Onions are so commonplace and widespread that people rarely think about the features of its structure and cultivation. The secret of this form was quite simple, but interesting.
Features of the structure and growth of onions
The bulb in structure is an underground shoot. As the trunk acts a small lower part, which is called the bottom. Each layer of the onion is an intergrown modified leaf. Due to the leaves, a capsule is formed around the bottom. It is very clearly visible if you cut the onion in half. Between these leaves contains buds. Subsequently, new full leaflets are formed from them - green feathers.
Onions develop quite slowly at first. For example, the formation of the first five leaves takes about a month. Then their growth accelerates to 25 or more (in the presence of favorable conditions). Only onions form a real onion. In other varieties, it is called false. If a plant is planted too thick or lacks moisture, growth and development cease. Also at this stage the leaves no longer grow. The stage of the formation of the onion itself is beginning, at which the entire upper green part of the plant dries up.
Each onion layer is soft and juicy. The purpose of the bulb is to store the maximum amount of nutrients, including water. Layers accumulate moisture in themselves during growth and development.Large onions may already appear above the ground. However, the presence of lush green feathers (tops) indicates that it has not yet matured.
Bulb ripening and storage
The onion ripening process begins when the green tubular leaves dry and fall. If before that the bulb had a white tint, then at the ripening stage it changes color. It depends on the variety - it can be red, orange, etc. When the leaves dry, a dense film forms on the bulb itself, which changes color. It is usually called husk. Water practically does not penetrate the husk layer. Thus, moisture does not come out from the inside of the onion, so it remains juicy for a long time. Also, moisture does not get inside from the outside and does not provoke decay processes.
Interesting fact: Many indoor and garden flowers are also considered bulbous. They have a receptacle as a trunk, and the leaves turned into petals and other flower elements.
Onion is a two year old plant. The first year of life is the appearance of the first seedlings with subsequent growth and development. This stage continues right up to the moment of bulb formation and ripening. Then comes the dormant period, which can last from one to several months - it all depends on the type and variety of the plant. In other words, when the ripened onions were collected and put into storage - this is the period of rest. During the next planting (in the second year of life), arrows with inflorescences appear along with ordinary leaves.All these processes are possible precisely thanks to useful substances that are safely stored under the husk inside the layers of onions.
The growth of onions in layers is due to the peculiarities of its development, ripening and storage. Each layer is a modified leaf. In the process of onion growth, the layers accumulate useful substances, water and provide them with leaves. When the feathers dry and fall, the formed bulb is covered with a dense film - husk. All valuable substances and moisture remain inside. Thanks to this, the onion is stored for a long time, and during the next planting it throws out inflorescences.
