How and how to feed leeks?

Leeks, like any other crop, need proper care. It must be fed with suitable means and preparations. Fertilizers can be both mineral and organic. In this article, we will learn more about what and how exactly to feed leeks properly.

Leeks are grown in many areas. It is imperative to take proper care of him. The cultivation of such a culture begins from the moment of its sowing. In the southern regions of Russia, they most often turn to the seedless method. For this purpose, with the onset of the second half of May, sowing is carried out directly into the open ground. As for the northern and central territories, seedlings are first grown here.

Sowing of the onion in question is carried out at different times:

• if sowing is carried out at home in boxes, then the best time for this will be the interval from mid to late February;
• if planting takes place in a greenhouse, then it is advisable to do this before April 15;
• if the best time is selected for sowing under a temporary shelter in the garden, then the third decade of April is perfect for this.

To do this, the seeds are in turn immersed in hot (no more than 45 degrees), and then in cold water. Then the seeds are germinated on a damp cloth in a warm place. This kind of preparation is required for seed that has been harvested from the site. If the seeds are purchased, then they will not need special treatments.

Sowing of seed is carried out according to this scheme.

1. First, the prepared containers are filled with moistened soil.
2. Grooves are made, the depth of which is up to 1.5 cm. These grooves should be located at a distance of 5 cm from each other.
3. Next, lightly dried onion seeds are placed on the surface.
4. Then the seeds are sprinkled with soil.
5. Next, the boxes with leek seeds are covered with foil.
6. The tanks are removed to a well-lit and warm place where the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius.
7. As soon as the bow comes up, the film should be removed. Then you can lower the temperature to 16 degrees during the day and to 12 degrees at night.
8. It is necessary to take care of additional additional lighting of the onion, artificially extending the duration of daylight hours to 12 hours.

After a couple of months, the plants need to be cut open, planting at a distance of 3 cm from each other. The most convenient is the cultivation of leeks in special peat tablets. Then picking will not be needed. It is recommended to prune the leaves to help the onion roots grow better and the stems are denser. This should be done once every 2 weeks. It is important to keep their length within 10 cm.

Before planting onions in open ground, the seedlings need to be hardened. To do this, they take it out into the street, adjusting it step by step to ordinary conditions.

Leek seedlings grow at a slow rate. Only when 2 months have passed can the seedlings be planted in open ground. The beds for this are usually prepared in advance. The soil is carefully dug up, while introducing organic and mineral fertilizers.

It is very important to feed the leek properly when planting it. It should be borne in mind that most of all according to the chemical composition of the culture in question, chernozem in combination with loams will be suitable... Experts advise against digging up the soil in the spring. The beds must be prepared in the fall. During this time period, the soil is loosened, introducing organic matter into it. We are talking about rotted manure and compost. Mineral fertilizers are also added. 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium chloride are mixed. Such a top dressing is enough to process an area of ​​1 sq. M.

Seedlings can be planted in mid-May. The beds should be placed at a distance of 40 cm. For these purposes, deep grooves or holes are dug. Compost with rotted manure is placed on the bottom. One plant is planted in each of the holes.

To obtain long and white onion legs, the soil enriched with humus is washed directly to the roots of the seedlings. The leg will grow slowly. Regular hilling will contribute to its increase. In this case, the next top dressing is introduced.

In order for the leek to be large and juicy, it must be fertilized with suitable formulations as it grows. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are suitable for this. They act in different ways, as they are introduced. We will find out what kind of dressings you can flavor plants.

Throughout the season, you will need at least three mineral dressings. Due to their effect, the planted plants will not lack important trace elements. In most cases, a solution consisting of iodine, potassium, superphosphates and ammonium nitrate is used.... Many gardeners prefer to use ready-made dressings. Their action turns out to be as effective as possible. Moreover, such formulations are distinguished by a strictly balanced content of essential nutrients.

If we talk about the positive effect of organic fertilizers, then we can note the possibility of improving the composition of the plants themselves, as well as the structure of the soil. Basically, they use products that are prepared on the basis of weeds, chicken droppings, and slurry. Wood ash can improve the characteristics of the soil, reduce its acidity, and replenish the lack of phosphorus.

To independently prepare an effective solution of chicken manure, you will need to perform several steps:

1. first, the product will need to be poured with water, adhering to a ratio of 1 to 20;
2. at the next stage, the existing composition is required to be insisted for about 24 hours;
3. the consumption rate will be 1 liter per 1 sq. m.

You can also make a good organic top dressing with weeds and cut grass. Similar compositions are prepared as follows:

1. first you need to thoroughly grind the grass, and then place it in a free container for 2/3 of the total volume;
2. after that, the tank will need to be placed in the sun, and the mixture itself will need to be filled with water;
3. the tank will need to be closed with a lid with holes made;
4. the resulting composition should be left for 2 weeks for the necessary fermentation process to start;
5. then the mixture will need to be filtered as carefully as possible;
6. the solution should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10;
7. the ready-made mixture can be safely used as an effective root dressing.

Ash water solution makes it possible to dramatically increase the absorption of essential nutrients by the roots. To prepare the specified organic fertilizer, you need to fill a bucket with hot water, and then dissolve 250 g of wood ash in the liquid. The entire resulting composition will have to be infused for a day. After the specified time, they can water the planted leeks.

If you want to effectively feed leeks, then some helpful advice is worth listening to.

• When fertilizing leeks, in no case should you use fresh droppings... If you neglect this recommendation, then you can seriously harm the plant.
• The use of complex mineral fertilizers leads to a noticeable increase in the immunity of the planted onions, acceleration of all necessary metabolic processes. That is why such dressings are considered the most preferable.
• To fertilize leeks, you can use not only folk remedies, but also special preparations... For example, it can be Agricola, Vegeta, Effekton. Such means not only fertilize the soil, but also make plants more resistant to various diseases and pest attacks.
• Fertilized leeks are important to water properly... Watering should be especially abundant in June, when foliage is forming, and also in July, when a false bulb is formed.
• Even if you use the most efficient and effective fertilizers, leeks should still not be planted where any other type of onion has grown for the past 3 years.
• Top dressing of the crop in question must be stopped at least 3 weeks before the planned harvest.
• If you grow leeks on the site, do not forget that it is required to spud at least 3-4 times during the summer season. In this case, the soil should not fall into the sinuses of the lower foliage, and also stain the leg from the inside.
• If you are planning to prepare your own mineral onion feed, then you should not do it in a container that is intended for human or animal use.
• If you use commercially available food, then they need to be brought in and prepared only in the proportions indicated by the manufacturer. Act strictly according to the instructions, otherwise you risk harming the plants.
• If fertilizer gets on the onion feathers, it must be immediately washed off gently with running water.
• For leek roots, tinctures made from rotted plants are very useful. For this, you can use grass, tomato stepsons. These components just need to be filled with water, and then left to infuse for 7 days.
• If you notice that onion feather growth has slowed down, then it makes sense to resort to feeding in the form of urea. It is very rich in nitrogen.
• If you noted the yellowness of the feather, then this means that you need to feed the plant with ash, potassium sulfate. Blackness and wilting can be successfully corrected with superphosphates.

For information on what and how to feed leeks, see below.