Lettuce, sorrel, onion, parsley, and dill are in demand among buyers all year round, especially on holidays, and in winter their price increases. Therefore, by organizing the cultivation of greens in the basement for sale, you can get good additional income. This business does not require large investments or special knowledge. And if growing lettuce or sorrel can cause difficulties for an inexperienced farmer, then even a beginner can grow onions in the basement.
How to grow onions in the basement
A novice businessman cannot afford bright, heated greenhouses. For residents of the private sector, growing greens in winter is easier to organize in the basement of the house. If you don't know how to grow greens in the basement, start by cultivating easy-to-care crops. First of all, study the technology of forcing onions into feathers. Having achieved good results in growing green onions in the basement, you can begin cultivating other greens and even cucumbers and tomatoes.
Preparing the racks
Multi-tiered racks significantly save space in the basement, allowing you to get the maximum yield from a small area. Shelving is easier to work with and it is easier to install a lighting system on them. To make it more convenient to care for plantings and harvest, leave a distance of at least 1 meter between them.
The dimensions of the structures should be such that you can reach the plants without difficulty: the width is 1.0-2.0 m for racks with access from both sides, and half as much for those standing along the wall. The length of the structure depends on the size of the basement.
Leave a distance between shelves of at least 0.5 m. You should not build structures with a large number of tiers in the basement. Their height should be such that the plants on the top shelf can be reached without a stepladder. It is most convenient to care for racks in 2 tiers. For example, in racks for growing onions, the first tier is placed at a distance of about 1 m from the ground, the second - 0.5 m higher.
The cheapest and easiest shelving material to work with is wood. For beginners who are yet to master growing greens in the basement, it is recommended to start with wooden structures as they are less expensive. Although they are inferior in strength to metal racks and, being installed in the basement, are susceptible to fungi and mold.
Therefore, metal is used to build a solid, strong and durable structure. It is more expensive than wood, more difficult to work with and has to be protected from corrosion. To make racks, use corners measuring at least 50 x 50 x 5 mm, fastening them by welding or a metal drill. The edges of the corners are treated to prevent cuts. Finished racks are painted to protect them from rust.
The shelves are constructed from strong boards and equipped with sides about 10 cm high on the outer sides. Then they are covered with polyethylene, wrapping it over the sides, and soil is poured on top.
Landing
To grow greens in the basement, use garden soil with the addition of sand and peat or a special soil mixture. The best varieties with a short ripening period are selected for planting. Planting material for lettuce, sorrel, dill, onions and other green crops is specially prepared for rapid germination.
Growing onions in the basement is a simple process. To force onion feathers, select small heads up to 5 cm in size without signs of spoilage or mold damage. The upper part of the bulbs is cut off by 1.0-1.5 cm, vertical cuts are made at the cut points, then soaked for 2 hours in warm water.
Plant the bulbs close to each other without covering them with soil. You can take garden soil, a mixture of peat, leaf and turf soil, or even pure sand, since the growth of greenery will occur due to the reserves of nutrients in the bulb.
Important! To prevent the occurrence of diseases, onions are watered with a pink solution of potassium permanganate after planting.
Parsley and dill seeds are coated with essential oils that prevent their germination. Planted without preparation, they can sprout in the basement only after 2-3 weeks. To remove essential oil from the surface of the seeds, they are thoroughly washed with warm (about +40°C) water and then soaked for a day.
You can use bubbling parsley and dill seeds for 24 hours in oxygenated water. An aquarium compressor is used for this.
Sorrel seeds are soaked for 2 days, lettuce seeds for 12 hours.
Maintaining optimal conditions
To form the root system, during the first week the onions are kept in a dark and cool room at a temperature of +10°...+12°C. After the first leaf comes out, turn on the light and raise the temperature in the basement to +20°...+25°C.
The onion watering system in the basement determines the quality and growth rate of feathers:
- if you water it with water at a temperature of +12°...+17°C, then the greenery will form strong, dark green in color, but it grows slowly, it will be possible to harvest only in a month;
- When watered with warm water at a temperature of +30°...+35°C, the first harvest of greenery in the basement is cut off within half a month, but the feather will turn out to be thin, light green.
