One of the most exciting vegetables on the market is the onion. This white bulb makes the eyes weep and itchy when cut while preparing the salad. However, it has become one of the best companions for multiple dishes in 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 plant it?
The onion is an edible, underground bulb that grows in onion plantations. This type of vegetable has Asian origin and began to be planted around the year 6000 BC. It is one of the oldest crops in known history, beginning 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 based on 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, they never eat it. However, if you let it marinate in lemon juice you will get a milder flavor. Raw onion is the one that gives bad breath, something that causes many people to show rejection. With a couple of coffee beans you can put a solution to bad breath that you may suffer. 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. Without a doubt, some useful tips to enjoy onions more and take advantage of the benefits that will be described below.
When purchasing onions, one of the great tips is that they be round and firm and without wrinkles in the first layer of the skin, since these are two qualities that those vegetables of the best quality meet. Also, if at the time of buying them, we see green shoots, it is better not to buy them for consumption since it is usually a sign that their best moment has passed.
Benefits of eating onions
Eating onion has multiple benefits for the human body, at a nutritional level and as disease prevention. The most prominent are the following:
- Promotes 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 relieves the possible symptoms of decomposition and cleanses the stomach.
- Prevents common diseases. In cold weather, as often 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 get rid of 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 being 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 increasing the quality of life of people.
Onion soup is another of the variables that this type of vegetable offers, and that is used in multiple types of diet. In fact, its properties satisfy hunger and favor those people who have set themselves the goal of losing a few kilos.
How to plant onion?
For centuries, onions have been planted and, therefore, each one has their own technique to obtain the best possible harvest. In just 4 months you can be reaping the fruits of a good job. To be able to harvest many onions, it is necessary to have good and rich soils to be able to develop. By this type of soil, we mean loamy and sandy soils and not clay or sand type soils. This type of vegetable, in particular, loves a lot of phosphorus and potassium and, on the other hand, they hate it when there is too much nitrogen. In addition, it is recommended to use a solid layer of mature compost in the place where it is going to be planted, both in the garden and in flower pots. The most recommended Ph. to carry out the sowing of onions is six. As stated above, the best times to plant onions are spring, summer, and winter. However, depending on the time of year that we choose to carry out the germination, one procedure or another will be used. It will be a good option to choose spring if there is a cool and humid summer to follow and there is no way to store the onions. The same procedure is used as in summer, but it is differentiated by thinning 10 centimeters between one and the other when the plant reaches approximately 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 pressed down 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 clear with a distance between one and the other 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 seedbeds. The idea will be to prepare the onions to be transplanted in the spring once the soil or the pots are ready outside. In spring, in addition, there is also the option of sowing in the form of bulbs. Along one line, holes are made 15 centimeters. In each hole, we will introduce a bulb and the surrounding soil will be pressed so that it is firm to be harvested. In addition, at the time of bulb formation, onions prefer to be exposed to the sun to achieve better growth. However, at the level of irrigation, 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 which is known as the vegetative stage), the amount of water is low. 20 days before the scheduled harvest date, it is recommended to stop watering them.
When the leaf tips of the onions start to turn yellow, that’s the signal that it’s time to twist and snap their necks. From here, the onion maturation process will begin. With a fork we will lift the bulbs of the vegetables and the drying process will begin. When they are very dry, we will air them, leaving them out of the option of ending up frozen. To fully enjoy the onions, it is very important that there are pounds of weeds or weeds left, that any flowers that may grow are cut and, above all, that they are free of any type of moisture that could spoil the harvest.
