ISTOBENSKY

The Istobensky onion is a mid-season variety of shallot with a period from germination to leaf yellowing of about 120 days. The bulb has a transversely narrow-elliptical, flat shape with a shape index of 0.6 and an average weight from 110 to 150 grams. Dry skins are colored red with a brownish tint, while juicy skins are white. The onion has a sweet taste, and the green leaves are thin, juicy, and tender, making it attractive both for obtaining commercial produce and for use as greenery (scallion). The variety yield reaches 2.9–3.1 kg per square meter, which ensures good productivity even in risk-prone farming zones.

For growing the Istobensky onion, the seedling method is optimally used, especially in private household farms. Sowing seeds is recommended to be conducted in early April to obtain a full-fledged seedling by mid-May. Seedlings are grown in cassettes, placing 3-4 seedlings in each cell, which contributes to maximum yield and product quality. At the same time, seedling planting in open ground is carried out after May 18 with a distance between plants of 25 by 30 centimeters. To improve seedling growth, artificial lighting with LED lamps with brightness of 5000-7000 lumens and a light day duration of about 14 hours is applied.

Studies conducted under conditions of the Kirov region confirmed the effectiveness of the seedling method for the Istobensky variety. The optimal age of seedlings before transplanting is about 40 days, and growing in a polycarbonate greenhouse lasts 18-20 days. The maximum bulb mass achieved when growing via the seedling method was 400 grams. At the same time, the best results in terms of yield and seed savings were obtained when growing three plants in one cell. Such an approach allows obtaining a high-quality commercial bulb with minimal costs.