Crimean onion: cultivation in the middle lane and how to store

Onions are grown everywhere in our country. In different regions, certain varieties are popular, differing in growing conditions and taste. The Crimean onion is devoid of unpleasant bitterness, which most of us do not like so much. Growing this plant is not difficult, but how to store the Y alta onion so that it does not deteriorate is a question that needs to be studied.

Characteristic variety

Y alta, or as it is also called the Crimean bow, was brought to the peninsula by travelers in the 19th century.This is a bright representative of the Madera flat species, known throughout the world. It is well suited for use in fresh salads, as it has no bitterness. The description of the variety indicates that there is little essential oil in the composition, due to which the mucous membranes of a person are not irritated during processing. It is interesting that such properties are preserved only in plants that grew on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula.

A characteristic feature of the Y alta bow is the pink or purple color of the protective scales. But thick juicy scales have a traditional white color, in rare cases - pale pink. On one bulb there can be no more than 7 juicy scales, the thickness of which is about 7 millimeters. The shape of the head is flattened, round.

Y alta onion has a long ripening period. The growing season of this variety is 140-150 days from the moment of germination. It is suitable for cultivation in the middle lane, but changing climatic conditions will lead to a change in taste.

Distinguishing Features

Breeders did a great job and brought out new varieties that look similar to the Y alta onion. This is used by unscrupulous sellers who pass off bulbs similar to him as Crimean. Naturally, they are deprived of all the properties of their eminent brother. In order not to acquire a fake, you need to know the main distinguishing features that the Y alta bow has:

• the number of juicy scales in the section should not be more than 7 pieces;
• real Y alta onion has no characteristic smell;
• this variety does not cause lacrimation and does not irritate the mucous membrane, it is comfortable to work with it;
• when taking a taste test, there is no bitterness and sharpness;
• heads ripen in July;
• shelf life of the harvested crop does not exceed 5 months.

Given the last fact, we can safely say that it is no longer possible to buy the Y alta bow in spring or early summer, it simply will not last until this period.

Features of cultivation

Y alta onions are grown in seedlings even on the peninsula. In the conditions of the middle lane, they do the same. For 3-4 months they get good full-fledged heads of high quality. To grow seedlings, you will need ordinary boxes designed for this purpose. A layer of fertile soil is poured into them and they begin to prepare the seeds.

Sowing time is usually mid-February. To speed up the germination process, the seeds of the Y alta onion are soaked for 2 days in water. Further, they are dried in order to facilitate sowing. Experienced gardeners wait until some of the seeds hatch and only then begin to sow them.

Grooves 1 centimeter deep are made in the soil. Between them leave a distance of 5 centimeters. Seeds are laid out at a distance of 1 centimeter from each other. Watering the Y alta onion is carried out from a spray bottle. Otherwise, you can wash the crops. The box is placed in a warm room with good lighting.

As soon as the shoots of the Y alta onion begin to appear, the temperature during the day is maintained at +16 °С, and at night - no higher than +10 °С.

In order to grow Crimean onions in seedlings, the soil should not be allowed to dry out too much. Watering is stopped exactly one week before diving into open ground. During this time, the seedlings are hardened off. During the day, the boxes are taken out into the street. If there is no threat of night frosts, then you can leave the plants for the night.

During the period of growing green mass, Y alta onions require a large supply of nutrients. Once every 2 weeks, fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers is carried out. Diving into open ground is carried out only when there are already 3 feathers on a young plant, and its height is 20 centimeters. As a rule, 2 months pass before this from the moment of sowing the seeds.

Features of outdoor care

For the successful cultivation of seedlings of the Y alta onion, its transplantation is carried out on a cloudy, non-hot day. In this case, the plants get sick less and are better accepted. To transplant young bulbs, it is necessary to cut rows on a previously prepared and fertilized bed since autumn. The distance between them is observed at least 25 centimeters.

Y alta onions are planted from each other after 10 centimeters. The depth is chosen the same at which they grew in the box. According to this scheme, up to 45 seedlings of the Y alta onion can be planted per 1 square meter.Watering should be carried out from a watering can equipped with a sprayer. This is done regularly until the plants take root. A week later, the first fertilizing with organic fertilizers is carried out (solution of mullein or chicken manure).

In the process of growth, the Y alta onion is tried to be fed every decade with potash-phosphorus fertilizers. They continue to do this until the end of July. Along the way, they loosen the soil and remove weeds. As soon as the tops turn yellow and lie on the ground, and the onion necks become soft, it's time to harvest.

Harvest and storage of crops

Bulbs that have been grown on the land must be properly preserved. Harvesting begins later than other varieties and falls in August or early September. Y alta onion at this time ripens and reaches the stage of technical maturity. It is impossible to delay the time of harvesting, because because of the autumn rains it can rot.

In order to avoid problems during storage, they try to harvest Y alta onions in dry weather, when the temperature has not yet dropped below +10-+15 °С. In the room where the crop will be stored, the ideal humidity is 50%. It is allowed to store onions in the apartment if the temperature is not too high.

After the bulbs are removed from the garden, they are well dried, and then they begin to weave braids. Y alta onions are woven together with the help of its own tops. There are a lot of weaving technologies, which one to give preference to is a matter of your taste. To prevent the heads from touching each other, they are hung in the cellar from the ceiling and left for storage.

Even if ideal conditions were created and the premises were carefully selected, your harvest will not last more than 5 months, so during this time you should try to sell it.

Among lettuce varieties, Y alta onion, the widespread cultivation of which is gaining momentum, is the leader. It has excellent taste and is devoid of major shortcomings. Only many people noticed that buying seedlings in the Crimea during the holidays, and then growing them in their country house, the result is not such a tasty product. The reason is that the Crimean onion, the cultivation of which has recently begun to be practiced in the middle lane, tends to change characteristics depending on the place of growth. And he does it not for the better. Therefore, you should not complain and look for the reasons for your failures - they are genetically inherent in the plant. The real Y alta onion can only be grown on the southern coast of Crimea.

By the way, garden culture has only an indirect relation to the name of the city of Y alta. In fact, it was not bred in this place, and almost no one is engaged in agriculture in the resort town.Most likely, the bow was purchased in the vicinity of Y alta by travelers during their holidays, hence the name.

The characteristics of other onion varieties that were grown in the area and were taken to other regions for cultivation do not change so dramatically. But the Crimean farmers like it: such a kind of insurance against fakes. If a person wants to enjoy a he althy and tasty product on his table and not shed crocodile tears, then he will certainly buy goods from them.

Short shelf life made people think about how to keep the Y alta onion longer than the due date in order to be able to cook their culinary masterpieces. It was then that the idea of its conservation and pickling appeared. Of course, this is no longer a fresh onion, however, with proper preparation, it does not lose its properties and can be used to prepare a variety of dishes.

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