You've probably seen your neighbors harvesting onions the size of apples and wondered what their secret was.
The answer is simpler than it seems: they use something that usually goes in the trash - old newspapers.
Yes, it is newsprint that becomes the key to giant onions.
It's all about its ability to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and create the perfect microclimate for growth. But how can you turn waste paper into a garden bed helper?
Two weeks before planting onions, lay out a layer of newspaper 4-5 sheets thick on the bed, lightly sprinkle with soil and water generously.
The paper will begin to decompose, attracting earthworms that will loosen the soil.
When it's time to plant, make cross-shaped cuts in the newspaper and place the onion sets in them. The onion roots will easily break through the soaked paper, and the weeds will remain under it without light.
The newspaper works as mulch: the soil does not dry out even in hot weather, and the bulbs do not suffer from temperature changes.
But that's not all. When newspapers decompose, cellulose is released, which becomes food for soil bacteria. They produce humus, saturating the soil with nitrogen.
To enhance the effect, sprinkle the bed with wood ash before laying down the newspapers - this will add potassium, which onions love.
Those who have tried the method assure that the bulbs grow 30% larger, and the neck remains thin, which prevents rotting during storage. And no chemicals!
And when the harvest is collected, the newspaper will turn into fertilizer - just dig up the garden bed.
Author: Kurchev Anton