Onions and garlic are not too demanding on soil fertility and grow almost without any care. But if we want to get large bulbs that will store well, attention should be paid to feeding. The main thing is to choose the right fertilizers.
The first feeding of garlic and onions planted before winter should be carried out in the spring, in April, when the weather becomes warm and the crops are just beginning vegetation. For this, ammonium sulfate, urea, or ammonium nitrate are usually used—that is, nitrogen fertilizers that give a good start for growth and development.
The second spring feeding is carried out 2–3 weeks later, in May, when the crops are actively growing their above-ground part. For this, you can use an infusion of weeds or complex fertilizers containing equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as magnesium and other essential nutrients.
Feeding of spring garlic and onions planted in May is carried out much later. These crops are fed for the first time in the second or third decade of May, depending on the climate of the region and planting dates. If complex mineral fertilizers were applied to the bed during soil preparation, then compost tea, bird droppings infusion, vermicompost infusion or weed infusion, as well as water-soluble fertilizers with increased phosphorus content can be used for feeding.
When planning summer feeding of onions and garlic, it is worth considering the stage of development of these crops, as well as the composition of the fertilizers that were applied to the plot earlier.
What to feed winter garlic and bulb onions in June
In the second half of June, winter garlic and bulb onions are actively forming bulbs. Of course, during this period the crops need absolutely all macro- and micronutrients, but mostly—potassium. It is potassium that is "responsible" for the accumulation of sugars, ripening, and storability of bulbs. Therefore, a month before harvesting, the last feeding of onions and winter garlic should be carried out with a fertilizer with a high potassium content. Such feeding can accelerate the flow of nutrients from the leaves to the bulbs, which will ensure a good harvest.
So, what fertilizers can be used for the final feeding of winter garlic and bulb onions.
Potassium sulfate, or potassium sulphate, is a chlorine-free fertilizer that, in addition to potassium, also contains sulfur—an important nutrient element for onions and garlic. Sulfur improves the bioavailability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, forms the crops' resistance to adverse weather conditions, and prolongs the storage period of the bulbs. To feed onions and garlic, dissolve 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate in 10 L of water and water the plantings.
Monopotassium phosphate, or monokalium phosphate, is a concentrated water-soluble fertilizer that contains 34% potassium and 51% phosphorus and is suitable for all soil types. The main value of this phosphorus-potassium fertilizer lies in the purity of its chemical compounds—it contains no heavy metals, sodium, or chlorine. Monopotassium phosphate can be used for feeding onions and garlic if phosphorus fertilizers (in particular, superphosphate) were not applied during soil preparation. To do this, dissolve 1 teaspoon of the fertilizer in 10 L of water and water the planting rows.
Complex fertilizers with high potassium content (Kristalon Orange, Agricola for onions and garlic, Aquarin for vegetables, Fertika Lux, AgroMaster 10.18.32, etc.) are great for root and foliar feeding of onion crops growing on sandy loam soils where nutrients, including nitrogen, are quickly washed out. In addition, complex fertilizers should be used if you did not perform spring feeding of onions and garlic and the tips of the leaves have already begun to yellow.
If you decide to carry out foliar feeding of onions and garlic with a complex fertilizer, it can be combined with treatment using biological products (Fitosporin-M), which will be excellent prevention of downy mildew and other diseases.
Ash contains a large amount of potassium, calcium, as well as silicon, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, sulfur, boron, manganese and other nutrients in a form available to plants. There is no nitrogen in ash—it burns off along with carbon.
Ash can be applied to beds in dry form, dusting the plantings to protect from insect pests: onion fly and thrips (for this, ash can be mixed with tobacco dust and mustard powder). But to quickly extract nutrients from ash, you can prepare an infusion. To do this, pour 200 g of ash with hot water and let it steep for a day, stirring occasionally. Before use, pour the infusion into a watering can without disturbing the sediment, top up to 10 L and perform feeding on moist soil by pouring 5 L of infusion per 1 m of planting row.
What to feed spring garlic in summer
Spring garlic "sits" in the beds much longer than winter garlic. And it requires at least two summer feedings. The first is carried out in June with a complex mineral or organomineral fertilizer containing approximately equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. From water-soluble fertilizers, you can use AgroMaster 20.20.20, Agricola and others. These complexes are suitable for root and foliar feeding. On poor soils, while loosening the row spacing, you can apply organomineral fertilizer for onions and garlic such.
The final feeding of spring garlic is carried out about a month before harvesting, in the second half of July or early August. During this period, it is best to use potassium sulfate (20 g per 10 L of water) or wood ash infusion (200 g per 10 L of water). If the garlic is growing on poor sandy or sandy loam soil, then perform additional foliar feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer with increased potassium content.
The same scheme can be used to feed bulb onions planted in the second half of May, as well as leek and all types of perennial onions: chives, batun, etc.
When feeding onions and garlic, consider weather conditions and plant health. If they suffer from diseases or are affected by insect pests, then before feeding, treat the plantings with a fungicide or insecticide. In adverse weather conditions (heat, rain, sharp temperature changes, etc.), conduct additional feeding with fertilizers containing amino acids and growth regulators.
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