Homemade installation for growing green onions.

It is better to force onions using hydroponics. The plant takes all its nutrients from the nutrient solution. You don't need soil to grow green feathers. There are some advantages to this. It will always be clean at home or in the greenhouse; updating the nutrient solution is easier than changing the soil.

Fungus can develop in the soil. Hydroponics excludes the development of aerobic bacteria and other pathological microflora. How to grow green onions hydroponically? What rules must be followed?

Which variety to choose

All varieties of onions produce feathers, but greenhouse production has its own favorites.
They produce a bountiful harvest, have excellent taste, retain freshness for a long time, and are easy to care for. I'll tell you briefly about each of them.

Leek

Externally, leeks resemble garlic. It produces wide, short leaves and has a pronounced but delicate taste. Good for salads and fresh consumption. From a bed of 9 square meters it produces 20 kilograms of feathers. Suitable for year-round greenhouse cultivation. Grows well in open ground and greenhouses.

Batun

It can be perennial or annual. Produces wide, tubular, succulent feathers. The taste is sweetish and delicate. The feather is tender throughout the growing season. Sown by seeds. In the first season, the plant takes root and gains strength.

Active fruiting begins in the second year. The variety tolerates frost well and is suitable not only for open ground, but also for greenhouse and greenhouse cultivation. Gives arrows with seeds. It sows itself in the ground.

shallot

This is a branched variety with pronounced greenery and small bulbs. The variety is suitable for forcing in a greenhouse and growing on a windowsill. It is planted on greenery three times a year: in spring, autumn and summer. Gives an early harvest. The feather is soft and juicy throughout the growing season. The shooter does not. Planted with bulbs.

Egyptian

This variety has underground and aerial bulbs. It is called multi-tiered because new bulbs grow on its arrows, from which a young plant develops. It does not have a dormant period and bears fruit consistently all year round. Unpretentious. Grows well even at 10-12 degrees Celsius. Frost-resistant, suitable for cold regions.

Using water

Onions on the windowsill (growing greenery from bulbs is a simple process) are often planted in water. For this method, you just need to choose a vessel of the appropriate size. It is desirable that its neck be slightly smaller than the diameter of the head. Otherwise, it will come into contact with water, which can lead to rotting.

It is better to buy special containers designed for sprouting onions. They look more attractive, take up little space, and create optimal conditions for the heads. But if you wish, you can make such containers yourself. To do this, just place foam rubber or a wooden platform with cut holes in a wide dish.

You can also use plastic glasses. But only large-sized bulbs need to be planted in them. Or you will need to make lids with holes. For this you can use foam rubber or cardboard.

When growing onions on a windowsill, they quickly “drink” water. So it will need to be added to the container regularly. It is also necessary to completely change the water if it becomes cloudy or smells unpleasant. But before that, it should be left for 24 hours and warmed to room temperature. In such conditions, the bulbs grow green in the second week.

Preparation of planting material and planting

Green onions can be planted either on the ground or using hydroponic installations, which have already been mentioned several times on our website. However, due to the unpretentiousness of onions (from this point of view), it is easier to plant them in the ground.

Plain garden soil is usually used. You can add sand and peat. You can also use a special substrate.

Carefully cut off the top of each onion.

It is advisable to choose relatively small bulbs themselves (about 3–5 centimeters in diameter). Carefully sort through and remove spoiled and moldy specimens. The tops of the selected bulbs are cut off (about 1 centimeter), after which the planting material is placed in warm water for several hours.

Then you can start planting. The bulbs can be placed quite close to each other, leaving gaps of a few centimeters. Do not bury them completely in the ground, leaving the top of the bulb above the surface.

It is recommended to fertilize the soil immediately before planting. It is also advisable to repeat the procedure again after a couple of weeks.

From seeds

You can also grow juicy greens from onion seeds - nigella. But this process will take longer, approximately 1.5-2 months.

1. First you need to prepare planting material. To do this, the seeds need to be filled with water at room temperature for 19-20 hours. During the process, the water should be changed at least 3 times.
2. Next, the seeds must be soaked in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 45 minutes, and then transferred to Epin solution (2 drops per 100 ml of water).
3. It will take another 17-18 hours to soak the seeds. Moreover, it is advisable to maintain the temperature of the liquid within +25...+30 °C.
4. While the seeds are soaking, you should prepare a container for planting them. Any low container will do, but it must have drainage holes. It should be filled with nutritious and loose substrate. You can use universal soil, but it is better to mix vermicompost with coconut fiber (1:2).
5. The substrate must be leveled and grooves made in it with a depth of 2-3 cm. Prepared seeds should be placed in them and sprinkled with soil.
6. After spraying the planting with warm water from a spray bottle, you need to cover it with glass or transparent film.
7. In order for the seeds to germinate faster, it is worth keeping the container in a room with a temperature of +18...+20 °C.
8. When the first entrances appear, the cover must be removed. It is also advisable to move the planting to a room with a temperature of +12…+18 °C.
9. You will need to water the plants once every 5-8 days. You can occasionally feed the onions with a weak solution of mullein.

