Suvorov garlic-onion (Anzur): description and characteristics of the variety with a photo

Suvorov's onion (Allium suworowii) belongs to a group of plants native to the mountainous regions of Central Asia. A feature of the plant is a short growing season, a tall peduncle with a bright purple spherical bud, and an unusual garlic taste of leaves and bulbs. Onion-garlic is traditionally used as a condiment and as a medicine. In garden plots, it is planted as an ornamental plant.

Biological features

Suvorov's onion is a type of garlic belonging to the onion family. Several similar species are united by the common name Anzur, which the locals called wild plants from ancient times.The mountainous regions of the Pamir-Altai, Tien Shan, Syrdarya Gorge are considered the homeland of the Suvorov bow.

The distinctive features of the plant are formed by the natural environment. Highland areas are characterized by severe winters with thaws and hot summers with sharp temperature drops at night and daytime. Favorable conditions for growth occur for a short period from the moment the snow cover melts to the onset of the summer heat:

1. Anzurs manage to grow and form seeds in a short period of 2-3 months.
2. Plants have a well-developed root system adapted to rocky soil conditions.
3. A tall flower stalk and a bright spherical bud with a diameter of 6-8 cm, which is an excellent honey plant.
4. An active growth process begins already at an air temperature of 2-5 degrees and warming up the soil at a depth of 10 cm to positive values of 1-4 degrees.
5. Garlic is characterized by a rapid change in growth phases, and with the onset of a dry period, it passes into a stage inside the bulbous development.

High-mountain garlics tolerate winter cold, hot dry periods well, shade-tolerant. Plants are plastic, adapt well to new conditions, are not damaged by diseases and pests. The biggest problem for Anzurs is acidic and waterlogged soils, and stagnant water can completely destroy garlic.

Description of the plant

Anzura's bows are similar to each other, but small differences still exist:

• Suvorov bow, unlike most Anzurs, has a spherical bulb with a diameter of 6-8 cm.
• Integumentary sheath leathery, grayish in color, tightly clasping the base of the stem.
• The leaves are narrow and 5-8 cm wide, rough on the edge, green with a bluish bloom, 40-50 cm high.
• The peduncle reaches a height of 1-1.3 m. The umbel of the inflorescence is multi-flowered (from 100 to 300 flowers), very dense, has the shape of a ball with a diameter of 7-12 cm.
• Flowers of a lilac type with a blunt tip and a length of about 4 mm, colored purple.
• the fruit looks like an egg-shaped box with black triangular seeds.

The onion grows as a bush, forming a powerful rosette of leaves. Like all alpine onions, Suvorov garlic belongs to ephemeroid plants, with a very short growing season and a long dormant time. In this it is similar to tulips and daffodils. Even outwardly, at the initial stage, the plant is very similar to tulip seedlings. As the mountain onion grows, it changes and looks more like a giant garlic.

Important! Ephemeroid species of mountain onions, with a very short growing season, are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan, due to the danger of complete extinction.

The value of Suvorov's bow

Onions were bred for their nutritional and medicinal properties, as well as as an ornamental plant. Value:

1. Mountain onion plants are characterized by a high content of vitamins, microelements, phytoncides. Young leaves are used for food, which appear in spring literally from under the snow. Leaves as a vitamin supplement are put in salads, side dishes, pie fillings. To create reserves, they are frozen in the refrigerator.
2. The use of bulbs is practiced only after soaking in a 5% saline solution. This preparation is necessary to remove the smell of essential oils and to soften the too sharp taste, reminiscent of the taste of radish.Garlic heads are marinated, baked with honey, boiled in milk, canned.
3. The medicinal properties of Anzurov's bows were mentioned in the medieval treatises "On the Preservation of He alth". Mountain garlic was used to treat colds, ear diseases, catarrh of the respiratory tract, scurvy. It was believed that the unique composition of the plant can improve vision, memory, and brain function. With the help of Anzurs, they strengthened the stomach, dissolved gallstones, and treated impotence.
4. Today, it is recognized that Anzurs, included in the diet, stimulate the formation of nonspecific immunity, improve metabolism. Garlic is successfully used as a tonic and prophylactic, equating its effectiveness with the action of ginseng.
5. The flowering plant looks very impressive in flower beds and alpine slides as an unusual primrose.

Until recently, high-quality canned food on an industrial scale was produced from Anzurov bulbs.Unlimited harvesting of bulbs led to the destruction of natural reserves. As a result, the collection of ephemeroid onion species in the mountains is prohibited. Some plants, including Suvorov's onion, are listed as protected species in the Red Book of Uzbekistan.

Important! The bows of Anzura, which include the Suvorov bow, are easy to introduce. They adapt well to new agro-climatic conditions.

How to grow a Suvorov onion?

Anzur garlic onions adapt well to new conditions. Plants are cultivated with equal success in central Russia, in the Kuban and in Siberia. The rules for caring for plants are very similar to the agricultural practices of tulips or winter varieties of garlic:

1. In areas with a temperate climate, plants with a traditionally short growing season practically do not develop the surrounding area. Anzura can be planted in dense plantings, up to 40-50 medium-sized bulbs per square meter. meter.
2. Plants are photophilous and not adapted to waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, a well-lit area is selected, on a hill, which will not be flooded even for a short time.
3. Bulbs are planted in early September, so that the plants have time to take root before the onset of frost. The heads are placed in furrows to a depth of 12-25 cm, depending on the size. Care consists in weeding and loosening the soil.
4. Garlic sprouts in the spring literally from under the snow. Flowering occurs in May or early June. By July, the seeds ripen, the leaves dry up, the plant enters the stage inside the bulbous development.
5. Drying of the pen is a signal to dig up the bulbs. They are dried and stored at room temperature until autumn.
6. You can dig up heads of Suvorov garlic once every 2-3 years. At the same time, the nest increases and it contains a set of large and medium bulbs, as well as small nodules.
7. If it is desirable to get large heads of garlic, then the peduncles are removed immediately after flowering, in which case the plant will not produce seeds. Seeds can be used for propagation, but large bulbs require a cycle of four years.
8. When using the leaves for food, the leaves should not be completely cut off. The bulb in this case will receive less nutrition, which is provided by the outflow of substances from the leaves to the storage organs. This will also affect full flowering.

The ubiquitous distribution of most of the Anzurov's bows, and, in particular, Suvorov's garlic, is hindered by difficulties. They are associated with a long period of reproduction and obtaining bulbs capable of flowering. Abroad, decorative types of onions have been cultivated for a long time and are present in the catalogs of firms as plants for forcing flowers. We have officially registered the variety of Suvorov onion "Samson", but this valuable plant is still exotic in gardens and household plots.

Recommended