April spring onion: growing rules

The April onion-batun is also popularly called the Tatar or Chinese. A valuable plant, both in taste and in useful substances contained in onions.

April onion-batun: variety description

The bulbs of this plant are considered "false" because of their underdevelopment. Greens in the form of huge hollow stems, reaching a height of one meter. It is this greens that is the main purpose of growing this type of onion. The taste of greens is much softer than that of onions. The spherical shape of the flower consists of a plurality of small inflorescences, resembles an umbrella. The plant is perennial, the period of productive growth in one place is almost 5-6 years. The Far East is considered the homeland of this species.

Several varieties can be distinguished:

• April - has a spicy taste, but the taste is sweet. The variety is early and, which attracts attention, most diseases bypass it.
• Bahia Verde - the variety has a pronounced aroma, sweet-spicy taste, the height is quite low.
• Russian winter is a representative of undersized varieties, the peculiarity is noted in the name - it tolerates frosts, juiciness and aroma are present, the pungency is much weaker.
• The Seryozha variety is another frost-resistant variety, the harvest appears very early, when the nutrients that make up the composition are especially needed. Reproduction takes place by dividing the bushes and seeds. But they prefer growing seedlings.

April cook-batun: planting and leaving

April onion-batun: photo

The choice of a place for planting the April batun onion is approached carefully, observing agricultural techniques. Crop rotation is an important point. It is not recommended to sow seeds or plant seedlings in the beds where cucumbers, carrots, onions and garlic were grown. Cabbage, peas, beans and tomato will be favorable precursors for planting a batun.

The preparation of the soil also needs to be approached with attention, the high content of humus will have a great effect on the yield. Loamy and sandy soils are the best choice. If you plan to grow batun in one place for several years, focus on choosing a place. A couple of weeks before planting, it is necessary to fertilize the chosen place with a solution: eight liters of humus, add 1 tablespoon of potassium phosphate, superphosphate and urea. If you add wood ash, it doesn't hurt. Distribute the solution over each square meter.

Reproduction by seeds of the April onion-batun takes a long period of time. Initially, soak the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate 1%, soak for up to 12 hours. The procedure is carried out to disinfect future crops. The grooves where the seeds of the April onion are sown in open ground are no deeper than 2 cm. Experienced gardeners advise mulching the plantings. You can, of course, speed up the emergence of seedlings, the seeds are soaked in water for 24 hours, while the water must be changed twice.

Chinese onions can be sown three times per season, The earliest will be April, after June and the second half of July. There is sowing for the winter, early November. Seedlings of the winter trampoline will appear immediately, after the last snow cover disappears. Mulching of such plantings is encouraged. You can also update existing green beds, just select the strongest bushes and, dividing into several parts, plant again. The distance between the separated bushes is approximately 10 cm.

The sowing of April onions is practically the same as that of any other variety. Before the onset of the first cold weather, plant it, by the time winter comes, the plant will already get stronger. You can fertilize in the spring. Thinning is best avoided if the goal is annual cultivation. The yield will be much higher.

April spring onion: growing from seeds in the ground

The April spring onion is not picky about a lot of lighting, unlike other varieties, so the selected area can be slightly shaded and will not affect the yield. But an excess of moisture with stagnant water will have a detrimental effect on growth. Not suitable for growing soils containing peat and sandy. Growth in such a soil slows down, the greens become an order of magnitude harder and the taste is more bitter. For experienced gardeners, it is not difficult to grow a batun, the main thing is to keep the beds in order, cleanliness, and remove weeds in a timely manner. Watering weekly, one-time, but plentiful, obligatory loosening and fertilization. Preparation for the winter period consists in cutting off the ground cover.

Yellowing of the leaves may occur. For what reason? Most likely, there is simply not enough moisture, nutrients. Or maybe the onion midge overcame. How to save a plant from annoying midges? The popular way is to alternate with carrot beds (as an option). A simple way: sprinkle the beds with wood ash, it will also serve as a fertilizer. The situation with the formation of arrows (leaves with a flower), it is necessary to revise the agricultural technique of sowing, the choice of seeds, the timing of planting. The yield will be weak when the arrows form. As a way out - land for the winter. To get at least some yield, remove the flower stalks early when they are discovered.

Growing on a windowsill and in a greenhouse

As an option for the constant enjoyment of greens, grow on a windowsill. The cultivation technique is no more difficult than in the ground. A simple way: in the fall, dig a few bushes together with a lump of soil, place them in pots or boxes. The age of the bushes is 2-3 years. The soil where you transplant is also fertilized. Maintaining the required humidity and temperature conditions. Greens will appear faster with this method. When planted with seeds, you get a more durable harvest. Sowing pots are advised to mulch.

If the window sills are small or completely absent, greens can be grown in a greenhouse. A lot of sunlight is essential here. Polycarbonate will make a good greenhouse material. Make the roof at an angle, in winter the snow cover will not be able to damage. Early November, sowing time. The first 3 years of the life of the batun are the most productive.

Harvesting and storage

From the middle of summer, it is already possible to cut the first harvest of the April onion. By the first frost, the collection ends. Optimal growth for a cut is 20-25 cm. It is advisable to feed the crop after each cut. For juiciness, before cutting, water it for about three days. The greens are stored in the refrigerator, tied in bunches. You can, of course, freeze, but the appearance and quality will change after defrosting, it can turn into gruel.

April onion-batun: photo

Batun onion care