How to grow leeks at home?

Let's talk about a very interesting culture. The cultivation of leeks, onions, and onions for feathers is quite a popular activity among lovers of summer cottages. We offer you to understand the nuances of planting and caring for this crop. The fact is that, starting to cultivate it for the first time, not everyone achieves good harvests, but all because you need to know some secrets, which we want to tell you about. Don't have your own site? No problem! Make a mini vegetable garden and plant onions on the windowsill! Growing it is a common thing for many apartment owners.

Popularity of onions

Leeks are also called pearl onions. It is an ancient plant found all over the world. Leek is currently ranked third in popularity among related crops, after onions and garlic. And in general, it is difficult to imagine how you can do without it. Many families love him. It makes a wonderful soup.

Leek seeds

Growing onions from seeds is a simple process. You need to start with their correct preparation. Their germination capacity lasts for three years. So, let's start by dressing the seeds (this is disinfection). To do this, before planting, they must be placed in water: first in hot (45 degrees), and then in cold.

If you want to get quick shoots, then it is better to germinate the seeds. And to do this, lay them out on a wet cloth and leave in a warm place. After a couple of days, you can dry them a little, and then sow. This should be done at the end of February.

Processing must be carried out in the event that you are going to sow your own seeds. Purchased, and especially imported, as a rule, have already been disinfected.

Leek: growing seedlings

In the southern regions, onions can be grown by sowing them directly into the ground in the second half of May. And in the central and northern regions of Russia, the culture is planted in the form of seedlings. This is due to the growing season of the plant.

To get good seedlings, the following sowing dates are recommended:

1. In February, plant seeds in boxes on the window.
2. In mid-April - in a glazed greenhouse or under a film in a garden bed.

Leek requires 10-12 hours of daylight hours. Therefore, if you sow seeds in February, you will need additional highlighting for seedlings.

We will start growing onions in winter by sowing the seeds in small boxes with moist soil. Furrows should be made at a distance of five centimeters. Planting depth - 1.5-2 cm.The pots are covered with foil and placed in a warm, well-lit place (+ 25 degrees). As soon as the first shoots appear, the film is immediately removed. The room temperature should be gradually reduced to fifteen degrees during the day and to ten at night. At this temperature, the crops are kept for seven days. Then the schedule is gradually changed. During the day, the temperature should be no more than twenty degrees, and at night - 10-14 degrees. Further, this mode is maintained throughout the entire time of growing seedlings.

Compliance with the temperature schedule is a very important condition for the future harvest. Temperatures that are too warm for seedlings will result in early formation of the flower arrow, which should appear in the second year of life, not the first. As you can see, you have to work hard to get the leek. Growing seedlings is troublesome.

Exactly one month later, dense seedlings can be thinned out so that the distance between them is a couple of centimeters. Seedlings dive into pots, the diameter of which can be up to four centimeters.

So we sowed the onion. The methods of growing it can be different. Good seedlings are obtained by using peat pots and tablets, because in this case you do not need to dive the plants.

Seedlings can be watered with compost tea. The cultivation of onions should be accompanied by regular feeding. Preferably every two weeks during the entire growing period.

What else should you look out for when doing an activity like growing onions at home? We advise you to trim its leaves so that their length does not exceed 9-10 centimeters. This should be done every couple of weeks, which will promote better root growth and thickening of the stems.

Before planting onions in open ground, the seedlings must be hardened. To do this, the pots are taken out into the street, the plants will gradually get used not to home conditions, but to the fresh air.

It should be noted that the seedlings grow rather slowly. 6-8 weeks after planting, the seedlings can be planted in the ground if the stem has reached 5-8 millimeters in diameter.

How to plant seedlings correctly?

Growing onions will give good yields on light, fertile loamy soils with a neutral environment.

In the fall, when preparing the site for planting, you can apply fertilizer or compost. And in the spring, the beds can be sprinkled with humus. It is good if potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage or legumes grew in front of the onions on this land. Seedlings are planted in open ground in May.

Before planting, it is recommended to cut off the leaves and roots a little (the roots can be moistened in a mullein and clay mash). So the plants will take root better.

For planting, you need to prepare the holes. Their depth should be no more than twelve centimeters. Be sure to put compost or manure on the bottom. One plant is planted in each well. Next, the roots are sprinkled with earth, watered and finally added dropwise.

The technology for growing onions and planting is as follows:

1. Two-row - the distance between seedlings is about fifteen or twenty centimeters with a row spacing of thirty centimeters.
2. Multi-row - the distance between plants is ten to fifteen centimeters, with row spacing up to thirty centimeters.

Growing onions is best done in narrow rows. If you have long distances between rows, then you can sow carrots. These plants combine wonderfully. Onions are also friends with strawberries, celery and beets. These plants can be planted in onions. The cultivation and care of these crops can be combined as they are friendly to each other. This means that they will not interfere with one another.

