Planting and growing Cupid's onions in the beds: advice from gardeners
Content
Breeding history and variety description
Onions Cupid, also known as Cupido f1, is considered one of the highest yielding onions. It was bred in Holland and is famous for its large bulbs, weighing up to 150 g.
Cupid is famous for its strong root system, which determines the overall resistance of the variety to a variety of fungal diseases and pests. The only thing Cupid is unarmed in front of is the cold. The culture is quite thermophilic, therefore it needs a reliable shelter for the winter.
The fruits have good transportable qualities, they are kept warm for a long time - about 3-4 months. It is of fundamental importance that the taste and appearance of the fruit remains unchanged.
Video "A proven method of planting onions in the winter"
From this video you will learn how to properly plant onions before winter.
Onion characteristics and yield
The yield of each weave of such onions is about 450 kg. The appearance of Cupid is similar to other varieties of the culture: yellowish color of the husk, thin skin, oval shape. The taste characteristics of onions are quite universal: medium pungency, rich taste.
Advantages and disadvantages
Cupido f1 is considered one of the most sought after crops among gardeners. Such popularity of the onion variety is due to the presence of the following advantages:
- early landing;
- early terms of germination of sprouts;
- resistance to many fungal diseases and insect pests;
- plentiful and high-quality harvest;
- excellent taste characteristics;
- high rates of transportability;
- long shelf life of the bulbs.
The only drawback of culture is considered to be its thermophilicity. As a result, onions cannot tolerate temperatures as low as -10 ° C. That is why the cultivation of the variety in the northern regions, which are characterized by severe winters, requires the creation of a full-fledged shelter.
Features of growing agriculture
The description of the variety of this culture gives every reason to assume that the cultivation of Cupid does not require special efforts and skills. However, the presence of a minimum baggage of knowledge regarding the peculiarities of planting and breeding will be the key to successful cultivation.
Growing from seed to seedlings
The variety belongs to biennial crops. Therefore, the first year of cultivation is characterized by the receipt of seedlings, and the second - by the ripening of the bulb. However, experienced gardeners manage to accommodate these processes in one year, which, in turn, ensures a faster harvest. To do this, at the end of autumn, seeds are sown in boxes, and by spring, when the seedlings have already formed, the seedlings are transplanted into garden beds.
Site selection and soil preparation
The onion hybrid is very thermophilic, therefore, when choosing a place for planting, you should give preference to a sunny area, reliably sheltered from drafts.A garden bed near the walls of a house or barn would be an excellent place to grow a crop.
For a rich and high-quality harvest, it is important to plant the vegetable in the ground where melons and legumes used to grow.
The main stages of soil preparation for planting Cupid are to dig up and fertilize the earth, to clear the beds of weeds. Fertilize the soil, as a rule, with natural material: cow dung, chicken droppings or compost composition. To shelter the planting from wind and frost, you can use hay, dry foliage or spruce branches.
The process of planting seedlings in the ground
Planting seedlings into the ground should be done only when the weather has finally stabilized. The holes should be made at intervals of 12-15 cm from each other, and about 25 cm should be left between the beds.
For planting, it is recommended to select sets of sizes up to 2 cm. It is important to carefully examine the bulb for mold, damage and rot. If available, a different set should be chosen. The aroma of the onion is also considered important. It should be light, unobtrusive, without impurities.
Before transplanting into the ground, the seedlings should be warmed up for two weeks. This will ensure complete drying of the planting material. Next, it must be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate and treated with a composition that promotes rapid growth.
Watering, loosening and weeding
Further planting care involves systematic watering. It should not be carried out in the spring, since the soil is already moist. In summer, watering is recommended about twice a week. An important aspect of cultivation is the regular loosening of the soil, which contributes to the penetration of a sufficient amount of oxygen to the root system. Watering the beds with seedlings should be done as needed.
Top dressing
A couple of weeks after planting, when the culture has already managed to adapt to new conditions, it is necessary to feed. For this, you can use any nitrogen or phosphorus composition. Organic fertilizers will be an excellent solution: chicken manure, mullein, compost.
Pests, diseases and prevention
The Cupid variety is considered one of the most resistant to various fungal diseases and pests. The only truly dangerous threat to this type of onion is the onion fly. In order to protect and prevent it, it is recommended to regularly spray the plantings with special insecticidal preparations.
Harvesting and storage
This type of hybrid onion is characterized by early ripening. As a rule, it takes no more than 4–5 months from the moment of planting the seedlings in the ground until the first harvest. That is, by planting seedlings at the beginning of spring, by the beginning of autumn the gardener will receive the first full harvest.
Storage of bulbs does not require special conditions. The variety is distinguished by high rates of transportability and a long shelf life, therefore, the harvested crop will lie in a cellar, refrigerator or any other cool dark place for more than six months.
Cupid's unpretentiousness determines his ability to adapt to almost any environmental conditions. The main thing is to protect the planting from strong winds and frost.
Cupid, along with Condor, rightfully occupies a leading position in the list of the most popular onion varieties. The quality of the hybrid variety is confirmed by numerous reviews of gardeners.