How to Save Onions from Yellowing: Causes and Solutions
11.05.2024 04:10
To get a good onion harvest, you need to properly care for it at all stages of growth and development.
It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the onion feathers, which are an indicator of the health of the plant.
If feathers start to turn yellow and dry out, this could be a sign of serious problems that need to be addressed in a timely manner, says Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .
Today you will learn about the five main reasons for yellowing of onion feathers and what to do in each case to save the plants and preserve the harvest.
Incorrect watering
Onions are a crop that loves moisture, but does not tolerate stagnant water in the soil. Therefore, onions need to be watered moderately but regularly, especially in hot and dry weather.
If you water the onion too often and too much, the roots of the plant will start to rot and the feathers will turn yellow. If you water the onion too rarely and too little, the feathers may dry out and turn yellow due to lack of moisture.
To avoid mistakes when watering onions, follow these rules:
It is best to water onions in the morning or evening, when there is no strong sun.
You need to water the onions at the roots, avoiding water getting on the feathers.
Onions should be watered with warm, settled water, preferably rain or well water.
Onions need to be watered as the soil dries out at a depth of 3-4 cm.
Water the onions about once a week in spring and fall and 2-3 times a week in summer.
After watering, you need to loosen the soil between the rows and remove weeds.
Soil compaction
Onions are a crop that loves loose and fertile soil.
If the soil becomes compacted due to frequent watering, rain or stepping on the beds, the plant roots cannot receive enough oxygen and nutrients, and the feathers turn yellow and dry out.
To avoid soil compaction, the following rules must be followed:
Before planting onions, you need to dig the soil thoroughly to a depth of 20-25 cm and add organic and mineral fertilizers.
After planting onions, you need to regularly loosen the soil between the rows and remove weeds, especially after watering or rain.
Do not step on the onion beds or drive vehicles or carts over them.
If necessary, mulch the soil between the rows with straw, sawdust, peat or other materials that will prevent compaction and evaporation of moisture.
Lack of nutrition
Onions are a crop that requires sufficient nutrients for normal growth and development.
If the soil is poor or depleted, the onion may experience a deficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or other microelements, which leads to yellowing and drying of the feathers.
To avoid nutritional deficiencies in onions, you need to follow these rules:
Before planting onions, you need to add organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil, such as manure, compost, humus, peat, ash, superphosphate, potassium salt and others.
During the growing season, it is necessary to carry out 2-3 additional feedings of onions with solutions of mineral fertilizers, such as urea, ammonium nitrate, potassium salt and others. The first additional feeding is done 2-3 weeks after planting or germination of onions. The second - a month after the first. The third - 2-3 weeks before harvesting.
When fertilizing onions, you need to follow the dosage and concentration of fertilizers indicated on the package or in the instructions. Do not overdo it with the amount of fertilizers, as this can lead to burning of the roots and feathers or to excessive growth of greenery to the detriment of the bulbs.
When fertilizing onions, you need to water the plants at the roots or spray them on the leaves. Do not apply fertilizers to dry soil or in strong sunlight.
Diseases
Onions are a crop that is susceptible to various diseases, especially fungal ones. If the onion is affected by a fungus, the feathers may turn yellow, become covered with spots, holes, mold or rust. The most common fungal diseases of onions are fusarium, downy mildew, alternaria and rust.
To avoid onion diseases, you need to follow these rules:
Choose healthy and high-quality seeds or onion sets for planting. Before planting, treat them with solutions of potassium permanganate, phytosporin, bordeaux or other preparations that protect plants from fungi.
Observe crop rotation and do not grow onions in one place for more than two years in a row. It is best to alternate onions with legumes, cabbage, pumpkin or cereal crops.
Maintain the optimal planting density of onions and do not plant them too close to each other. This will help avoid high planting density, lack of light and air, and the spread of infection.
Remove diseased, damaged or rotten plants from the beds in a timely manner and burn them. Do not use them for compost or animal feed.
Conduct preventive spraying of onions with fungicide solutions, such as hom, topaz, skor. Onions should be sprayed 2-3 times per season: at the beginning of the growing season, during budding and 2-3 weeks before harvesting.
Pests
Onions are a crop that attracts many pests that can damage both the feathers and the bulbs. Among the most dangerous onion pests are the onion fly, thrips, leafhoppers, and nematodes.
In order to prevent onion diseases, it is important to follow these recommendations:
Select pest-resistant varieties and hybrids of onions for planting. Before planting, treat seeds or onion sets with insecticide solutions, such as Actara, Confidor and Prestige.
Follow the agricultural technology for growing onions: water, feed, loosen the soil and remove weeds.
Use biological pest control methods: plant companion plants near onions, such as daisies, calendula, garlic, mint or basil, which repel pests with their smell. You can also use beneficial predatory insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, which eat onion pests.
Conduct regular inspections of onions for pests and damage. If pests are detected, use chemical control methods: spray onions with insecticide solutions, such as decis, fufanon. Spray onions as needed, but not more often than once every 10 days. The last spraying should be done 3-4 weeks before harvesting.
Earlier, our expert explained which plants can be planted between cabbage heads.