At first, the greens will grow very slowly, and the first harvest will only be harvested by the end of the 2nd month. But then the feathers will grow uninterruptedly and over a long period of time.

Planting technologies

At home, it is customary to plant onions, placing them as close to each other as possible. The use of seeds requires a period of time for the formation of the feather part (2-4 months); the bulbs germinate within a few days.

Seeds

Seed material is planted on the windowsill extremely rarely, since feathers do not appear soon, but require special care. Planting technology:

• Place a drainage system at the bottom of the container;
• pour a layer of soil on top;
• make grooves to a depth of 1.5 cm;
• plant seeds in the holes (distance between them is 2-5 cm);
• moisten the soil;
• cover with film until sprouts appear;
• place in a warm, bright place.

Planting bulbs

Bulbs can be planted in different ways - in water, soil, sawdust - using a variety of containers:

1. Landing in the water.
   There is a classic option - pour water into a container (disposable glasses, jars, etc.), put onions and wait for the greens to appear. This technique is outdated and has disadvantages - rotting of the vegetable, the formation of unpleasant odors, and the appearance of midges. Today, many people use an improved technique that speeds up the growth process of feathers and minimizes problems.

   Step-by-step instruction:

   • Cut off the top of the onion and pierce the bottom (where the roots are) with a skewer.

   Pour settled water at room temperature into the container, dissolve 2 tablets of activated carbon, lower the head so that only the root part is in the water.

2. In a day the roots will begin to grow. Now you need to drain the liquid a little so that it does not touch the bulb, but only affects the growing roots.
3. After 12-16 days you can harvest your greens.

About growing onions in water, watch the following video:

4. Landing in the ground.
   This is the best option, eliminating unpleasant odors and rotting. Prepare the soil, healthy bulbs, containers - container, pot, box. If you use leeks, be sure to sprout them in water for a week first. Next, proceed as follows:
   • soak the onion roots in water for 2-3 hours;

   pour 6-7 cm of soil into the container;

5. make holes according to the size of the heads, 2-3 cm apart from each other;
6. plant the vegetable to a depth of 2 cm (only the root will be in the ground);
7. water generously with settled or rainwater;
8. leave the container in a dark place for 2-4 days, then transfer it to a lighted windowsill.
9. Hydroponics.
   This method is used when planting a large number of bulbous crops. Slab mats are used, which can be purchased at a specialized store. The operating principle of hydroponics is based on the enrichment of oxygen and nutrients, due to which the green mass grows quickly.

   About the features of growing onions using hydroponics, watch the following video:

10. Growing in sawdust.
    Instead of soil, the bulbs are placed in moistened sawdust. This makes it possible to avoid putrefactive diseases, bad odors, and dirt. The only negative is that after collecting the greenery, the sawdust needs to be changed.

    Planting process:

    • disinfect sawdust with boiling water;

    put them in a container;

11. deepen the bulbs by 3 cm;
12. pour water;
13. place the container on the sunny side of the apartment.

Feathers are collected after 10-15 days. To prevent rotting during watering, add hydrogen peroxide to the water (per 1 liter - 10 ml).

To learn how to plant onions in sawdust at home, watch the following video:

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14. Growing in a bag.
    Take a thick plastic bag, toilet paper, prepared heads. Instructions:
    • Place paper at the bottom of the bag, moistening it;

    place the bulbs tightly to each other;

15. inflate the bag with air;
16. tie tightly with rope or rubber band;
17. place in a dark place for the root system to germinate;
18. after 3 days, expose to light;
19. It is prohibited to open the package until harvest (approximately 10 days).

To learn how to grow onions in a bag, watch the following video:

20. Bottle method. This is a universal vertical method of feather forcing, saving space on the windowsill. What you will need:
    • 5 liter bottle (only after food drinks);

    scissors/knife;

21. onion;
22. priming;
23. expanded clay stones.

Preparing the container:

• cut off the neck;
• cut holes along the lower perimeter (the size depends on the diameter of the vegetable, the number depends on the number of root vegetables);
• make the remaining holes in a checkerboard pattern;
• sand the edges of the holes with sandpaper or a soldering iron;
• pierce the bottom with an awl to create a drainage system.

Planting process:

• place the stones in one layer at the bottom of the bottle;
• sprinkle a little substrate of soil, peat and humus on top;
• compact the soil;
• place the prepared heads into the holes (horizontally), adding soil;
• Place the top bulbs vertically;
• pour water.

Into the ground

The easiest way is in the ground with any container. To do this, use containers of the available size, which are filled with soil. The container must have a drainage hole for water to drain; the vegetable does not tolerate stagnation of moisture.

