One of the most exciting vegetables on the market is onions. This white bulb makes you cry and causes itchy eyes when cut, while preparing the salad. However, it has become one of the best accompaniments for multiple dishes of the gastronomy of any European country, and even worldwide. It can also be used to give a different touch to some dishes.
What is onion and when to sow it?
The onion is an underground, edible bulb that grows in onion plantations. This type of vegetable has Asian origin and began to be planted back in 6000 BC. It is one of the oldest known crops in history, starting in Iran or Pakistan. The commercial networks of Asia brought it to Europe, from where it was transferred to America, when the European colonizers decided to cross the pond. Today there is a multiple variety of onions with the possibility of classification according to the bulb, size, use and origin. It can have medicinal uses, and can be consumed both raw and cooked.
It is usually consumed preferably as a condiment for different types of food, fried, boiled or grilled. For many people, the taste of onion is too strong, and for this reason, you never consume it. However, if you let it macerate in lemon juice you will get a milder flavor. The raw onion is one that leaves bad breath, something that causes many people to show rejection. With a couple of coffee beans, you can solve the bad breath that may be suffered. If, on the other hand, you want to avoid crying when peeling onions and suffering from itchy eyes, it will also be enough to leave them in the freezer fifteen minutes before using them. Undoubtedly, some useful tips to enjoy onions more and take advantage of the benefits that will be described below.
When buying onions one of the great tips is that they are round and firm and without wrinkles in the first layer of the skin, since they are two qualities that meet those vegetables of better quality. In addition, if at the time of buying them, we observe green shoots it is better not to buy them for consumption since it is usually a sign that their best moment has already passed.
Benefits of eating onion
Eating onions has multiple benefits for the human body, nutritionally and as a prevention of diseases. The most prominent are the following:
- It favors digestion and its functioning. If consumed raw it is a good digestive stimulant and tonic for the liver. On the other hand, if we do it in a cooked way, it manages to relieve the possible symptoms of decomposition and clean the stomach.
- Prevents common diseases. In cold weather, as usually happens in winter, it is ideal for the prevention of common diseases such as any type of cold. Even in liquid format, onion juice is also a good option to end a sore throat.
- Fight against tuberculosis. It is effective in fighting tuberculosis, and multiple diseases such as gout, or simply to help improve fluid retention. Another of its qualities is to be able to combat high cholesterol levels.
- Provides energy. The onion has detoxifying effects, which provides energy and is useful to combat possible fatigue. In addition, it also favors blood circulation allowing to increase the quality of life of people.
Onion soup is another variable offered by this type of vegetable, and is used in multiple types of diet. In fact, its properties satisfy hunger and favor those people who have set the goal of losing a few kilos.
How to sow onion
- For centuries, onions have been planted and, therefore, each one has its technique to achieve the best possible harvest. In just 4 months you can be reaping the fruits of good work. To be able to collect many onions, it is necessary to have good and rich soils to be able to develop. By this type of soil, loamy and sandy soils are understood and not clay or sand type soils. This type of vegetable, in particular, loves phosphorus and potassium very much and instead hates when there is too much nitrogen. In addition, it is recommended to use a strong layer of mature compost in the place where it is going to be planted, both in the garden or in the planters. The most recommended Ph for carrying out the planting of onions is six. As stated above, the best times to plant onions are in spring, summer and winter. However, depending on the time of year we choose to carry out germination, one procedure or another will be used. It will be a good option to choose spring if you then have a cool and humid summer and do not have how to store onions. The same procedure is used as in summer, but differs by lightening 10 centimeters between one and the other when the plant reaches about 10 centimeters.
- On the other hand, if we sow at the end of summer, we must place the seeds with a lot of space between them. Next, they will be covered using 1.5 centimeters of compost and then the ground will be tightened well. In case of frost throughout the winter, we will use tunnels to protect the harvest. When spring arrives, on the other hand, it should begin to lighten with a distance between one and another of approximately 15 centimeters. They can be consumed, in fact, directly as a salad. If you decide to sow in winter, it will be better to do it inside the house in seedlings. The idea will be to prepare the onions to be transplanted in spring once the soil or the pots are ready on the outside. In spring, in addition, there is also the option of sowing in the form of bulbs. Along a line, 15 centimeters holes are made. In each hole, we will introduce a bulb and the surrounding soil will be tightened so that it is firm to be harvested. In the time of formation of bulbs, in addition, onions prefer to be exposed to the sun to achieve better growth. However, at the irrigation level, this type of vegetable needs little water to survive and carry out its life cycle. In fact, except for its growth period (when the bulb is formed as the vegetative stage), the amount of water is low. 20 days before the expected date for harvest it is recommended to stop watering them.
- When the vertices of the leaves of the onions begin to turn yellow, it will be the signal that it is time to twist and break their necks. From here, the process of ripening the onion will begin. With a fork we will lift the bulbs of the vegetables and the drying process will begin. When it is well dried, we will aerate them leaving them out of option to end up frosty. To enjoy the onions to the fullest, it is very important that there are pounds of weeds or weeds, that the possible flowers that can grow are cut and, above all, that they are free of any type of moisture that can spoil the harvest.