How to care for onions?

Growing onions at home means taking great care of the crop. This is loosening the soil, and weeding, and hilling, watering and feeding. Experts advise using mulching, this will make your work easier and create comfortable conditions for growing onions.

When the stalks of the plants reach the diameter of a ballpoint pen, soil should be poured into the holes. Further, every couple of weeks it will be necessary to huddle the beds. This is necessary in order to get a longer white stem. In general, at least four such procedures need to be carried out per season. It is best to do this before watering.

It should be noted that onions are a demanding culture. He loves good soil and watering, which should be regular and abundant. Top dressing must also be present. Mullein and bird droppings are considered good fertilizers for onions. They are used in the form of solutions.

The most valuable part of the leek is the white stem, which is also called the leg. If you properly care for it, the stem can reach fifty centimeters in length and up to four centimeters in width.

Leeks are a fairly cold-resistant crop. It can withstand frosts up to seven degrees. In regions with a mild climate, plants may well overwinter under the snow while in the open field. Rainy and cool summers can lead to the formation of a thin and short stem.

Growing onions in greenhouses

There are late types of onions that are cold-resistant. However, they cannot complete their growth due to the long growing season. Such varieties are grown under a film. They also practice growing onions in greenhouses in winter.

Plants grown in the ground can be transplanted into boxes and transferred to a warm room so that they grow there further. This must be done in the autumn, before the onset of frost.

Winter onion cultivation can be organized. As a business, this is a great idea. In cold weather, its cost increases significantly, and so does the demand. In winter, you really want something summer and fresh. Moreover, onions are known for their beneficial properties and antiviral effects.

Greenhouse technology

Growing onions in a greenhouse is not very difficult. There shouldn't be any big difficulties. It is better to sow those varieties that are suitable for these purposes. If planting occurs before winter, then you can cover the plants with foil. But it is possible to organize the cultivation of onions as a business in a greenhouse. The fact is that in greenhouse conditions, the harvest can be obtained much earlier.

First, you need to dig up the beds and apply fertilizer. Superphosphate and potassium chloride will do. It is advisable to plant or transplant before mid-October. After all, plants still need to have time to take root.

Landing should be done at a distance of one and a half or two centimeters. As soon as the cold comes, the plants are covered with peat, manure or straw.

By the end of March or at the very beginning of April, all insulation materials must be removed and only the film must be left. Plants need to be watered and fertilized. Nitrogen fertilizers should be used twice during the spring.

Greens will appear in early May.

Growing onions in a greenhouse with heating is different. The boxes are first filled with peat and earth from the garden. If they want to achieve increased yields, then the bulbs are warmed up for a day at a temperature of forty degrees. Next, the neck of the plant is cut off. Care will be exactly the same as in other cases. This is watering and feeding. You will get the harvest in thirty days. But for this you have to maintain the right temperature. In the daytime - up to twenty degrees, and at night - up to fifteen.

Winter growing recommendations

If you want to get high-quality greens, you will need additional lighting up to twelve hours a day. You can not purchase small bulbs for planting, this will affect the harvest.

If you nevertheless decide to grow onions precisely for profit, then you should remember that there are days when they are bought especially smartly. For example, before the New Year, March 8, February 23, Easter. Therefore, it makes sense to adjust the cultivation of plants to this particular time.

Growing in the basement

The option of growing onions in the basement may be quite acceptable.Shelving units can be installed there. The plus of this option will be a positive temperature in the room. But the disadvantages include the need for artificial lighting equipment.

Growing onions at home on a windowsill

Summer red passes very quickly, and now autumn is already on the doorstep, followed by winter. It's good when we prepared for their arrival in advance by drying and freezing food. But in cold weather you want something fresh and tasty, and at the same time healthy. Of course, in winter, supermarkets are full of greens and fruits, but their prices are high. Therefore, you can try to grow onions at home on the window. Harvesting will give you a lot of pleasure and pride in yourself. You can put the bow on the windowsill. Growing plants is also possible at home. But there are some nuances here.

The stores have a huge assortment of pottery and houseplant boxes. However, a wooden or earthen pot is the best choice. If you haven't found one, you can also use plastic containers. It is better to cover the bottom with oilcloth, making small holes in it for the outflow of water.

The seeds are sown in flower pots at the end of February. It is better to soak them beforehand. The pots are filled with soil two-thirds, then the seeds are placed, and they are covered with earth for a couple of centimeters on top. Then all this is closed with a film or plastic bag. Every few days, the film must be removed, watered, and then closed again. As soon as the first loops appear, the bags are removed. And the pots are placed on the windowsill. If the outside temperature is above zero, then sometimes it can be taken out onto the veranda or balcony. During this period, the plants are carefully watered and protected from direct sunlight.

