ONION CULTURE

Evening Star, Issue 21718, 12 May 1934, Page 23

ONION CULTURE

PREPARING THE BED The proper cultivation of the soil is one of the main factors in successful onion growing. It must be attended to thoroughly without stint of labour. As a rule, the plot which will be devoted to large onions for exhibition will be comparatively small, so the extra labour should not be begrudged, especially when it is considered that the soil will be greatly improved for any crop'which follows, or for onions again if the policy of growing thorn for several years on the same site is adopted. The latter is not a plan which should be followed where there has been an attack of onion mildew, or of onion lly, or any of the several diseases to which the onion is prone (says the gardening contributor of the ‘ Auckland Herald ’). Trenching of the soil is imperative. For exhibition, trenching to a depth of 3ft is not too much. Unless deep digging has been done repeatedly and the subsoil is of a fertile character, the order of the various spits should not be", reversed. Briefly, the work is done as follows ; At one end of the plot a width of 2lt is marked off by line and spade. From this strip the top soil is removed to where the work will be completed. Then the second spit of soil is also dug out and wheeled away to the end of the plot. The third layer of soil in the first trench is dug and left in place. Usually this digging is done with a fork. Now the second layer of soil in the second trench is dug over on the _ re-recently-broken third layer in the first trench and the top soil of the third strip is turned on top so that one trench is dug and refilled to a depth of 3ft. Manuring should be done at the lime of trenching. Onions like plenty of rich food, and well-rolled manure, il j>rocurablc, should be mixed with the tnird layer of soil and also with the second layer. An attempt should bo made during trenching to got the manure well incorporated with the soil instead of

placing it all in layers on the sandwich system. Wood ashes may be applied freely, especially to the top soil if the amount is limited. Soot is also good, but this should be applied just before planting. Usually several dressings are applied during growth. The manure in the lower layers of soil may bo of a fresh strawy character, but that nearer the surface should be well decayed and on no account should it be “ green ” or fresh.

When planting is taken in hand, make a sufficiently large hole and press the soil firmly against the roots, and do not bury the stem too deeply. Many failures are due to the fact that the onions are inserted so deeply' that the bulbs are unable to swell. If the seedling plants are strong and are required for exhibition purposes, they may be given the full distance of Ift from plant to plant; for ordinary cropping, half that distance will suffice. Should the weather bo dry it may be necessary to water them in. This will also settle the fine soil about the roots. Spraying the plants with clear water during dry spells is also an advantage in getting them going quickly. At the time of planting, some soot or wood ashes may be scattered oyer tlie surface and raked in. During growth the main part of cultivation is to keep the hoc going frequently between the rows. Few amateurs will be able to mulch their onions, but if this can be done with some sifted horse manure or well-decayed manure, it will be repaid. It will benefit the crop greatly if it be dusted occasionally with old soot. Artificial manures may also be spread along the rows and boed in. Small applications of nitrate of soda— joz per yard of row—will help the plants by encouraging tree, growth, and n'cckly waterings with diluted liquid manure when the bulbs are developing will increase the size.