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Onion and garlic — close relatives
"Onion and garlic are close relatives. Onion cures seven ailments, and garlic drives away seven ailments."
The common onion is a widely grown vegetable crop, known since the 4th millennium BC and serving as one of the most important ingredients in a great number of dishes. More than 400 species of onion used for food are known worldwide. Its family features a wide range of flavors and aromas — from spicy-sweet to sharp-bitter.
The common onion makes dishes more aromatic and flavorful, protects and heals from diseases, contains a treasure trove of beneficial substances and vitamins, and is also considered a powerful aphrodisiac.
While onion is fairly straightforward, the history of garlic has several theories. According to one, the homeland of garlic was the plain between the Tian Shan and the Altai Mountains, from where it spread to China, Egypt, and other countries.
There is also another theory, according to which garlic was first cultivated in the foothill regions of Northern Asia, Afghanistan, Southwest or South Asia. In these regions, wild garlic can still be found that is virtually indistinguishable from cultivated varieties.
In Russia, garlic has been known since ancient times. Chronicles from the 13th century mention that our ancestors loved to drink wine with added garlic. It came to Russia from Byzantium through spice traders.
Nearly every gardener has onions and garlic growing on their plot. And these crops, despite their unpretentiousness, require attentive and caring treatment.
The bulb crop harvest has already been gathered, but it is the perfect time to think about the next season!
A quick guide to planting bulb crops
Garlic is planted among the first. As soon as the snow melts and the soil temperature exceeds +5 °C, you can begin planting.
Onions are planted in late April to early May, as seedlings or sets, when the snow has completely melted and the soil has warmed above +5 °C. For bulb development, low temperatures are needed: the root system forms before the leaves and requires cool soil.
Basic planting rules
- bulbs should be firm and solid;
- spacing between bulbs — 10-15 cm;
- between rows — about 25 cm;
- planting depth — 2-3 cm depending on bulb size;
- before planting, fertilizers and humus must be applied to the soil.
For planting bulb crops, we recommend Microbiological fertilizer "Biogor-Zh" of the "KM" series, developed specifically for bulb plants. The preparation is created in accordance with modern scientific requirements and is based on research in the field of rhizosphere bacteria (PGPR) that promote plant growth.
The preparation promotes:
- increased yields and healthy growth of bulb crops;
- earlier harvest by shortening growing periods;
- improved flavor and nutritional value of the produce;
- maintaining the harvest in excellent condition for extended periods;
- increased plant resistance to adverse external conditions.
The preparation contains microorganisms with probiotic, phosphate-mobilizing, nitrogen-fixing, and cellulose-decomposing capabilities, as well as carbohydrates, macro- and microelements necessary for healthy plant growth and development.
Microbiological fertilizer "Biogor-Zh" of the "KM" series is a reliable product for achieving excellent results in growing bulb crops.