Planting material needs to be prepared. To do this, cut off the top part of the turnip by 1 cm, then plant it at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other, pressing the bottom to the ground. It is important to water so that water does not fall from above, otherwise the process of rotting will begin.

Another interesting way is pavement. The heads are planted tightly together in a container with soil, leaving no distance between them. After planting, the container will look like a piece of pavement, and the onion will look like small pebbles on a cobbled street.

With this method, the tops are not cut off, since watering is carried out from a watering can from above, using the “sprinkling” method.

Afterwards the container is placed in a dark place. As soon as the sprouts appear, the container is moved to a bright window; after 2-3 weeks the greens are ready for cutting and use in the kitchen.

Optimal conditions

Let's start with the temperature regime. This is one of the most important factors that directly affects the speed of obtaining green onion “feathers”. The optimal temperature for achieving results as quickly as possible is +20 - +25 °C. In this case, you will get green sprouting after about three weeks.

It should be noted that the basement is an excellent option for maintaining a good temperature. In summer, it may well be in the region of the required indicators, and in winter it will only be enough to additionally heat the room.

Onions will grow well if you create optimal conditions for them in the basement.

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Make sure that the temperature of the top and bottom racks (which are closest to the ground) is approximately the same. Otherwise, consider the difference in ripening speed.

Another factor that is of utmost importance in the process of growing green onions relates to the lighting system. This point is often considered a disadvantage, since it implies increased costs, including electricity. But we cannot do without additional lighting, since our greenery requires sufficient light to grow. Onions are plants whose development accelerates significantly with increasing daylight hours (photoperiod).

The minimum length of daylight hours for onions is about 10–15 hours. It is advisable to get closer to the second value, since with a lack of light we will not only slow down the cultivation, but also get an almost tasteless yellowish harvest.

It is recommended to place light sources strictly from above so that the green onion “feathers” are straight and beautiful. Incandescent lamps are ineffective; use fluorescent or special phytolamps.

Hydration also plays a significant role. Water the onions intensively, but avoid the formation of “stagnant” water. If the onion is over-watered, an unwanted process of rotting may begin. It is quite problematic to implement a drainage system on multi-tiered racks. But we covered the tiers with oilcloth, so it will be quite easy to ensure that the water has time to evaporate and does not stagnate, adjusting the intensity of watering.

Finally, let us mention the importance of good ventilation in the basement. Among other things, it will help cope with the unpleasant odor that often accompanies the process of growing green onions.

Expenses

To engage in such a business, investments in the region of 1 million rubles will be required. This is due to the costs of greenhouses, although you can save money by choosing to rent a room.

I used my own area where I placed the greenhouses. Capital went to:

• 2 turnkey greenhouses - 540 thousand rubles.
• Heat supply system – 50 thousand rubles.
• Planting material – 175 thousand rubles.
• Delivery – 25 thousand rubles.
• Sand and black soil for shelving – 20 thousand rubles.
• Racks – 80 thousand rubles.
• Cutting knives, auxiliary tools, hoses for wells - 10 thousand rubles.
• Planting the first batch in 10 days with 3 people working (500 rubles/person) – 15 thousand rubles.

Monthly expenses were:

• Salary to employees – 45 thousand rubles.
• Electricity - 10 thousand rubles.
• Renting a gazelle for transportation – 7.5 thousand rubles.

The cost of one kilogram of onions with my expenses was 86 rubles/kg.

• The price of sets is 22 rubles/kg.
• Growing costs (worker wages, electricity, logistics) – 64 rubles/kg.

From this it turns out that even with a price of 100 rubles/kg, I would make a profit.

As a result, it turns out that with all the initial investments and monthly expenses, I spent 1.04 million rubles in three months. The profit amounted to 647,400 rubles.

If I continued this business, then in another three months (skipping the summer) I would have recouped the starting investment and started making good money.

However, after one season, it was decided that I would invest the money I earned in another type of activity. The reason for this is very simple: green onions are not my thing.

The experience was interesting, but I didn’t want to continue. Greenhouses with shelving were sold for 580 thousand rubles, so in the end I still ended up with a profit.

Growing in the ground

How to grow green onions and get high yields? To achieve the maximum amount of harvest, carefully select the planting material and prepare the place for planting it. Windows facing south and southeast are suitable for growing, and it is better to grow greens from rhizomes and root crops in wooden containers or boxes.

Planting material

For planting and subsequent forcing, large sets, selections, seeds and seedlings are used. The larger the planting material, the higher the yield. Local varieties are chosen for distillation at home. Most often, ordinary medium-sized onions (more than 6-7 cm in diameter) are used as planting material. Bulbs should be chosen that are healthy, with a bottom without damage and a thin neck. Try to use onion heads grown on your own plot, and when choosing in a store, choose medium-sized ones that have already begun to sprout. For 1 sq.m. The land area needs about 10-11 kg.

