When to plant shallots for winter?

Scallions are distributed over a wide area, so if you want to grow shallots over the winter, you must choose cold-resistant varieties. Generally speaking, the best time to sow shallots for the winter is in autumn, especially around October, but the sowing time varies due to regional climate differences. So when is the best time to plant shallots for the winter? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. When should you plant shallots for the winter?

Overwintering shallots are usually planted in September or October each year. The specific time can be adjusted appropriately according to local climatic conditions. If the temperature is relatively low in the area, sowing can be done in early October, while in the southern region with high temperature, sowing can be done in late October.

If the sowing time is too early, the shallots will grow too large before winter and are susceptible to frost damage. Especially in cold regions such as the north, early sowing may cause the shallots to be unable to safely overwinter. If the sowing time is too late, the shallots will not grow enough before winter, their root system will be poorly developed, and they will easily die. Therefore, when choosing the sowing time, it is necessary to take into account the local climatic conditions and planting experience.

2. How to plant shallots during winter

1. Choose the variety

For wintering, you should choose cold-resistant, drought-tolerant, disease-resistant and adaptable varieties of shallots, such as all-season onions. These varieties can adapt to low temperature environments in winter, maintain growth vitality, and bring good returns to growers.

2. Soil selection

Scallions are best grown in fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. When selecting plots of land, you should avoid plots with repeated crops to reduce the occurrence of diseases and insect pests. At the same time, ensure that the land has good drainage properties to avoid waterlogging during the rainy season which may have an adverse effect on the growth of shallots.

3. Land preparation and fertilization

Before planting, the land should be deeply plowed, and the plowing depth should be more than 20 cm. After turning the soil, an appropriate amount of decomposed organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer should be applied to increase soil fertility and promote the growth of green onions.

4. Sowing time

The sowing time for winter shallots is generally in autumn, especially around October. In this way, the green onions can form a certain amount of growth before winter and enhance their cold resistance.

5. Sowing method

Before sowing, the soil should be loosened again and watered thoroughly. Then, spread the seeds evenly on the soil surface and cover with a thin layer of soil. After sowing, water should be applied in time to keep the soil moist to promote germination.

6. Water and fertilizer management

Keep the soil moist while the onions are growing. When watering, avoid overwatering to prevent the soil from being too wet and causing the roots of the shallots to rot. During drought periods, the frequency and amount of watering should be increased appropriately to meet the moisture required for the growth of shallots. During the growth period of shallots, appropriate nitrogen fertilizer or organic fertilizer should be applied. When applying fertilizer, the principle of "small amounts and multiple times" should be followed to avoid adverse effects of excessive fertilization on the growth of green onions.

The above is an introduction to when to plant shallots for the winter. In winter, shallots are susceptible to diseases and pests. Plants should be checked regularly and if any signs of pests or diseases are found, measures should be taken immediately to prevent and control them.