However, natural light may not be enough, because it is no secret that in the autumn-winter time the daylight hours are very short and the seedlings will need additional lighting. Alternatively, it can be artificial lighting using fluorescent fluorescent lamps. Please note that the home garden is best placed on the southern windows.

And remember to observe the temperature regime. All plants are very capricious about temperature changes. If you want to ventilate the room, it is better to remove the boxes with crops from the draft. Or cover them with something.

If the air in the room where the onion is located is dry, then it is better to spray the plants. Water the seedlings only with settled water at room temperature when the topsoil is dry. Excess moisture should go into the pallet. So that it does not stagnate there, it makes sense to fill it with sand or gravel.

Do not overmoisten the soil, since the roots of plants can begin to rot, which will lead to the death of the onion.

Are leeks susceptible to disease?

Unfortunately, onions are susceptible to disease. And there are pests that affect plants. For example, onion fly, fusarium, black mold, rust, downy mildew. In general, you need eye to eye. Just have time to keep an eye on the plants.

1. Mosaic. This is a viral lesion of the onion. And the common aphid carries it. A symptom of this disease is the appearance of longitudinal yellow spots. Diseased seedlings stop growing. You can fight this disease only by destroying all affected onions. There are no other options. As a preventive measure, you can only fight ticks and aphids. Experts also advise using seeds that have lain for a couple of years. The fact is that during this time the virus practically dies.
2. Powdery mildew (downy mildew) is a white spot that quickly spreads through plants. Onions affected by this disease are inedible. Diseased plants must be removed. It makes sense to treat the beds with phytosporin or copper oxychloride. It is believed that the best prevention of this disease is the correct agricultural technology.
3. Rust of leaves. It manifests itself in the appearance of yellow pads on the plants. These are fungal spores.Affected leaves begin to dry and then turn black. Plants with such a disease need to be urgently pulled out of the garden and destroyed in order to prevent the spread of mushrooms to healthy onions.
4. Of the pests, the onion fly inflicts the greatest damage. It devours the green of the leaf and leaves large gaps. Even the larvae of these flies can harm onions. They greatly spoil the underground part of it. To scare off pests, it is advised to sow carrots in the aisles. The fly does not like its smell. Experts recommend watering the onion in such cases with a special solution: the glass is poured into ten liters of water. The resulting mixture is poured over the root beds. But the soil itself is advised to sprinkle with carrot seeds (ground) or pepper per teaspoon per square meter. Wood ash can also be used. It cannot be said that all these measures provide a complete guarantee of the disappearance of pests, but they will help to preserve part of the crop and prevent its complete destruction.

Secrets of experienced gardeners

Onion agrotechnology is not particularly difficult. However, experienced specialists in this matter have their own secrets. They advise paying great attention to the plants initially, right after planting. In the future, leaving will not be so troublesome.

The basic rule is to carefully monitor the weeds in the garden. They must be pulled out. Watering and removing unnecessary grass should be the main principles of care.

The soil should always be moist. It is bad when it dries up, but waterlogging and overflow should not be allowed.

During the season, you should huddle the beds three to four times. This will give you a chance to get a white long leg. After each hilling, the soil is mulched, for example, with straw or dry manure, dry grass.

Leeks have one interesting feature. It does not stop growing even when it is dug up and placed in the basement for the winter for storage. Therefore, it is advised to feed him often. For the first time, this can be done as soon as the plant reaches twenty centimeters and has five leaves.

It is allowed to use such a solution: a liter of mullein is placed on ten liters of water. The resulting composition is watered the aisles. Plants cannot be treated with a solution. He can burn greens. This fertilizer is suitable for poor soil. If you have treated the soil well before planting, then you can do with watering from herbal tinctures, for example, nettle.

Remember that leeks are never fertilized with fertilizers with a lot of nitrogen, this leads to plant rotting even when stored in basements.

For plants, the watering schedule is very important. The onions need good watering during the period of intensive growth of the green part in June, as well as during the formation of the bulbous part in July. The soil should be moist, but not very wet or dry. Any deviation from the norm will lead to undesirable consequences.

Onions are harvested in late autumn. However, he is able to overwinter in the open field, of course, if the winter is not very cold. In general, onions are a cold-resistant plant. In the middle lane, it can be covered with needles or straw, peat. And in the spring it begins to grow rapidly, although the rest of the plants are just beginning to be planted.

Instead of an afterword

Leeks are often found in vegetable gardens and summer cottages. This culture was brought to Russia in the middle of the last century. The popularity of this plant is enormous. This is probably due primarily to useful properties. Onions can be eaten fresh, salted, frozen, pickled. In fact, it is a versatile product. Even the stem is valuable in it. It is eaten throughout the summer and autumn. The younger the shoot, the tastier and juicier it is. And young leaves are used for salads and soups. They contain a lot of potassium, which activates metabolic processes in the body.