If the bulbs have not yet sprouted, their necks must be cut off and soaked in water slightly above room temperature for a day. This speeds up germination. A day later, we plant them in wooden boxes with pre-prepared soil, the distance between the planted plants should be 1.5-2 cm so that they do not interfere with each other as they grow, and the planting depth should be such that half the bulb is above the surface of the soil.

Forcing green onions from seeds is also possible. How to grow green onions from them? Before planting, the seeds must be soaked for 10 hours in warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then plant it in a container to a depth of 3cm. You need to sow sparsely so that you don’t have to thin out later. Then water, cover with film or glass and place in a bright place. Remove the covering only when the green onions sprout. With proper sowing, it takes up to 10 days before the first shoots hatch from the ground.

When using small bulbs as planting material, be sure to add fertilizer to the soil for greater germination.

Preparing the landing site

Any container is suitable for forcing green onions at home: from plastic cups and plates to wooden boxes. It all depends on the amount of onions you decide to grow.

The selected containers must be filled with soil mixture. You can buy such soil at any flower shop or prepare it yourself in the fall. When buying in a store, give preference to a soil mixture for cacti - it contains the largest amount of sand. If you decide to prepare it yourself, take soil from the garden with humus and mix it in equal parts with regular sand. When growing green onions from seeds, sow them in well-moistened soil. Place boxes and containers with planted bulbs in sunny but not hot places.

Care

Forcing green onions does not require special care. There are only a few rules to follow:

1. water for irrigation should be warm (about 35-40 degrees);
2. the room temperature should be within 18-22C; with a significant increase, the onion feathers become sluggish; a decrease in temperature to 12C is well tolerated;
3. if forcing green onions takes place in a poorly lit room, additional light sources are needed;
4. Green onions from seeds immediately after germination require mineral feeding.

Many people wonder how to grow green onions without fertilizing? The answer is simple - high-quality soil and proper watering make it possible to completely abandon additional feeding and get a completely natural harvest.

Feeding onions in sawdust

The growth of greenery continues for several weeks. During this time, the supply of nutrients from the bulbs and sawdust is consumed. Additional fertilizer is usually not required.

Helpful information

Daria Vorontsova

Amateur gardener. He is interested in growing various greens at home.

You can feed onions only if the feathers grow limp and pale.

As a fertilizer, you can use calcium nitrate or other liquid fertilizer for onions. The concentration of the spray solution should not exceed that recommended by the manufacturer.

Hydroponics for onions at home

In principle, it is produced in exactly the same way as it is done on farms and in industry, except for the size of the container for growing onions and the amount of finished products.

What to grow in

These can be branded hydroponic installations specifically designed for growing vegetables. Most often they are large, in which several hundred bulbs are grown at the same time. At home, they are often not necessary and the desired structure can be made from scrap materials. For example, from a foam tank or any other, only lightproof. This can be a large flower pot, in which there is no hole in the bottom, or an ordinary large saucepan.

A plastic tank with dimensions 80/40/20 is best. It will be ideal if there is a tight-fitting lid.

Holes are made in the lid for the onion roots. They are cut taking into account the diameter of the bulbs themselves, so that the roots themselves are in complete darkness, and the bulbs do not slip through them into the water.

The lid of the tank must be sufficiently strong and elastic, since the weight of the bulbs will begin to increase over time.

Holes in the plastic cover are cut with a thin sharp knife.

Useful tips

To ensure that the holes are at an equal distance from each other, use a simple pencil to draw a grid on the lid, like in a checkered notebook. Make holes at the intersection of the lines. Since the diameter of the bulbs is 3-4 cm, the holes should be slightly smaller.

Next you will need a fluorescent lamp, a compressor and a spray gun.

It should be borne in mind that you cannot overload the tank with bulbs - otherwise there will be little water in the tank, the air from the compressor will not reach all the bulbs, they will simply swell and will not be able to germinate. The end result will be “water for dyeing Easter eggs” and not green onions.

The water in the germination tank should be warm, but it cannot be heated in the microwave - with such water the onions will not sprout at all, and the bulbs themselves will only rot.

When growing onions at home, it is also necessary to carry out bubbling and lightly trim the “bottom” of the onion. This will wake up the plant and make it actively grow.

It stimulates the bulb even more if you remove the protection from it - all the husk. In the ground, it protects against various pests, fungi, mold, etc., but with the hydroponic method of growing, none of this threatens the onion.

During the entire period of onion germination, the water temperature and oxygen saturation must be maintained. The aerator works for this purpose - it is unacceptable to turn it off even at night.

After bubbling, it is better to immediately transplant the onions into warm water. You can use an aquarium heater as such a heater.

During germination, the water in the tank should be maintained at 27-28 degrees. When the onion reaches a height of 10-12 cm, it is recommended to reduce the temperature by 2-3 degrees, otherwise the feather will turn out thin and brittle.

