August is the best time to divide perennial onions

The most popular types of perennial onions are:

• onion (other names – tubular, fistula, Tatarka, Chinese);
• multi-tiered onion (also known as horned onion, Egyptian onion, Canadian onion, walking onion, viviparous onion);
• onion-slizun (also known as drooping onion and mangyr);
• chives (other names: chives, spring onions, winter bush bunch), etc.

All these plants are quite frost-resistant, easy to care for, and start growing in early spring – some species produce vitamin-rich greens almost immediately after the snow melts and the ground thaws.

Place for planting perennial onions

Before dividing the plants, it is necessary to select a site for planting and prepare it properly, adding organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil. Despite the differences in appearance, most types of perennial onions have the same requirements for growing conditions. To ensure that the plant pleases you with a harvest, choose for the bed:

• a well-lit place, sheltered from northern winds;
• an area where groundwater is located far from the soil surface: onions are a fairly moisture-loving crop, but excess moisture and constant waterlogging of the soil lead to plant depression and the occurrence of various diseases;
• light, loose loamy or sandy loam soil. Heavy clay soils are not suitable for growing onions;
• neutral soil with an acidity level of around 6,5-7,5 units.

In addition to all the above factors, pay special attention to the fertility of the soil. In order for a crop growing in one place for several years to develop well, prepare the area before planting. To do this, add rotted manure (4-5 kg/sq.m) or mineral fertilizers (50 g superphosphate, 30 g potassium sulfate and 10-20 g urea per 1 sq.m). Moreover, it is better to add fertilizers in advance: in the fall for spring planting, in the spring for August planting.

Dividing perennial onions

Unlike onions, perennial onions do not need to be planted and dug up every year. They can grow in one place for up to 10 years. However, over time, the plants begin to shrink, the yield decreases, and the taste of the greens deteriorates. This is the main sign that it is time to divide the perennial onions.

It is better to divide and then plant onions after rain in cloudy weather. If this is not possible, do this work closer to evening, when the heat subsides.

1. Carefully dig up the plants.
2. Inspect them carefully and discard bushes with signs of disease or pest damage.
3. Divide each bush into several divisions.
4. Trim the roots to 3-4 cm and partially shorten the leaves.
5. To prevent diseases, place all healthy planting material in a light pink solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin-M for 20-30 minutes.
6. Place the divisions in pre-dug holes at a distance of 20-25 cm in a row, placing the rows at a distance of 40-45 cm from each other.
7. Sprinkle the bushes with soil and water carefully. To retain moisture in the soil, mulch the plantings with peat or humus.

When dividing multi-tiered onion bushes, the mother (underground) bulb is used.

1. Dig up the onions and select healthy bulbs without signs of disease or pests.
2. Divide each mother bulb into individual bulbs.
3. Plant them in prepared holes. The distance between rows and bulbs depends on the soil characteristics. On light soils, rows are placed at a distance of 30 cm, and bulbs – 25 cm, on heavy soils, the distance between rows is 20 cm, between bulbs – 15 cm.
4. When planting, deepen each bulb by 3-6 cm and cover with soil.
5. Water the bed and mulch it.

Experienced gardeners recommend sorting the bulbs into large, medium and small before planting and planting them in a separate bed or in a separate row.

Caring for perennial onions

Caring for perennial onions is no different from caring for onions and does not cause any special trouble. It includes:

• watering,
• top dressing,
• weeding and loosening the soil,
• regular cutting of growing greenery.

Onions are a moisture-loving crop. If there is a lack of moisture, the feathers begin to dry out and turn yellow early, grow hard, and go into an arrow. It is recommended to water perennial onions during drought at least 2-3 times a week, moistening the soil to a depth of about 20 cm.

After each heavy watering or heavy rain, the plantings need to be loosened to prevent the formation of a soil crust, which worsens the water and air permeability of the soil. Weeds are removed in parallel with loosening.

Another important stage in caring for perennial onions is fertilizing. If the soil was well fertilized during planting, then the first fertilizers are applied only in the second year. For fertilizing, you can use both organic matter (1 bucket of compost or humus with 1 glass of ash – per 1 sq.m.) and complex mineral fertilizers (for example, azophoska).

Along with the growing greenery, remove dried leaves and flower stalks if you do not plan to collect seeds.

By the way, perennial onions are not the only crop that can grow in the garden for years. Get to know the others.