If you decide to start growing this wonderful plant at home, we hope that our article will be useful to you.In fact, the process itself is not very complicated, and the plant cannot be called capricious. Try it and see for yourself.

Many salads wouldn't taste as thin without an ingredient like leeks. Due to its excellent gastronomic qualities and rich vitamin composition, the plant is grown by many gardeners. An annual culture native to the Mediterranean, it has unusual greenish-blue feathers with a characteristic aroma. The lack of pungency and a sweetish taste make the variety an aromatic spice.

When to plant leeks

Due to the long growing season (about six months) and the peculiarities of the climate of central Russia, it is better to grow leeks using seedlings. It is sown in the second half of February or early March in prepared boxes, pots or cups.

To obtain seedlings, irrigation and temperature conditions must be observed. If you sow seeds in open ground, you may not wait for the harvest due to the death of the plant due to frost and snow (the danger of freezing exists both in spring and autumn). Some gardeners practice the cultivation of leeks for greens, which are harvested in July.

Some gardeners grow leeks for greenery.

One way to plant onions is by sowing seeds in late fall (usually November). It is important to make sure that the weather forecasts are not warm, this will provoke quick shoots.

Seeding in the beds can be done in greenhouse conditions or with the use of cultivation technology under agrofibre.

Planting seeds for growing seedlings at home

Proper soil and seed preparation

Used to plant seeds a mixture of sod and compost soil with the addition of humus... Leek loves nutritious and light soil; in a dense substrate, seeds may not sprout.

Leek seeds

When using a peat base, you should not forget to feed with any additives:

• dolomite flour;
• urea;
• double superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate.

Spring sowing is usually done in March to get the onions by September. The timing and scheme of planting and sowing can be adjusted depending on the time of harvest.

How to plant seeds

Before planting seeds soaked at home in water at room temperature and kept for a day, after which they are dried.

Another preparation option involves keeping the seeds in a thermos with water (40 degrees) for 2-4 hours followed by rinsing under a cool shower and drying. Boxes 35 x 50 cm are used as containers.

The seed consumption for such a container is 2-3 grams... After filling the container, the soil surface is covered with a 3-5 mm layer of sand and moistened.

The first shoots from sprinkled leek seeds

Before shoots appear, the box must be covered with glass or foil to create a greenhouse effect.

To obtain good germination of planting, it is necessary to create favorable conditions. Among the main ones:

• correct temperature regime within 22 degrees before germination;
• temperature adjustment after germination (in the daytime up to 18-20 degrees, at night up to 8-14 degrees);
• watering to carry out heated water;
• provide good illumination for photosynthesis.

Picking and hardening

It is better to grow seedlings of culture without picking, do not need to be seated in separate containers. Seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground after reaching the age of 2-2.5 months.

For 6-7 weeks after the emergence of shoots, seedlings need temper... To do this, boxes or pots should be taken outside and left in partial shade for several hours, gradually increasing the time spent in the air. In strong winds, air procedures are not recommended.

Planting onion seedlings in open ground

Seedlings are planted in open ground in the first half of May, for example, this applies to the Moscow region.Before an important step, it is necessary to thoroughly moisten the soil so as not to damage the root system of the plant. It is better to do the work in the evening or in cloudy weather. Active sun can destroy young shoots.

The leek bed is chosen in open areas so that it can grow with maximum access to light. It is not recommended to plant a crop near bushes and trees.

The soil for planting must be neutral reaction, rather loose... If the soil is acidified, it must be preliminarily limed.

It is advisable to start preparing the beds in the fall. To do this, the site is dug up and cleaned of roots and weeds, after which processed by Nitrofoska (2 tbsp. L. Per 1 m2). In early spring, the beds are enriched with humus and compost without additional digging of the earth.

Grooves are prepared for planting seedlings

When the seedlings are ready to be transplanted, the grooves are prepared in the selected area. Their depth is 10-15 cm, interval - 25-30 cm... A distance of 10-20 cm is maintained between the shoots, depending on the variety.

Each root, before immersion in the ground, is treated with a special chatter, which is prepared from clay, manure and water (all components are taken in equal proportions). Too long shoots shortened to 4 cm... Seedlings are sprinkled with soil in small quantities. Transplanting work ends with abundant watering.

Leek care after transplant

Leeks are not very whimsical to care for, but you will need to make an effort to get a harvest. To grow a good crop that will not be afraid of transportation and will grow healthy, you need to care for it properly.

Care includes:

• regular watering;
• weeding;
• hilling (3-4 times during the growing season);
• groundbait;
• loosening;
• treatment against diseases and pests.

For a good harvest, weed removal and loosening must be carried out regularly.

