Super harvest in just a month: learn how to grow onions in a bottle!

For those who wish to replenish their body with beneficial elements during the winter months, there's a solution – you can grow onions on your windowsill in a plastic bottle. Fermer.blog provides guidance on how to do this properly.

Advantages of the Method

The method of growing onions in plastic bottles has several advantages:

• easy and simple planting;
• minimal financial costs;
• small space requirements;
• ability to place several bulbs in one large bottle;
• inexpensive and uncomplicated care.

You can start planting onions in January. To do this, you need to prepare everything necessary: a bottle, soil, and planting material.

Preparing the Bottle

Here’s a detailed guide on how to prepare the bottle for planting onions:

1. Take a clean and well-dried plastic bottle with a volume of 2, 3, or 5 liters.
2. Make a few small drainage holes at the bottom of the bottle.
3. Mark the spots for the bulbs in a checkerboard pattern with a marker on the walls of the bottle. The bottom row of bulbs should be at least 5 cm from the bottom.
4. Using a knife or scissors, cut out the holes. They should be smaller than the size of the bulbs.
5. Cut the neck of the bottle so that the bulbs can easily pass through this opening along with your hand.

Preparing the Soil

The soil for growing onions can be made from the following components:

• soil from the garden;
• peat;
• humus.

Before planting the onions, it is necessary to disinfect the soil. This can be done by steaming it, heating it in the oven, microwave, or treating it with boiling water or a manganese solution. Prepared, already disinfected soil can also be purchased in a store by asking for a light and fluffy substrate, such as for planting seedlings.

You can also grow onions in damp toilet paper or napkins. For this, they need to be well moistened with water, squeezed, and placed in the bottle.

Choosing and Preparing Planting Material

The best option for growing onions is to use sets, but you can also use regular bulb onions. Large bulbs are not suitable for this method. Before planting, inspect the bulbs to ensure their integrity and the absence of rot.

Typically, onions are placed in a warm place for 3 days before planting. If time is short, you can soak the bulbs in warm water (up to 50°C) for 30 minutes.

The planting scheme for bulbs in the bottle is as follows:

1. Lay a layer of drainage (expanded clay or gravel) at the bottom of the bottle.
2. Fill the bottle with soil up to the lower holes and tamp it well.
3. Insert the bulbs into the holes with the roots inside, so that the main part of the bulb is outside.
4. Cover the bulbs with soil, tamping it down again.
5. Water and continue this process up to the top of the bottle.

The bottle with onions can be placed on a well-lit windowsill. It is also recommended to use a tray to collect water that drains during watering.

Regular care is needed for the onions on the windowsill.

Lighting

Onions love light. The bottle with onions should be placed on a windowsill that is well illuminated by sunlight. Ideally, the windowsill should face south or west.

Temperature Regime

To ensure normal growth of the onions, it is necessary to maintain a temperature between +18 – +25°C. If the temperature exceeds +30°C or is too low, the growth of the onions will slow down.

Fertilizing

For better growth, onions can be fertilized with complex fertilizers. This will help achieve a greater yield. Fertilizers should only be applied after watering.

Watering

Water the onions moderately, using warm, settled water. Avoid watering with cold water, as this can cause plant diseases.

Harvesting

You can harvest the green feathers when they reach the desired length. The first shoots will appear within 2-3 weeks, and the onions can be cut within 2 months. After that, the bulbs become depleted and no longer provide useful greens.