Content
Onions are one of the "basic" crops in the private plots of Russian gardeners. Among the many varieties and hybrids bred by domestic and foreign breeders, they most often choose those that are easy to care for, good taste, and the ability to adapt to the peculiarities of the local climate. All these criteria are met by the Stardust F1 bow, which is not devoid of other advantages.
Origin story
Onions Stardust F1 - a hybrid bred by breeders from the Netherlands. The originator is the world famous agricultural company Bejo Zaden B. V.
Stardust onions can be considered a two-year-old variety. In the first season, it provides the gardener with a good harvest of greenery, the next year the bulbs ripen.
In Europe, the variety went on sale in the mid-90s. The application for admission in Russia was filed by the originator in 1998. After variety trials lasting about a year, the Stardust onion was officially recognized as suitable for cultivation in all Russian regions where it is generally possible to practice gardening. With a corresponding recommendation, it was included in the State Register in 1999.
The breeders set themselves the goal of creating a two-in-one hybrid, and they did it
Description and characteristics of the Stardust onion
Reviews of gardeners and a fairly long practice of cultivating Stardust onions in different countries suggests that the hybrid almost exactly matches the description given by the originator. It can be grown in almost any conditions.
Appearance
The plant is quite powerful, with a thick neck. The leaves of the Stardust onion are erect, 20-30 cm high. They are colored green, typical for "feathers", covered with a not too dense layer of "wax" bloom.
The shape of the bulbs in the Stardust hybrid ranges from almost round and slightly flattened to rhomboid and prismatic. Dry surface scales are silvery-white, juicy inner ones are snow-white, as if with a pearlescent tint. Weight varies between 40-60 g.
The outer scales adhere weakly to the bulbs, but inside they are dense
Ripening time and yield
Stardust F1 - early ripe onions. According to the originator, technical ripeness occurs 68-85 days after seed germination. However, many gardeners indicate a longer period - 90-100 days. Based on this, Stardust is a mid-season onion. This "spread" is due to the climatic characteristics of different regions. The hybrid is thermophilic, cool summer can also "slow down" its maturation.
When grown for greens, Stardust onions are cultivated from seeds as an annual, they are distinguished by high productivity, intensive leaf formation. One plant gives 30-50 g of "feather" per season, from 1 m² get up to 3 kg.
Bulbs can be obtained by planting seedlings that have ripened after the first season in the garden next year. The yield varies between 4-6 kg / m². With good care, this figure can be raised to 8 kg / m².If the Stardust onion is cultivated on an industrial scale, the yield is 42-45 tons per hectare. At the time of harvest, according to the originator, about 87% of the bulbs ripen, after ripening the percentage rises to 98%.
For greens, Stardust onions can be grown year-round in greenhouses
Disease and pest resistance
Stardust onions are rarely affected by diseases and pests. Breeders provided it with high resistance (but not absolute immunity) to viral diseases typical of the culture, real and downy mildew.
For most pests, onions are, in principle, inedible due to their pungency. However, those that are exceptions (onion fly, root and stem nematodes) are also not particularly interested in this hybrid.
Composition and properties
Stardust onions are very healthy. With a low (about 40 kcal per 100 g) calorie content, it contains:
- vitamin C, E, PP, group B;
- macronutrients (phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur);
- trace elements (iron, iodine, manganese, copper, zinc, aluminum, chlorine, fluorine, molybdenum, silicon, cobalt, chromium);
- organic acids;
- amino acids;
- phytoncides;
- flavonoids.
The positive effects of Stardust onion on the body are as follows:
- normalization of blood composition, lowering sugar and cholesterol levels;
- restoration and maintenance of vascular elasticity.
- powerful antioxidant effect - fighting free radicals, preventing aging of the body;
- strengthening immunity, preventing seasonal colds, tuberculosis, streptococcal infections, spring vitamin deficiency;
- diuretic effect for kidney problems, severe edema;
- promoting the discharge of sputum in diseases affecting the bronchi and lungs.
Onion Stardust can also be used in home cosmetology to improve the condition of the hair. They are rinsed with a decoction of the husk after washing, the gruel is used as a means to "activate" the follicles. Onion juice added to face masks evens out and restores healthy skin tone.
Applications
Stardust onions are appreciated by gardeners for their original taste and high juiciness. It is not too spicy, rather spicy, with a sweetish aftertaste. Excellent qualities ensure versatility of purpose.
Stardust is especially in demand in European cuisine. Fresh it is added to vegetable salads. It is also suitable for making onion soups, any second courses and side dishes, homemade preparations for the winter.
Stardust onions are often used for pickling. It can also be frozen without losing the taste and juiciness of the scales. The hybrid is also suitable for drying.
The characteristic onion aroma of the hybrid is not particularly pronounced.
Pros and cons of the variety
Luke Stardust manages to remain popular for several generations of gardeners due to its weighty advantages:
- high germination of seeds;
- consistently good yields of greens and bulbs, little dependent on the vagaries of the weather;
- relative ease of growing;
- the presence of good immunity, protection against certain pests;
- practically record keeping quality, good transportability;
- the possibility of cultivation in a one-year or two-year cycle;
- early harvest time, fast growth rates of green mass;
- excellent taste of the bulbs, their one-dimensionality;
- high quality greenery;
- ease of cleaning.
The only significant disadvantage of Stardust onions is the need to carefully ration watering. With a moisture deficit, it loses its juiciness, acquiring an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. With an excess of it, the bulbs quickly rot.
Stardust is one of the very few early white onion hybrids suitable for long-term storage.
Methods for planting Stardust onions
Most gardeners cultivate a hybrid on a two-year cycle. First, the seeds are planted, receiving the onion sets Stardust F1.
The next season, full-fledged bulbs ripen from it.
Growing seedlings from seeds
The most common practice is the cultivation of Stardust onion seedlings. When planting seeds in open ground, given the thermophilicity of the hybrid, there is a risk that they will suffer from recurrent frosts.
Before planting, seeds must be rejected by immersing them in a saline solution (25-30 g / l). Those without a germ are much lighter, so they quickly float to the surface. Then onion seeds Stardust are etched for 30-40 minutes in a solution of fungicide or potassium permanganate (crimson-pink color) to prevent fungal infections.
Growing seedlings of Stardust onions is easy:
- Germinate the seeds by wrapping them in a damp cloth and leaving them next to the radiator for 2-3 days. Do not let the fabric dry.
- Plant the seeds in previously prepared containers with moist soil, deepening them by 1-1.5 cm.The interval between neighboring plants is 1.5-2 cm, between rows - 2.5-3 cm.
- Spray the soil, turn the container into a greenhouse, tighten it tightly with cling film or cover with glass. Provide no light and warmth. Do not let the soil dry out, and condensation should not accumulate.
- After the emergence of seedlings, transfer to a bright place, lowering the temperature of the content from 24-27 ° C to 20-22 ° C. Continue to control soil moisture.
- In the phase of the third leaf, pinch the "feathers", shortening them by about 2/3.
Stardust onion seedlings are ready for planting in the ground 55-60 days after the seeds sprout. In central Russia, this is the second half of April. They are planted with an interval of 7-8 cm with a row spacing of 15-20 cm. After planting, holes and plants should be well watered. Until the seedlings take root, it is recommended to install arcs over the garden bed, pulling any white covering material over them.
Two weeks before transplanting to the garden, it is recommended to start hardening the seedlings
Planting seedlings in open ground
Onion sets Stardust must be inspected before planting, rejecting bulbs with traces of mold and rot, mechanical damage, any suspicious spots on the surface scales, and also apparently dry.
2-3 days before planting, they are disinfected, like the seeds, then thoroughly dried. Directly in front of it - with a sharply sharpened clean knife, cut off the top and shorten the roots by about a third.
The location for the Stardust bow is chosen so as to provide it with enough light and protection from cold drafts. The soil will suit him nutritious, but light, with a neutral acid-base reaction. The garden bed is prepared in the fall, digging it up, removing all the garbage, applying fertilizers.
Without good lighting, you can not count on a rich harvest of Stardust onions
Stardust is planted in well-moistened holes 4-5 cm deep. 10-12 cm are left between adjacent bulbs. The recommended row spacing is 20-25 cm.
Stardust Onion Care
Stardust onion care includes the following activities:
- Watering. The intervals are continually adjusted to reflect the frequency and intensity of natural precipitation. On average, one watering per week is sufficient if the weather is relatively cool. In the heat, the Stardust onions need to be watered twice as often. For 1 m² of beds, 5-7 liters of water are consumed. Watering is stopped 12-15 days before harvesting. This is necessary for the bulbs to acquire juiciness and rich taste. But if the weather is very hot and dry, then the soil continues to be moderately moistened about once a week.
- Weeding and loosening. It is carried out as needed, at least once every 7-10 days.It is convenient to combine loosening of Stardust onions with watering - wet soil is easier to process. They loosen the planting to a depth of 5 cm. It is impossible to neglect weeding, otherwise the yield is sharply reduced.
- Fertilization. Stardust onions are fed three times, at intervals of 10-12 days from the moment of disembarkation. For the first time, mineral or organic fertilizers containing mainly nitrogen are applied. Further, plants require mainly phosphorus and potassium. You can feed them with wood ash or a special commercial onion fertilizer.
- Disease prevention. In order to avoid the development of fungal infections, experienced gardeners recommend dusting Stardust onions with sifted wood ash, colloidal sulfur. Instead of ordinary water, it can be watered every 2-3 weeks with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or any biofungicide.
Conclusion
Onion Stardust F1 is a perfectly suitable option for a not too experienced gardener. The only important nuance in care that cannot be neglected is proper watering. The rest of the plant is very unpretentious. Gardeners appreciate the hybrid for its outstanding taste and consistently high productivity. This applies to both the green "feathers" and the bulbs themselves.
Reviews of gardeners about onion Stardust