After transplanting seedlings, the plant is not watered for three days.

Further, the shoots need to be watered with non-cold water. 1 time in 5 days... The irrigation rate is up to 10-15 liters of settled water per 1 m2.

During the season, leeks are fed 3-4 times... The plant responds well to organic fertilizers: mullein, compost, bird droppings. Mineral complexes rich in potassium, phosphorus and other micro and macro elements are also suitable. Each hilling is recommended to be combined with the introduction of ash.

Once every 2 weeks it is necessary to loosen the soil around the shoots until the stem becomes as thick as a pencil. Further, the procedures become more frequent and widen into the groove zone to saturate the soil with oxygen and prevent soil compaction.

Leeks respond well to feeding with mullein solution

Harvesting and storage

You can collect onions until late autumn, but it is better to do this before frost and the first snow.

The plant should be cleaned of damaged and dried leaves, remove the tops of the feathers (about 1/3 of the length), cut at the root by 1 cm.

The crop is well preserved in the refrigerator, wrapped in cling film. Before packing, the stems must be cooled so that condensation does not form under the polyethylene. Basements, cellars or pits with a temperature regime of no higher than 2-5 degrees are also suitable as storage facilities.

For preparations for the winter, the leek is placed in the freezer. After thawing, it retains its properties and is quite usable.

Leeks are still gaining popularity among Russian gardeners. It is very interesting and useful to gain invaluable experience in growing a crop and share it with summer residents, as well as boasting a magnificent harvest that may look unusual.

Leeks are one of the most valuable vitamin crops among green vegetables. The peculiarity of the plant is that it contains a lot of natural water (almost 90%), carbohydrates, proteins and even fats, as well as sugar, starch, organic acids, useful salts and dietary fiber.Leek is rich in many vitamins: C, A, E, B, H, PP. Due to its unique chemical composition, onions have a beneficial effect on human health: gastrointestinal tract, lymph, liver, heart. In addition, it is sweeter than onion, has a more subtle aroma and taste. Leeks take pride of place in cooking.

The origin and characteristics of leeks

Leek has another name - Pearl. It has been known since ancient times, and is considered to be its homeland in Southwest Asia. From there, the leek entered the Mediterranean and spread to European countries. Now it is cultivated everywhere, from North America to Asia. Leek gained enviable popularity in Europe, where it is actively grown and used in cooking. The largest supplier for today is France.

Video: characteristics of leeks

Leek is a biennial plant. In the first year, leaves and a white false stem grow, in the second, an arrow with seeds is formed. Unlike onion leeks, leeks do not form a bulbous head. They eat a white leg and young leaves, the taste of which is not pungent, but slightly pungent. In cooking, leeks are used to prepare first courses, salads, it is fried in batter and pickled.

Unlike onions, leeks have a more delicate aroma and delicate taste.

Fresh onions are stored in the refrigerator for no more than 7 days, and for long-term preservation they can be frozen. Leek propagates by seeds.

Planting seeds for seedlings

In Russia, leeks grow in all zones, regardless of the climate. The cultivation methods differ in small features, but the basic agricultural techniques remain unchanged.

In the southern area, the seedless method is preferable, that is, sowing seeds directly into the ground. In other areas, where the ground does not warm up so quickly, the seedling method is used.

Leek seeds can germinate at 2 ° C, but normal development requires a temperature of 22-25 ° C and daylight hours 10.5-11.5 hours

Seed preparation

You need to start preparing seeds for planting in the second decade of February.... They are soaked in hot and cold water alternately for 20 minutes. In order for the seeds to hatch faster, they are germinated for three days in damp cotton wool. You can also use gauze soaked in Rostock solution, folded in several layers.

For planting, it is better to use two- and three-year-old seeds, they have the best germination

The length of daylight hours for leeks should be 10.5-11.5 hours, so when planting early seedlings, you should immediately think about whether you can provide the seedlings with the necessary lighting. The most practical and effective in this regard are phytolamps or LEDs with a red and blue emission spectrum.

The choice of capacity and soil

The capacity must be chosen depending on where and how you will grow the seedlings. Boxes are very convenient for leeks, which are easy to place on window sills or on a warm balcony. Sow in rows at intervals of 5–6 cm and a planting depth of about 1.5 cm. Therefore, the container should not be too deep so that the walls do not subsequently shade the seedlings. As the plant grows and develops, the soil must be sprinkled in small portions.

Many people use peat tablets as a great alternative to crates. They greatly simplify the planting process, since there is no need to prepare special soil. The tablets should only be constantly kept moist, because they dry out very quickly.

Onion seedlings do not tolerate picking well, so the use of peat tablets is a good option.

