a few simple steps.
- The beds are treated with a one percent solution of boric acid. The procedure is carried out before landing.
- When 4 to 6 feathers appear on the plant, it can be sprayed with the Rodomil Gold MC composition.
- Do not overdo it with watering. This will lead to rotting of the root system and fruits.
Collection and storage
Harvest red onions begin in the middle of the last summer month. At this time, the feather of the plant turns yellowish. It is recommended to harvest onions in dry weather. This will extend the shelf life in the winter. If it is time to harvest, and the rainy period is not going to end, it is necessary to dry the vegetable for two days at a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. After the bulbs are taken out of the ground, it is necessary to rid them of the roots.
You also need to cut the pen, leaving a rod 10 centimeters long.The crop is evenly laid out on a dense fabric, film or plywood. Dry the onion in the sun. After sunset, the harvest is hidden under a canopy. If the weather does not allow, the onions can be dried on the balcony, attic or veranda. After 15-20 days after collection and drying, the product can be moved to storage in the basement or any other similar room.
It is advisable to sort the crop. Larger fruits are ideal for long-term storage, while smaller bulbs are best consumed with food. For convenience and to save space, the bow is often kept suspended in the form of bundles.
Reviews
Most of the reviews about the above variety are positive. Such conclusions were made after viewing many thematic sites. Summer residents from different regions of the country note the positive qualities that were indicated in the article in the "Characteristics" section.
The following was especially noted: excellent taste, unpretentiousness and high yield. Negative reviews are extremely rare - they are mostly left by beginners who have just started gardening. Among the reviews, you can often read that summer residents do not always immediately notice signs of a disease or pest, and the crop dies.
You can see an overview of the onion variety "Baron Red" below.