Onion-mucus is a perennial spice plant belonging to the Onion family. Received an unusual name for the abundant secretion of mucus that occurs when the leaves break. He is also known under other names: drooping, mangyr, glandular, Allium nutans (lat.). It is found in the wild in Altai, in Central Asia, Siberia. Unfortunately, infrequently grown on personal plots.
Slime onions are less sharp compared to onions, the taste is pleasant, and the smell is slightly garlic. It contains in large quantities iron, carotene, vitamins C and B1. In addition, it has
organic acids and sugars. It can be used to treat vitamin deficiency and anemia. Very useful in its raw form, especially for older people and children.
This plant with flat dark and light green narrow leaves about 25 cm long, very juicy. The stem of it is an underdeveloped rhizome, on which false bulbs are located around a diameter of about 27 cm. Slime onion begins to grow in mid-April. The photo shows its branching well. During the summer, you can make up to 5 cuts without prejudice to growth.
Onion-slime blooms in the second, less often third year of life, throwing out an arrow with an umbrella inflorescence from lilac or light pink small flowers. The flowers open gradually, the seeds ripen unfriendly.
This plant is resistant to frost and cold, even in the north of the Non-Black Earth region it practically does not freeze.
Slime onions, the cultivation of which is simple, is demanding only on moisture. Otherwise, the taste of its leaves deteriorates, they become coarse fiber and tasteless. It can grow on various soils, except acidic.
Planting slime onions is desirable in weed -free areas well seasoned with organics. In one place, it is grown up to 7 years. This wonderful plant is propagated by seed method and division of bushes. The dug bush should be divided into individual bulbs and immediately planted in a prepared place. It is better to place parts of the bush or seedlings on the beds in rows, with a distance of 25 cm. Seeds will need 2 g per square meter, the depth of planting is about 1 cm.
Autumn crops must be covered with a film. In the spring, under film shelters, onion-slime reaches ripeness 10 days earlier than without them. In winter, greens can also be driven out of old plants on the windowsill.
Care for this plant consists in loosening, watering, weeding. It responds well to top dressing with various organic fertilizers. In this case, commodity ripeness will be achieved a week earlier, and the yield increase will be 10%. A month before the frost, it is advisable to feed onion-slime with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. Before wintering, it is better to remove the leaves so that they do not interfere in the spring to process the plantings.
Taste qualities of this vitamin product allow you to use it fresh with sour cream or oil. You can add it along with young onions to salads and various prepared dishes, as well as use for canning.
Onion-slime - a plant undemanding, very healthy, tasty and highly decorative. It just needs to be planted in a personal plot.