To grow seedlings in conventional containers, without peat tablets, you need to prepare a nutrient mixture. Required elements for soil:

1. Organic:
   • wood ash without impurities;
   • crushed eggshell;
   • peat;
   • moss, remnants of leaf decomposition;
   • sawdust of coniferous and deciduous trees (necessarily rotted);
   • sod land without larvae, worms.
2. Inorganic impurities:
   • hydrogel for more effective soil moisture;
   • leavening agents for soil aeration:
     • vermiculite,
     • expanded clay,
     • perlite,
     • crushed polystyrene,
     • coarse river sand.

The most suitable ratio of elements for a soil mixture:

• 40% of the land,
• 30% peat,
• 30% sand.

If necessary, you can add a little ash to the mixture (if your soil is acidic). For alkaline soils, use dolomite flour. Excellent fertilizers for leeks are:

• urea,
• potassium salt,
• compost,
• superphosphate.

Onions should not be planted in heavy, dense, clayey soils. The seeds either will not sprout, or they will give weak and sluggish shoots, and the plant will not be able to develop normally. You can purchase a ready-made soil mixture: soils for peppers, cucumbers and eggplants are perfect.

Temperature regime

When germinating seeds, it is important to maintain the correct temperature: between 22 ° C and 25 ° C. At home, it is very difficult to fulfill all the conditions perfectly. For example, the optimum temperature for newly hatched seeds is 15–17 ° C during the day, 12 ° C at night. In such conditions, the seedlings need to "live" for a week, then the daytime and nighttime temperatures are increased by two degrees each time. In this mode, the seedlings will grow before planting in the ground.

Since leeks are two-year-old greens, the wrong temperature in the seedling period of the first year of life can cause premature shooting. Excessively warm seedling regime stimulates the ripening of inflorescences in the first year instead of the second.

Sowing seeds

Sowing seeds is carried out in the following sequence:

1. We process the seeds. To do this, you need to pickle them in a special solution, for example, Rostock. You can prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.

   It is necessary to disinfect at room temperature, and then rinse the seeds with clean water

2. We are preparing the container. We fall asleep with special soil no higher than the level of 5 cm.

   When choosing a container for seedlings, it should be borne in mind that it will take 2-3 times to add soil

3. Water the soil with warm water (36–39 ° C). You can dilute a small portion of mineral fertilizers if you need to additionally fertilize the soil. We sow the dried seeds into carefully prepared grooves to a depth of 1–1.5 cm.

   The distance between the rows for planting should be 5 cm

4. Seedlings appear, as a rule, on days 8–20, depending on the conditions and quality of the seeds.
5. As soon as the length of the seedlings exceeds 10 cm, cut off the feather of the onion. This will provide healthier, stronger greens. It is best to prune the leek leaves every two weeks. This will have a positive effect on the development of the root system and the thickening of the stem.
6. For 7-8 weeks, when the third leaf appears, the seedlings are planted in open ground. Before planting, you need to pinch the root and leaves by a third, this will allow you to get better quality greens, faster rooting.
   

   The onion root and leaves must be shortened by a third before planting in the ground.

Plant roots can be dipped in a chatterbox - a mixture of clay and mullein, taken in equal amounts. This technique improves the survival rate of seedlings.

Video: how to sow leek seeds

Seedling care at home

Basically, care includes two mandatory procedures: watering and feeding. Timely hydration will ensure the correct development of the plant, it will not lag behind in growth due to drying out. In addition, the onion itself is very fond of moisture (after all, it contains 90% of water), so the soil should always be well watered.

You can periodically spray the foliage with a spray bottle - this procedure will moisturize the plants and eliminate dust.

While young seedlings grow and stretch, you need to have time to feed them. Basically, they do this a couple of times during the entire seedling period:

1. 2 weeks after germination.
2. A week before landing in open ground.

The best fertilizer for leeks is bird droppings. It is bred in a ratio of 1:20 with warm water and carefully spilled the aisles without directing it to the feather.

Many gardeners have a problem with planting thickening. In this case, it is necessary to make a timely pick.

1. Water the seedlings so that you can easily remove the plant with a clod of earth.
2. Gently use a spatula or fork to separate the seedlings into individual bulbs with a feather.
3. Plant at a distance of 3-5 cm from each other.
4. Sprinkle with nutritious soil, pressing down lightly with your fingers to root.
5. If you want to plant onions in different containers from one common one, use glasses with a diameter of 4 cm.

Video: cutting onion seedlings

Landing in open ground and greenhouses

If you have a warm greenhouse (polycarbonate or glass), then sowing can be done in mid-April on high beds. In this way, leek seedlings will be healthier, stronger, stockier and more resilient.

At the end of April, seeds are sown in open ground, while covering with a film for warming. Planting is accompanied by a denser and deeper rooting of plants than in seedling containers.

Remember that the ground must warm up, otherwise the seeds will still not sprout until it is warm.