Important! Water so that water does not fall on the growing points of the bulbs, otherwise they may rot.
Lighting in the basement is maintained for 10-15 hours. Their color and taste depend on how much light the plants receive. Use fluorescent or phytolamps. Incandescent lamps do not provide the required amount of light in the basement and heat the plants, disturbing the microclimate. A lamp is essential for every herb drawer. The duration of illumination is set depending on the characteristics of growing lettuce, dill, parsley, sorrel and other green crops.
To improve lighting in your basement, professionals recommend covering surfaces with reflective material, such as foil. Light sources are placed from above so that the plants stretch upward and not to the side.
Growing onions is accompanied by a strong unpleasant odor in the basement, so good ventilation should be established. Turn on the fan periodically to improve air circulation.
Having mastered forcing onions to grow greens in the basement, you can begin growing green crops that are more difficult to care for. For planting, you need high-quality soil in larger quantities than for onions. The soil must be fertile; it is better to use soil mixtures specially formulated for individual green crops. In addition, good drainage is required to avoid stagnation of water and rotting of the plant root system.
It is preferable to use hydroponics in the basement, then you will not have to use a large amount of land. Plants receive nutrients from trays of water by touching it only with their roots. Each type of plant requires its own composition of minerals. The disadvantage is that the hydroponics device is expensive.
A more budget-friendly option for hydroponics is the use of expanded clay. It absorbs and releases moisture well, is lightweight (there will be no significant load on the racks) and relatively inexpensive.
Plant care is carried out depending on their type and characteristics of the variety.
Collection
When the plantings of green onions reach a height of 30 cm, the harvest is harvested. The roots of the bulbs are cut off, then the greens are separated.
Dill is harvested 45-50 days after sowing the seeds, parsley and cilantro - after a month, lettuce - after 25 days, spinach - when the number of leaves in the rosettes is more than 5.
Before harvesting the greenery, the beds are watered abundantly. After 5-6 hours, the plants with roots are pulled out, digging up the bush with a spatula, the roots are cleared of soil, then they are placed in prepared containers with the leaves facing up. To ensure that the greens retain their marketable appearance for a week, the roots of the plants are placed in water with fertilizer and an aspirin tablet. Store in a cool, dark place, such as a cellar.
Conclusion
Since greens are a perishable product, buyers need to be looked for in advance. You can agree on regular deliveries of products to cafes, shops, market sellers, or sell them yourself. Green onions are most in demand among buyers, followed by dill, and parsley in third place. Lettuce, basil, cilantro, spinach, and sorrel are becoming increasingly popular on the market.
Considering the popularity and high cost of greens on the market all year round, a business based on growing them in the basement is profitable and stable. The starting capital is small, and the invested funds will be returned after the sale of the first batches of products. It is recommended to use the first profit for business development. In the future, income will increase. The cost of production will consist of the costs of electricity, fertilizers, seed material, packaging and transportation.
Peter Kravets
Reading time: 3 minutes
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Various products are often grown in the basements and cellars of private houses. In such conditions, the growth of mushrooms, cucumbers, strawberries and the cultivation of greens is possible. In particular, you can grow green onions, which are a source of essential vitamins in the winter season.
The basement needs to be adapted for growing, which will require equipment for shelving, selection of planting material, planting and caring for the bulbs. Let's consider the features of the work before growing onions in the basement of a private house.
Shelving equipment
Shelving is the most convenient way to organize basement space when growing products there. They can be arranged in several tiers, which will give an advantage over other methods of arranging onion containers.
With this arrangement, maintenance and installation of additional equipment and lighting systems become very convenient. Harvesting also becomes convenient.
It is very easy to make such shelves with your own hands; there are practically no differences from standard designs, with the exception of tiers of shelves.
Dimensions and number of tiers
First of all, the size of the rack depends on the dimensions of the entire basement room. