Content
Carmen onions are red varieties, rich in vitamins and other valuable elements. It can be grown as a one- or two-year culture, planted in open ground with seedlings or seedlings, before winter. Onion Carmen is unpretentious in care, has good immunity, resistance to a number of adverse factors.
Origin story
In the description of the Carmen MC onion variety, various sources often refer to it as Dutch. In fact, the homeland of Sevka is the Czech Republic. Specialists of the agrofirm Moravoseed worked on its selection. In Russia, Carmen onions are grown according to Dutch technology, hence the confusion in the country of origin.
Description and characteristics of the Carmen onion
Onion Carmen, in accordance with the State Register of the Russian Federation, is recommended for cultivation in the Central, Central Black Earth, Middle and Lower Volga regions. The ripening time of the variety depends on the planting method.
Appearance
Carmen bulbs have a round-flat shape. Dry purple scales. There are 2-3 of them in total. The density of the pulp is average. Its main color is white, carmine-red between individual skirts. The height of the green feather reaches 30 cm.
The flesh of Carmen's onions is juicy. The taste is slightly spicy, slightly sweet. The bulbs weigh an average of 110 g. The maximum weight is observed when grown through seedlings.
The Carmen variety has been included in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 1997, an application for zoning was filed in 1994.
Ripening time and yield
The entire growing season of Carmen onions from sowing to full ripeness takes 124-129 days. For this indicator, the variety is considered late.
Onions can be grown as an annual crop from seed or as a two-year crop from a set. Mass lodging and yellowing of feathers occurs after 120-140 days.
The yield of Carmen onions depends on the region. The commodity indicator in the Central region is 157 kg per hundred square meters. In the Central Black Earth Region, the figures are the same. The yield in the Middle Volga region reaches 285 kg per hundred square meters when grown from seedlings. According to gardeners' reviews, 3-4 kg of onions can be harvested from 1 m².
Disease and pest resistance
Onion Carmen has good immunity. The variety is especially resistant to such diseases and pests:
- rust;
- peronosporosis (downy mildew);
- rot;
- onion fly;
- thrips.
In addition to good immunity to some diseases and pests, Carmen onions are quite resistant to temperature fluctuations, dry periods.
Composition and properties
In 100 g of Carmen onions, up to 19.5 mg of ascorbic acid, an average of 8.25 mg of sugar, 12.9 mg of dry matter. These figures are valid for raw product. It also contains other valuable elements:
- vitamins A, P, group B (thiamine, pyridoxine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid);
- a complex of minerals, including iron, zinc, potassium, iodine, magnesium, cobalt, copper;
- sucrose, fructose;
- phytoncides;
- antioxidants.
Due to its rich composition, Carmen onion has beneficial properties:
- weight loss;
- anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects;
- increased immunity;
- decrease in blood sugar;
- stimulation of insulin production;
- activation of collagen formation.
Such qualities make Carmen onions useful for colds, diabetes, obesity, and pathologies of the nervous system.
Applications
The Carmen bow is versatile in use. The variety is especially good for salads, cold appetizers. The pulp looks beautiful and retains its taste in a pickled form. Carmen is also suitable for heat treatment, but after boiling or frying it becomes grayish. The changes concern only the appearance, the taste of the product does not deteriorate.
Red onions are used in folk medicine. It is consumed raw, infusions, decoctions, juice, lotions are made from it.
Pros and cons of the variety
Consumers appreciate Carmen onions for their good taste, valuable composition, and beneficial properties. They are fully manifested when the product is consumed raw.
Ripening of Carmen onions before harvesting is 90-100%, after ripening 95-100%
Pros:
- aligned shape of the bulbs;
- stable yield;
- good aging;
- the ability to grow in different ways;
- resistance to shooting;
- immunity to some diseases, pests;
- great taste;
- versatility of application;
- suitability for long-term storage;
- suitable for planting before winter.
There are no pronounced shortcomings in the Carmen variety.
Planting methods for Carmen onions
The site for planting Carmen onions must be prepared in advance. It is better to place the culture on light loam, she does not like heavy clay soil. If acidity is high, add lime, dolomite flour or chalk.
The Carmen variety has good immunity, but the proximity of groundwater is fraught with fungal diseases. High beds or drainage will help to avoid problems.