At the first time after planting in a permanent place, you should not be zealous with watering, let the plant adapt in the soil and take root. To prevent freezing in the cool May morning and evening hours, you can use a thin covering material that is removed during the daytime.

Video: leek agrotechnology

Features of growing various varieties

It is important to remember that when growing late varieties that are cold-resistant, you may not have time to get the harvest. The fact is that due to the long growing season of 6 months, leeks do not have time to develop as much as possible and give tender juicy greens and white stems (average height up to 15 cm). Therefore, for greater efficiency, the plants should be carefully dug out of the open ground where they grew in summer, planted in spacious boxes and placed in closed glazed or polycarbonate greenhouses. In this way, late varieties are grown:

• Acreok,
• Gray wing,
• Mercury,
• Winter giant
• Autumn giant
• Bulgarian;
• Karantansky.

Early leeks have a much shorter ripening period of 4 months. Popular varieties of this type:

• Goliath,
• Kilima,
• Vesta,
• Columbus,
• Gulliver.

Varieties Karantansky, Vesta are worthy of special attention, as they have good immunity to diseases.

Video: variety selection and harvesting of leeks

Seedling problems and solutions

Onions are a delicate culture, diseases and pests do not bypass such a "delicacy". Leeks are often affected by:

• onion fly;
• black mold;
• cervical rot;
• rust of onions;
• downy mildew.

If you are sure that the seedlings are not in danger, then even a simple neglect of watering or temperature conditions can lead to onion disease. Therefore, growing leek seedlings is a painstaking task.

The best way to prevent disease and pest attacks is to take good care of your plants. First of all, do not forget to water and loosen the aisles in time. The next item is the shelf life of the seeds. It is best to use seeds that have lain for two to three years before sowing. Thus, all pests and viruses (mosaic, rust) will die before they enter the soil.

• The onion fly is very similar to the common house fly. The insect, about 5–6 mm long, lays the larvae in the soil or in the planting material. Pests eat the husk, and then the onion itself. The leaves begin to dry out and wither, the whole plant dies later. The best remedy is to treat the bulbs with a salt solution. Dilute it in a ratio of 350 g per 10 liters of water. The planting material should be soaked for a short time in such a salt bath.
• Onion rust is a stain that grows like pads. They show the spores of the fungus, which easily pass from plant to plant.The best control method is to remove and burn the infected feathers, and treat with a light solution of any antifungal fungicide.
• Downy mildew looks like the dying off and drying of the tips of the feathers, and then the entire plant. The color from green and saturated becomes pale gray, painful, whitish. The spots grow quickly. All infected plants must be removed and the rest treated. The best antiviral drugs in this case are copper oxychloride and Fitosporin.

Photo gallery: pests and diseases of onions

The seedling method of growing leeks is an excellent way to get a good harvest. One has only to pay attention to the peculiarities of the variety, so as not to miss the timing of transplanting seedlings into the greenhouse before frosts. And the rest of the success depends on the proper care of the culture. Like any vegetable, leeks require attention and work, but it's worth it.

26 years old, blogger, farmer, young mom, illustrator, graphic designer, freelance correspondent. Higher education in the humanities. I live in Siberia, Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia. Extensive experience in growing garden crops. Rate the article:

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Spring chores begin with planning the planting of vegetables in the country, especially when the size of the site is limited. Gardeners have to think over the planting of each plant. In a short review, we will talk about how to grow leeks with seeds, a popular crop in Western Europe, as well as the secrets of successful cultivation at home.

Leeks are a good choice for gardening

reference Information

Leek is a herbaceous biennial plant that has gained popularity due to its delicate taste and undemanding care. It is used both as an independent dish and as a spice. The culture adapts to all climatic and environmental conditions, and in Western European countries it is planted and appreciated for the huge amount of vitamins and microelements.

The low content of essential oils makes the plant less pungent than other onion varieties. Therefore, it is an invariable component of dietary nutrition. Regular consumption of foods with leeks activates metabolism, which is necessary for overweight people.

There are three groups of varieties whose seeds are commercially available:

• early ripe (August-September);
• mid-season (October);
• winter.

Early species became widespread in the middle latitude. Due to climatic features, the plants do not have time to finally form, which negatively affects the taste. In the southern regions, with rational care, all varieties are cultivated without problems. In Siberia and the Urals, the cultivation of mid-season plants from seeds was noted, but with subsequent transfer to a greenhouse.

Popular varieties:

• "Karantansky" - a late-ripening variety with a large stem and excellent taste;
• "Bastion" is a mid-season plant with high productivity;
• Kalima is an early variety to be harvested in the middle of summer.

