It would seem why we we grow onions at home, if on the shelves of almost any store, even in winter you can buy a variety of greenery? Hin fact, there are a lot of advantages in this activity. Homemade greens are an additional source of vitamins and nutrients, it adorns the food wonderfully, is always fresh and is at hand, and costs almost free of charge. And who does not like the little green garden on his window in the middle of winter?
Varieties of onions for growing on the windowsill
On the windowsill most often grow ordinary onions, but you can grow other types of onions (shallot, leek, batun, shnitt). Onion bulb is used for forcing greens for about two months, after which it is depleted. Onion-batun provided timely feeding and care can grow in a pot for several years. For cultivation of onions on the windowsill is suitable for any variety, but it is best to choose multi-seed, which have several nests in one bulb. These are varieties such as Bessonovsky, Chernigovsky, Spassky, Rostovsky, Timiryazevsky, Soyuz.
Did you know? Green onions contain many vitamins (A, B1, B2, B5, C, E), minerals (potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, phosphorus), carotene, flavonoids, phytoncides.
Selection and preparation of bulbs for planting
Before planting onions at home, it is important to select the correct bulbs for planting in order to get a high yield. Bulbs for planting should be healthy, with no signs of rotting and with shiny scales. Well, if they are the same in size. The optimal diameter of the bulbs - 2-4 cm, too large bulbs should be planted in case they sprouted themselves.
From already sprouted bulbs greens will appear faster. To speed up the forcing of greenery, the upper part of the bulb can be cut or make deep (one third of the height) cross-shaped cuts. Prepared onions before planting immersed in hot water (50-52 ° C), a solution of ash or potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Next, the bulbs need to be dipped in cold water and peel off.
Important! Before planting onions in a pot or box, it is advisable to treat the container with a disinfectant solution (for example, potassium permanganate).
Selection of soil for growing onions
To grow onion greens on the windowsill in the bottom of the box or pot, you first need to lay the drainage of expanded clay, sand or broken brick, and then fill the tank with soil mixture of peat, humus and garden soil in a ratio of 7: 2: 1. It is good to add a little phosphate fertilizer (1-2%) or ash. Since all the substances necessary for greenery are in the bulb, any soil mixture may be suitable for cultivation, only clayey is undesirable. Heavy mix should be diluted with regular sand.
Bulb planting scheme
When planting onions in a container, the bridge method is often used. The bulbs are planted close to each other. It is not necessary to cover them with soil, half of the bulb should be above the ground. No need to worry that the onions are not enough nutrients from the soil - all the most necessary is contained in the bulb itself. 
Since in small apartments the area is often very limited, and you want to grow onions on the windowsill for the whole family, a good option would be to plant onions in a large plastic bottle up to 5 liters. From such a container you can build a multi-level room "garden", if you make holes in it. The landing scheme is as follows: put soil on the bottom of the bottle, place the bulbs in such a way that their tails are outside, cover them with soil. Alternate layers of soil and bulbs to the top of the bottle, then pour. Instead of soil, you can use sawdust.
Important! For the continuous growth of greenery onions are planted in different boxes with an interval of 10-12 days.
Conditions for growing onions on the windowsill
Conditions for forcing the onions on the greens at home are very simple.
Location and lighting
After disembarking, the container with onions should be moved to a cool shaded place for 10 days to form the root system. Later for the development of juicy greens need good lighting: Onions are placed on the windowsill, balcony or loggia. In case of a lack of light, artificial lighting is used (lamps, LED panels).
Temperature
The optimum temperature for growing indoor onions is 18-20 degrees. It should not overheat from the sun or domestic heating.
Care and cultivation of green feathers on the windowsill
Distillation of green onions on the pen does not require special care. Bulbs watered with warm water every other day. To make the green more juicy, feathers can be slightly sprayed.
Cut greens
The first green is better not to touch, so as not to stop the growth of the remaining shoots. Onions are cut three weeks after planting. Depending on the variety, in 16-18 days the feather can reach 30 cm. Cut off the extreme feathers, as they grow from the middle. When growing a large amount of onions, it is better to pluck the greens together with the already depleted onion, and plant a new one in its place.
Growing green onions in water
Practically everyone knows how to sprout onions in water, because in so many kitchens you can see onions in cups or jars filled with water. The hydroponic method is very simple, but it still has its own nuances.
To grow green onions on a windowsill in water you will need a container (plastic cup or bottle, glass jar, container for dairy products, a cup), water and an onion. The container should be filled with water and the bulb should be placed in it in such a way that only the roots will dip into the water. For this purpose you can use a cardboard circle or a lid with a hole. Otherwise, rotting bulbs and unpleasant smell can not be avoided.
Did you know? On sale you can find electric hydroponic plants for growing onions.
If you plan to grow a lot of bulbs, you can build a design from a plastic tray for eggs. The top flat part of the tray will serve as a water tray. At the bottom of the need to make holes in each cell and put it on top of the tray, putting two sticks. Next, place the prepared bulbs in the grooves and pour water into the pan. The first few days you need to change the water at least once a day, later enough to do it several times a week. Growing bulbs need to periodically inspect and remove unsuitable. Feed onions can be after the first feathers. To do this, in a liter of distilled water at room temperature, add 5 g of wood ash or two teaspoons of mineral top dressing. The first harvest of green onions can be harvested in 10-15 days.
Growing onions on a windowsill in winter can be an exciting experience. It is very simple and economical, and the result will not be long in coming: after a week or two, you can get a fresh, fragrant onion that will decorate the dishes and bring undoubted benefit to a weakened body.