Green Onions in Egg Trays: Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

home hydroponics are as follows:

• low price;
• ease of implementation;
• does not require soil;
• reuse of long-degradable material;
• there is no rotting or smell from it if the rules for planting are followed;
• good and stable harvest;
• The bulbs can be eaten after forcing the feather.

Disadvantages

this method has little. Here they are:

• fragility of cardboard containers - the lower tier will get wet and fail;
• plastic trays require replacement over time;
• the need to monitor the water level in the pans.

Benefits of green onions

This product is endowed with a huge number of useful properties:

• Fresh green onions are an excellent remedy for vitamin deficiency.
• Increases appetite, normalizes digestive processes.
• Strengthens the heart muscle and normalizes blood pressure.
• Reduces blood cholesterol.
• Green onions contain chlorophyll. This substance is involved in hematopoiesis.
• The calcium contained in onion greens has a beneficial effect on the condition of the oral cavity.
• With regular use, it minimizes the likelihood of gallstones forming and has a choleretic effect.
• Onion greens contain quercetin, which neutralizes free radicals and prevents the development of cancer cells.

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Secrets of green feathers

Onion feathers are rich in useful substances. It is prescribed for vitamin deficiency - vitamin deficiency. It is believed that with constant use, the substances contained in it prevent the occurrence of cancer. The positive effect of onions on eye health, as well as the oral cavity (there will be no stomatitis), has been experimentally observed. It is also believed that onions are nothing more than an antibiotic created by nature itself.

At home, it is good to grow different types of onions: shallots, leeks, slime, onions, as well as sets and chives. It is almost impossible to ruin an unpretentious crop; it will certainly please you with its harvest. Two weeks after planting, the first feathers appear, and after another week they can be cut off for consumption.

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The plant’s small root system makes it possible to grow healthy vegetables in containers with a small volume. For planting onions, both fertile and highly nutritious soil mixture and the cheapest options are used. The main rule is not to overwater the crop, so that the bulb itself does not rot.

To force onions, any type of onion can be used. The main thing is that the planting material is healthy and dry, not affected by fungal diseases (without black spots on the husk). For a large family, it is good to organize conveyor growing: have more planting material, so that after receiving a harvest from one container, you can immediately plant a new batch there.

In principle, any bulb, fed with water, will grow green mass for cutting. Whether to feed it with fertilizer or not is up to you to decide. But at the same time, when feeding you will get more greenery. When the onion responds to humus, add it after rooting twice, diluting 1 tablespoon in 0.5 liters of water.

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In an apartment, onions will most like a window sill facing the sunny side. But if you don’t have such an option, then, in principle, this crop will grow even in conditions of a slight shortage of light fluxes. Experienced gardeners illuminate onions around the clock in the first week after planting, and only 10 hours a day in the second week.

Before planting, soak the onions for 8 hours in a warm solution of light pink potassium permanganate. If you need to get a harvest of greens as soon as possible, then cut off the tops of the bulbs, then wipe them dry and start planting.

We have collected the most popular methods on the Internet for growing onions at home. Some methods were commented on by Timofey Seredin, senior researcher at the laboratory of selection and seed production of onion crops at the Federal Scientific Center for Onion Cultures, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences.

Technology for growing green onions - what kind of room should there be for growing green onions?

Growing onions, like growing strawberries, in closed, equipped premises guarantees year-round income. In this case, human participation in the process is reduced to the simplest actions: primary processing of raw materials and collection of greenery.

Despite the unpretentiousness of the plant, general growing recommendations should still be followed. This will reduce time costs and get a good harvest.

There are three characteristics that determine ideal conditions for the growth of green onions:

• Comfortable air temperature.
• Sufficient room lighting.
• High-quality soil irrigation.

The size of the business premises is also important, which affects the volume of products produced.

The room must be dry, not infected with mold or fungi and, if possible, light.

Here are possible room options for growing green onions:

Greenhouse

The simplest summer greenhouse is made of a wooden frame, which is covered on top with a thick plastic film. You can assemble such a structure yourself using available materials and tools.

In the warm season, greenhouses and greenhouses do not require additional lighting or heating. Natural air temperature and sunlight will be sufficient for plant growth.

Growing green onions in a greenhouse is the most environmentally friendly way, since such conditions are as close as possible to natural ones.

Basement and garage

An alternative to a greenhouse can be a basement or garage. However, these premises require additional preparation. The first step is to insulate them. The materials used are safe thermal insulators, for example, based on polyethylene foam or polystyrene foam.

The next stage is the installation of shelving. They can be purchased ready-made or made independently, for example, from wood. If necessary, such racks are disassembled and transported to a new location.

A good design for long-term use should be metal, for example, welded from a profile or pipes. Naturally, it will require more significant investments.

