A simple and effective solution used by our grandparents, which is much less known and used today.
Why plant young tomato plants in onion skins?
Plant health is essential for a rich harvest. Not only do plants need the right soil, the best fertiliser, regular irrigation and sunlight, but they also need protection against the many diseases and harmful insects that affect and feed on them.
The most common enemy of fruit and vegetables is the wireworm. If we do not take steps to keep them away from young and fragile plants, they can destroy them completely in a very short time.
A simple, cheap and effective method was used by our grandparents who planted tomatoes in onion skins.
Experienced vegetable growers improve the soil with compost and plant the young tomato plants deep into the compost. To control wireworms, they place onion skins under the roots of each plant.
The onion skins contain many microelements that are vital for plants (calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, selenium, chromium, boron, etc.) and are a natural fertiliser with bactericidal and fungicidal properties, and also a good insecticide and disinfectant.
What are the benefits of this trick?
Onion skins not only protect tomatoes as an insecticide; they are also a natural fertiliser with fungicidal and bactericidal properties.
The essential nutrients in the composition of onion skins also provide nutrition for the plants. They are rich in phosphorus, potassium and sulphur, compounds that improve the health of young plants and increase their resistance against diseases.
In addition, because of their porous structure, onion skins also help drain the soil in which the plants grow, making them very important for tomato plants, whose roots and stems are prone to rot if they are placed in soggy soil.
Onion skins contain nitrogen and calcium, which increase the fertility of the soil layer, which means not only a more abundant tomato crop, but also a much better quality one.