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Chalcedony is a varietal onion variety with high yields and early ripening. The unpretentiousness of this representative of one of the most often grown in domestic summer cottages of fruit and vegetable crops is confirmed by the ability of onion plantings to develop in any climatic conditions. You can plant this type of vegetable in one of the available ways:
- seminal;
- sevkovy.
The cultivation of varietal onions Chalcedony is suitable for both home consumption and commercial implementation. The number of positive reviews about the Chalcedony variety is increasing every year.
Description onion Chalcedony
This variety belongs to the category of medium ripening varieties. The harvest season starts at the end of July. The main purpose of this variety is to grow on an industrial scale, but it is well suited for planting on a home ridge. The height of green onion feathers reaches a little less than half a meter. The shape of the bulbous fruit is round. Each onion is medium in size and firm in texture. Strong scales, which are quite close to the outside of the fruit, have a brown-bronze color. The shade characteristic of the cut of the bulb can be either snow-white or slightly creamy. Although ripe vegetables have some pungency, they are not pungent.
Chalcedony onion
The high yield of the Chalcedony variety is explained by the fact that the maximum yield that can be harvested from an area of 1 m2 is 6 kilograms. The average weight of each individual fruit is 100 grams. For the full maturation of the bulbs of the marketable type, one horticultural season is required - from mid-April, before winter comes.
The positive qualities that the Chalcedony onion possesses are:
- cultivation one year after each individual seed was planted;
- high rate of seed germination;
- resistance to winter cold snaps;
- ability to withstand hot weather;
- immunity to cervical rot disease;
- powdery mildew resistance;
- fast ripening of fruits;
- versatility of use.
The birthplace of this selection variety is Moldova. 1993 is considered the date of its entry into the State Register. A well-known gemstone became the prototype for the name of the variety.
Varietal onion Chalcedony is considered a frost-resistant crop. Belongs to varieties, the type of which is medium ripening. The bows are almost half a meter high. A medium sized fruit weighs approximately 100 grams. The leaves are tall and large. The ripening process of the bulbs ends after 100 days from the moment of sowing the seed.
The average bulb diameter is 12 centimeters. The white or creamy flesh has a juicy texture. Despite the pungency of taste, Chalcedony onion does not have a pungent aroma. Despite the semi-sharp taste of the feathery part of the plant, it does not contain the bitterness characteristic of onions.
The onion feather, which they prefer to plant using the seedling method, almost does not shoot.
Agricultural technology of cultivation
The soil in which the chalcedony onions are planted when grown from seeds should have a loose and light structure. The area where these bulbs are grown must be abundantly illuminated by the sun.
The planting soil should be moderately moist. Reproduction can be done in one of two ways:
- seminal;
- breeding by the transplant method.
For irrigation work, use settled water at room temperature. When watering, avoid getting liquid on the surface of the feather part of onion plantings.
Watering onions
The soil must be loosened periodically. If there is a need to use fertilizers, it is recommended to give preference to ready-made mineral complexes. Such agrotechnical measure as supplementary lighting is mandatory, especially when the weather is cloudy.
Drafts should not have access to the room where the seedlings are located. It is also unacceptable to place the seedling material in a room where a sharp change in temperature occurs. Care should be taken to ensure the proper thermal regime for plantings located on the windowsill.
In open ground, onion seedlings of the Chalcedony variety begin to be planted by the end of April, but the most appropriate time depends on the established weather.
Seedlings are hardened 10 days before planting in a permanent place. Carrying out activities for hardening the planting material takes place in one of the types of premises with open windows and doors, which can be:
- veranda;
- balcony room;
- loggia.
Carrying out hardening of onion plantings is aimed at strengthening and improving the body of the plant, as well as improving the ability to adapt when transplanting to a permanent place.
Planting of planting material, which is a grain, is carried out at a depth of 3 cm in the evening. At the end of planting, the soil is watered and mulched with one of the organic fertilizers suitable for onions:
- humus;
- peat.
Exposure to disease and insect pests
Despite the fact that this varietal variety is highly resistant to diseases characteristic of onion plantings, preventive measures should be taken, including:
- Prevention of plant thickening;
- Mandatory implementation of work on the removal of weeds;
- Carrying out dusting of the ground in the area near onion plantings with ash and tobacco dust.
Top dressing of wood ash
Onions are often planted next to carrot beds to prevent onion and carrot fly infestation.
A preventive measure aimed at preventing stem nematode disease is to disinfect the ridges using a saline solution. To prevent pernosporosis, Bordeaux liquid is used to spray the plantings.
List of advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The positive qualities of Chalcedony onions, in comparison with other varieties, include:
- Rapid plant growth;
- The dense structure that each turnip is distinguished by;
- Excellent taste characteristics;
- A high indicator of how many bulbs can be harvested from an area of 1 m2;
- Frost resistance;
- Germination ability in hot conditions;
- Long-term storage;
- A good indicator of fruit keeping quality;
- The possibility of self-cultivation from the collected seed material.
A small list of shortcomings includes:
- The need for the introduction of mineral complex fertilizers;
- Obligatory systematic irrigation measures.
Chalcedony onion is a variety suitable for growing both on an industrial scale and in ordinary summer cottages. The distinctive features of this representative of one of the most frequently grown garden crops are considered to be high yields and early maturity, which is explained by the fact that one gardening season is required for the complete formation of a bulb from seed. If the plant is properly cared for, it will be possible to grow and harvest abundant, healthy onion fruits of high quality, as well as greens in the form of a usable feather part of the plant.
