THE ONION BEDS

Evening Star, Issue 20672, 20 December 1930, Page 28

THE ONION BEDS

ATTENTION NECESSARY About this time of the year the onion crop will probably be,in need of some attention. As long as it remains possible the hoeing of tho surface between the rows should be continued to maintain n mulch and to make all weeds conspicuous by their, absence. When the plants have made further growth it will bo impossible to walk between the rows and this tillage must be stopped. Weeds must then be removed by hand. The question of keeping the onion crop supplied with moisture during the summer season is an important one (says the Auckland ‘Herald’), and, although this is not of prime importance at the present, it is possible that .in a few weeks’ time one may be called on to apply water by artificial means.. The supply of moisture governs the yield to a certain extent, and if tho crop is allowed to suffer through lackin this respect, growth will cease, and the half-grown bulbs will ripen oil. Another item of attention consists of making regular applications of spray to prevent the plants from becoming attacked by the onion mildew. This pest is fairly prevalent at present, and the loss may be serious if steps are not taken to check this disease. Like tho majority of fungous diseases the mildew spreads most rapidly when the weather is humid and an application should bo made whenever the conditions are at all muggy. Otherwise an interval of three weeks may be allowed between them. Lime sulphur, I in 50, is the best spray for this purpose, and it is useful to dust the foliage with atomic sulphur through a piece of butter muslin. . Almost invariably a certain number of the plants will throw up seed-stalks, and if these are allowed to develop they will spoil tho production of good bulbs. The best way of checking their development is to “top” them—i.e., cut oft the flower heads near tho top of tho stalk as soon as they appear. Tho seed-stalk is narrowest near tho top, and will not he as liable to catch the rainwater if cut oft there as it would be if cut off lower down. Onions from sprouting bulbs which* were replanted in tho early spring to provide an early crop will all send up their seed-stalks and these should be treated in tho manner described above. Tho time for harvesting these oniond is approaching rapidly, and every effort should bo made to forco their growth to tho maximum. The thinning of ,tho spring-sown crop should bo attended to when the plants are becoming too crowded. Usually one leaves tho extra plants for use as salad onions, and if tho demand for this class of onion has not been sufficient to result in the proper thinning out of the crop one must attend to this matter without delay.