Growing green onions in a basement or garage requires the creation of the following favorable conditions:

1. Heating. For maximum onion growth, it is necessary to maintain a temperature range from +18 to +22 °C. Any devices can be used as heaters, but it is worth remembering that electrical devices will require significant energy costs;
2. Lighting. The brighter the light in the room, the richer the color of the onion feather. Therefore, if possible, the room should be equipped with fluorescent lamps;
3. Ventilation. The air in the basement or garage must be constantly circulated. It is advisable not just to install internal fans, but to organize the supply of fresh air from the street. This will give the plants a more comfortable environment and prevent the development of mold and mildew indoors.

Windowsill

The easiest way to grow onions is on a windowsill. A loggia is well suited for this. In the summer, no additional tricks will be needed, but in the winter, the loggia should be insulated and glazed. If the windows face north, you can arrange artificial lighting.

Instead of soil - water

• A) Egg packaging

For example, the easiest way to plant onions has been mastered: in egg cartons. To do this, take a cardboard container and make a small hole at the bottom of each nest to drain water. The lid of the egg container is placed under the planting container; it will act as a tray. Egg-sized bulbs are planted in separate nests. Water is poured into a tray, which allows the bulb to remain dry and the roots to drink water.

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• B) Sunflower seeds cups

Plastic cups left over from roasted seeds are a planting bed for the windowsill. Of course, you will have to tinker with them if the diameter of the onion head is much smaller than the diameter of the cup. To do this, cut out a circle with the required diameter from cardboard (or other dense material) and place it on a glass. This way the bottom of the bulb will not get wet, but only the roots will be in the water.

Life hack: on the windowsill, onions receive a lot of light, but not always enough heat. If the pallet is cold to the touch, then you need to make a backing for it from foam plastic or other available materials.

Comment by Timofey Seredina :

— This folk method was nicknamed “Onion Happiness.” It is believed that such a water-loving plant will happily be “up to its ears in water.” Despite the apparent simplicity of planting directly into the water, I would classify this method as labor-intensive. Yes, you don’t have to buy soil mixture components and mix until smooth, but growing in water has a number of disadvantages. So, roots often rot in water; you will have to thoroughly wash the tray every day and pour fresh water into it, while onions growing in the soil can simply be watered.

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Construction of shelving

Perhaps, the racks can be considered the most suitable device for organizing the cultivation of green onions in the basement. Let's start with the fact that the ability to arrange shelving in several tiers is a great advantage that will help you make the most efficient use of the available space.

By placing shelves in several tiers you can significantly save space.

It is also very convenient to work with racks, since it is easy to attach various additional equipment to them (for example, lighting systems), and if you correctly plan their location and size, you can significantly simplify further processes of care and harvesting.

Making shelves is an easy task. You can also build racks for growing onions with your own hands without much effort.

So, our main task is to increase the usable planting area, while minimizing the space occupied by shelving as much as possible. As mentioned above, this can be achieved by building a structure in several tiers.

Dimensions and number of tiers

Of course, first of all, the dimensions of the racks will depend on the size of the room itself. However, it is still possible to outline the basic recommendations that should be followed.

Use of reflective surfaces.

Distance between racks. If you are building several racks side by side, plan the distance between them. The minimum gap that does not impede passage and work with the crop is considered to be a distance of about 1 meter. Rack length. It can be any, depending on your tasks and how much space is allocated in your basement for growing. Width

It is important not to overdo it with width. This setting may vary

If the rack can only be approached from one side (for example, it fits close to the wall), then its width can be from 0.5 to 1 meter. If there is access from both sides, the width can accordingly be doubled. It is important to choose a design width that will not complicate further work. Height. Here, too, it is important to choose the most convenient option for work. Most often, it is recommended to make shelving in two tiers, so that you do not have to care for the crop and harvest it while standing on some high and unstable structure. Make the height of the first tier about 1 meter, the second tier can be placed after about 0.5 meters.

What are the racks made of?

In order for our racks to be stable, reliable and strong, in addition to dimensions and convenience, we also need to choose the right materials used for their construction.

Wooden shelving is an easy option to implement.

Wooden shelving is the simplest option, which is perfect for beginners. If you want to try your hand at this for the first time and growing greens is new to you, you can choose this material for the first time.

Pros:

• cheapness;
• Wood is relatively easy to work with (process and fasten with self-tapping screws).

Minuses:

• less reliable design (compared to metal);
• predisposition to the appearance of mold and mildew, rotting.

Each tier of the rack must be equipped with side skirts. The permissible height of the side is no more than 10 cm. A plastic film is laid on the tier (can be wrapped over the edges of the sides). We will subsequently pour the growing substrate onto the film.

By the way, we also don’t recommend saving much on racks.

Metal shelving is a much more “solid” option. Suitable if growing greens brings you additional income or you know for sure that you will do this constantly for your own needs.

Pros:

• more durable and reliable design;
• durability.

