SHETANA MS

Shetana onion is a mid-early variety of bulb onion with round bulbs of medium size, weighing 44-46 g when grown from seeds and up to 80-90 g when grown from sets. The bulbs have straw-yellow dry outer skin and white juicy scales of medium density. The onion has a semi-sharp taste, making it versatile for use in various dishes and preserves. The variety is characterized by high yields: when grown as a one-year crop from seeds in the Central region, it reaches 50-58 c/ha, and when grown as a two-year crop from sets in the Middle-Volga region — 259-290 c/ha. Time to maturity ranges from 69 to 100 days depending on the growing method and region, while yields from sets allow harvesting up to 6 kg per 1 sq.m.

Shetana onion is suitable for growing on sunny plots with fertile soil. The variety can be grown as a one-year crop from seeds or as a two-year crop from sets. Sowing seeds for seedlings is recommended in March, followed by transplanting into open ground in early May. The optimal planting scheme is 5-7 cm between plants and 10-15 cm between rows; when grown from sets, distances can be 5-9 cm between bulbs and 25-30 cm between beds. For successful rooting of sets, air temperature should be around +12°C. Before planting, the planting material is soaked and disinfected, and for winter planting, the beds are mulched.

Shetana onion is characterized by high storability and the ability to be stored until spring without loss of quality. During the active growth period, moderate watering is required, which is reduced during bulb formation and completely stopped one month before harvest. Regular soil loosening and weed removal help prevent infection and improve plant development. The variety is resistant to bacterial rot and is weakly affected by Fusarium rot, however, it is susceptible to downy mildew, so for prevention, it is recommended to use healthy planting material and treat plants with fungicides as necessary.