Karantan leeks demonstrate high taste

Growing

Leeks from seeds are cultivated in two ways - sowing in open ground and seedlings. Remember: for a plant to mature, you need at least 150 days of growing season, so choose a variety that is more suitable for your climatic zone. A full development cycle is not required to obtain bunched greenery.

In the southern regions, leeks must be sown in the ground - early spring promotes active growth. The Karantan variety is undemanding to the care and quality of the soil. Before planting, it is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers to the soil. Long furrows are made, and the distance between them is 5 cm. The seeds are planted at a depth of 2 cm in damp beds.After emergence, thin out by removing weak shoots.

Planting leeks for seedlings from seeds is recommended in mid-latitudes, since the optimal time for sowing is late February or early March.

In order for the plants to grow and develop well, select the recommended day for such species in the lunar calendar. It is better to plant in special seedling boxes, which are conveniently placed on the windowsill.

We fill up the soil in a container for two-thirds of the volume and water the surface. Remember, leeks need moisture to grow actively. We spread the seeds and cover everything with earth. Now we provide the plantations with increased humidity: we cover with polyethylene and put in a warm place. Remove the film and ventilate the mini greenhouse every two days. To maintain the moisture level, be sure to spray with a spray bottle.

Leek seedlings love warmth and moisture

After 10 days, the first shoots from seeds appear. The box is exposed to bright sunlight and the protective covering is removed. To prevent weak roots from freezing, place a piece of styrofoam or drywall under the box. When the daytime outside temperature rises, it is recommended to take the seedlings to the balcony. Do not forget to cover the plants from bright ultraviolet radiation with a film. Now the leek is just watered.

If you are using regular seedling boxes, then after pecking the seeds and the appearance of three feathers, you need to stop the leeks. this will strengthen the root system and keep the sprouts healthy. Water after two days with warm water.

When the night frosts have passed, then it is necessary to proceed to planting in a permanent place of growth in open ground. We carefully loosen the soil, dig holes 15 cm deep and put wood ash and fertilizer on the bottom of each. Gently spread the roots of the seedlings, plant and sprinkle with earth. For better survival, gardeners dip the root system in a mixture of mullein and clay.

It is recommended to cover the plantation with spunbond or foil until warm weather finally comes into its own. This design protects the seedlings from cold and strong winds that break fragile plants. When the temperature improves, we remove the mini-greenhouse.

Young leek beds should not be left uncovered overnight.

Care

Leek cultivation is elementary, grows well and develops under certain conditions. Compliance with the rules will allow you to get an excellent harvest not only from the quarantine, but also from less productive varieties. The focus is only at the beginning when planting from seed or replanting seedlings.

Caring for plants at home consists of regular watering and removing weeds. Wet soil is the key to successful development, and the absence of parasitic herbs will preserve the onion more minerals. Hilling two or three times during the season, then your leek will have a beautiful white leg, which is appreciated by gourmets. To do this, each bush is mulched:

• small straw;
• dried grass;
• dry manure.

Before hilling, ash is poured onto the stalks of plants (1 glass per 1 m² of the garden).

Leeks thrive in moist soil, so water the plants as the soil dries. Excess moisture is detrimental to the roots: do not let the liquid stagnate in the beds. The procedure is carried out in the morning so that all the water is absorbed by the evening. It is recommended to feed it several times a season with preparations that do not contain a large amount of nitrogen.

The leek harvest in the fall is harvested into the basement in damp sand. A refrigerator is suitable for storing greens for a month. If you want to get seedlings from your own seeds, then the plant is left in the country for the second year. In middle latitudes, all varieties are hardy and frost-resistant, therefore they winter well.

Watering and feeding early in the season will encourage leeks to form new feathers and arrows.Hybrids do not retain the characteristics of the mother plant, so their seeds are not suitable for self-cultivation. It is recommended to use commercially available seed.

Leeks are harvested from the garden in autumn

Diseases and pests

If properly cared for, the leek grows well and does not get sick. In the second year, you need to use last year's or sow a new one. The picking is painless, and the seedlings develop quickly. With irrational watering, the plant is attacked by pests.

The onion fly is the most dangerous and common parasite that infects leeks. Insects eat leaves and leave large passages in them. The larvae are more troublesome, as they destroy the underground part. If you do not start a fight, then the crop can be thrown away. To scare off the pest, you need to plant carrots nearby: the fly does not like its aroma.

The defeat of the plant by aphids, especially after a pick, provokes the emergence of a viral mosaic. Bright yellow spots color the onion, preventing it from developing normally. The diseased leek is thrown away so that the infection of healthy seedlings does not go. Seeds that have not lay for two years are more likely to be attacked by disease, so avoid sowing them.

Leeks are a delicious vegetable crop that is easy to plant and develop in the country. Growing with seeds or seedlings will allow you to get an excellent harvest in seven months in the fall. Use our recommendations, and you will not have problems with picking and leaving.

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