Minuses:

• high cost;
• susceptibility to corrosion (although the problem of rust, as you probably know, is completely solvable);
• more difficult to work with than wood.

Let us outline the principles of constructing a metal rack, which differ from those described above.

To fasten the structure, you can use welding or a metal drill and fasteners

It is important to understand that in the first case you will end up with a non-demountable rack

Be sure to paint the metal rack to protect it from the moisture that inevitably accompanies growing green onions.

Selection of capacity

To sprout onions, you should use a special container for seedlings, which is sold in flower shops. But you can make the container yourself; ordinary household items (plastic bottles, egg cells, plastic bags and toilet paper) are suitable for this.

Plastic bottle container

For this method you will need a regular plastic bottle with a volume of 5-6 liters. It must be thoroughly washed from the inside with the addition of laundry soap, and then cut round holes with a diameter of 2-3 cm in its walls, keeping a distance of 5-6 cm between them.

This is easier to do with a soldering iron, since soft plastic is difficult to cut evenly with a knife. You should also remove the top of the container and make several drainage holes at the bottom of the bottle.

The container must be gradually filled with substrate up to the first row of holes. The bulbs should be laid on it so that the tails of the plants look out. So gradually you need to fill the bottle with soil and plant all the planting material in it. Several bulbs can be placed in the top layer of soil.

The planting will need to be watered with settled and filtered water. Then it needs to be placed in a cool and bright room. Caring for such a “bed” consists of regular watering. It is worth placing a tray under the container onto which excess liquid will drain.

Using the package

For this method of growing greens, you will need not only a transparent plastic bag, but also toilet paper.

1. Toilet paper must be folded in several layers and moistened well with water.
2. In this “substrate” you need to plant the bulbs with their bottoms down, placing them close to each other.
3. Before this, the tops of the bulbs should be cut off. You can also pre-soak them in a dark solution of potassium permanganate to prevent the development of mold.
4. Then you will need to tie the bag with thread and place it in a place that is not too dark and quite warm. Already on the second day, the bulbs will begin to grow roots. When this happens, it is necessary to move the package to a lighted windowsill.
5. It is worth opening the “structure” after the bulbs have grown long enough feathers.

Instead of paper, you can use forest moss or onion peels for this method of producing greens. These materials contain phytoncides that prevent the development of mold.

Egg Tray

From a plastic egg tray you can make a convenient structure for germinating onions in water.

1. To do this you need to cut the tray in half.
2. Holes with a diameter of 1.5-2 cm should be made in each cell of one of the halves.
3. Pour water into the untouched part of the tray.
4. Then you need to put a half with holes on it. And so that they do not come into contact with each other, it is worth placing wooden sticks or pencils between them.
5. You need to install an onion in the holes.

All that remains is to place the structure on the windowsill and wait for the harvest. But in the process, do not forget to add water to the bottom tray as it evaporates.

Green onion production business in winter

The media may write that one of the rooms of a residential building can be used for industrial production. Only those who really do not understand the essence of the issue can write this way. Living in a house where onions are grown will be quite difficult. The smell alone is enough to make you run away from home.

As an example, we consider a semi-buried greenhouse with a total area of ​​40 m² (farm of the Stepanovs from the Tula region). A metal frame made of 60·40 mm profile pipes (2.5 mm wall) is used. Covering made of polycarbonate 8 mm thick.

Heating is provided by four stoves located inside the building. The racks were made from 40×20 mm profile pipes. All metal products are painted with facade paint.

Monthly sales in the “Magnit” set are 1650...1700 kg of onion feathers. The data in the table is taken as of March 2016. In total, the farm operates three similar greenhouses.

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Monthly income from sales of products from one greenhouse is at least 28,132.5 rubles (2016 prices).

In 2022, documents were submitted to the bank to receive a loan for production development. Here we see a semi-recessed greenhouse, built by analogy with the previous design. Area 160 m², heating through the use of a gas boiler (natural gas).

Plant in sawdust

You will need a crate or box. They are also convenient for growing onions. It is believed that sawdust is an excellent substrate: it absorbs moisture well and releases it gradually.

The container - a box or box - is protected from moisture by laying oilcloth down. To plant onions, a container depth of up to 8 cm is sufficient. Bulbs soaked in water are planted slightly deeper into the ground. The only drawback of sawdust is that it can only be used once.

Life hack: it is advisable to disinfect the sawdust - pour boiling water on it - to destroy pathogenic microflora.

Comment by Timofey Seredina:

— It’s not clear why sawdust suddenly became a trend among planting materials on the Internet. Most likely, due to availability: they are sold in pet stores all year round. However, I would not recommend using them for planting onions or any other plants. Yes, sawdust absorbs moisture well and at the same time is a breathable material; it does not create a crust on the surface that interferes with breathing and absorbing moisture. But at the same time, they have inappropriate acidity; they are used for crops growing on acidic soils, pH 5.5-6.0. Onions prefer neutral or slightly alkaline soil, pH 6.4-7.9. It will not grow well in acidic soil. I advise you to use rotted sawdust only as mulch.