Growing seedlings from seeds
Seedlings of onions Carmen begin to grow from seeds two months before planting in the ground. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself or buy a ready-made composition in the store.
It is not necessary to pickle seeds before sowing due to their good immunity. For prevention, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate or drugs:
- Maksim;
- Fitolavin;
- Fitosporin-M;
- Alirin-B.
Before sowing, the seeds must be kept in a damp cloth or treated with a growth stimulant such as Nikfana, Epin-Extra, Zircon. Sow them in small-mesh cassettes, shallow containers, boxes. The seeds are buried 1-1.5 cm.
Seedlings of Carmen red onions are grown on a windowsill or elsewhere with good lighting. Watering is needed as the soil dries up. For the entire period, 2-3 dressings are enough. You need to use complex formulations with trace elements, growth stimulants.
Two weeks before planting in open ground, start hardening the seedlings. The time is increased gradually. In open ground, seedlings are planted at a distance of 5-7 cm, thinning is not required.
When growing onions, seedlings consume fewer seeds, while the yield is higher
Planting seedlings in the spring in open ground
Red Carmen onion sets are planted in spring when the soil warms up to at least 12 ° C. Stable warm weather should be established. Depending on the region, the work falls on April-May.
For spring planting, use a large set of up to 2 cm.First, it must be sorted out, setting aside the sprouted and wrinkled specimens. They can only be used on the pen. It is important to inspect the planting material for damage, signs of rot. Only dense onions are suitable for planting, which have a whole, tight, smooth and shiny husk.
Sevok should be warmed up at 25-30 ° C before planting. It is important to start preparation two weeks in advance.
If the onion was purchased in the spring, you will have to warm it up for two weeks, then keep it at room temperature in a dark place before planting. No preparation is required if the material is stored in a warm room.Before planting, disinfection is carried out in a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate, treatment with a growth stimulator.
The seedbed is prepared in the fall. They dig up the earth, loosen it, bring in humus with compost. 1-2 weeks before planting, it is effective to shed the soil with humic fertilizer. You can use wood ash, copper sulfate. Digging is repeated in the spring.
For seeding, grooves or holes are made in the garden. Leave 15-20 cm between rows, half as much between adjacent bulbs.
Planting Carmen onions before winter
Before winter, Carmen onions should be planted a month before the onset of frost. Sevok should not germinate before this time, otherwise it may not survive until spring or become very weak. The optimum temperature for planting is 5 ° C.
For winter planting on a turnip, a small set with a diameter of up to 1 cm is selected. The bulbs must be strong and not germinated, without signs of rot, mechanical damage. The material must be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate or fungicide, then dried.
For the winter, Carmen sets are planted according to the standard scheme - 15-20 cm between rows, half the size between adjacent bulbs. They are deepened 5 cm above the neck. Sprinkle with soil or fresh peat.
If you plant Carmen onions with seeds before winter, then you need to make transverse grooves with an interval of 10-15 cm. The material is buried 1.5-2 cm. The seeds are sown with an interval of 1-1.5 cm, the soil is slightly compacted. Mulching with humus and peat is necessary.
With winter planting, onion shoots appear three weeks earlier.
Carmen onion care
Carmen's bow is unpretentious in leaving. The main activities are:
- weekly watering, three weeks before harvest, it should be stopped;
- regular loosening after drying out the soil;
- systematic weeding;
- feeding three times per season.
When planting Carmen onions in spring, fertilizers are applied in May, June, July. It is effective to use mineral compositions containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. A fertilizer matchbox is enough for 1 m². In the last feeding, nitrogen is excluded.
With proper care and preparation of the plot and onions for planting, there are no problems during the cultivation process. Alternative methods can be used to prevent pests.
- planting carrots, marigolds in the neighborhood;
- spraying with ammonia solution;
- watering with salt.
Due to its high ripeness, Carmen onions can be stored without loss of quality for up to eight months.
Conclusion
Carmen onions can be planted with seeds, seedlings, seedlings. The variety has good immunity, resistance to droughts, temperature changes. Carmen is unpretentious in care, suitable for long-term storage, versatile in use. In its raw form, it is rich in vitamins and minerals and is used in folk medicine.
Reviews of gardeners about onion Carmen