Make sure to do it before the soil freezes. Nuances of winter planting of onions and garlic Read more

Growing onions with seeds

They can also be grown hydroponically.

From the very beginning, seeds are germinated in any convenient way - most often in special cassettes with mineral wool or other similar substances. Each cell of the cassette can accommodate 4-6 seeds.

Freshly sprouted seeds cannot be “fertilized” or fed with anything - this will only harm them. Seeds use the substances that were embedded in them at the embryonic level, and additional nutrition received from the outside will chemically burn them.

Healthy onion seeds germinate in an average week.

They do not like too high temperatures; germination occurs at 18-19 degrees.

From the moment of germination to technical maturity, it takes about 3-4 months.

It is also practiced to plant onion seeds directly in trays. In this case, you need to adhere to this formula - for every 3 cm of the bed there are 10 seeds, there is also a distance of 3 cm between the rows. They need to be planted to a depth of 1.3-1.5 cm. When watering from below, the appearance of rot and other diseases of the seedlings is unlikely.

When its height is 7 - 7.5 cm, the seedlings must be transplanted to a permanent place.

It has been noticed that seedlings take root better if they are planted in the evening, especially if the weather is cloudy. Rules for planting seedlings: there should be 10 cm between plants and between rows. Everything is compacted well with vermiculite. You can’t embed it too deeply; it must be on the surface all the time. It is necessary to loosen the nutrient solution every day and ensure that it is constantly moist. Be careful, the bulbs have very delicate roots, they are easy to damage, and this is unacceptable, the bulb may die.

A nutrient solution is supplied until the bulb reaches the desired size, after which the bulb is ripened in dry vermiculite. When it matures, it is removed from the growing medium.

Other types of onions, such as leeks, are grown in the same way.

Preparing egg containers for planting

Hydroponics trays can be made from any egg tray - plastic or foam, as well as cardboard.

Preparing plastic or foam containers

is as follows:

1. Separate the bottom of the container from the top.
2. The bottom of each recess in the lower part is cut out.
3. Remove unnecessary holders and latches.
4. Two skewers (sticks) made of wood or bamboo are attached to the top part with tape or glue in the form of crossbars.
5. The lower part of the tray is placed on the tray cover.

Preparing Cardboard Trays

happens a little differently:

1. Cardboard boxes are treated with hydrogen peroxide for disinfection.
2. The bottom of each recess is cut off.
3. Several containers prepared in this way are inserted into each other so that their recesses coincide.
4. Stacks of 4-5 trays are placed in a tray or similar container that is the right size.

Onion. The illustration for the article is used under the standard license ©ofazende.com

Where to start an onion business

Any business idea requires careful analysis and preliminary calculations. First of all, it is necessary to determine the potential sales market. If there are no problems with sales, you need to calculate how much product you will sell and, based on this, plan your initial costs.

Since growing green onions is a rather specific business, at the first stage professional help from agronomists will be desirable if you yourself are not yet particularly versed in this topic.

Documents for registration

Growing green onions does not require any special licenses. It is recommended to register as an individual entrepreneur or register a peasant farm.

These forms of ownership require simplified document management and lower tax fees than LLCs or OJSCs.

You can submit documents yourself to the tax office or through the MFC.

In many regions of Russia, local administrations are trying to support agricultural startups, so talk to officials to find out the possibility of targeted financing for your project.

Pre-planting preparation of bulbs

To get a rich harvest of greens, it is important to choose the right bulbs for germination. To do this, you need to sort them out and set aside healthy heads with a diameter of 2.5-5 cm. It is important that the bulbs are dense, without any damage or signs of rot. You also need to inspect the root calyx of the heads. It must be fully formed.

The tops of the selected heads must be carefully cut off. Thanks to this, several green growth points will appear, which will increase plant productivity. Then the turnips need to be placed in a container and filled with water at a temperature of +50 °C. The heads need to be soaked for 15 minutes.

At the end, add a few drops of potassium permanganate to the water. This measure will help prevent the development of mold and fungal diseases.

Next, you will need to transfer the planting material to a container with cool water. After the required time, the upper part of the husk should be removed from it. You should not completely peel the bulbs, as this will negatively affect their yield. After soaking the bulbs, it is better to immediately plant them in the ground without drying.

If the process of growing greens takes place in water, then the heads do not need to be pre-soaked. And such planting material just needs to be cleared of the top layer of husk and the tops cut off.

The article describes various ways to grow green onions from bulbs on a windowsill.

It is also worth considering that only the “dormant” heads need to be trimmed. And it is better to leave the bulbs on which greens have already hatched as they are. You need to cut the top off the heads at a height of 1-1.5 cm.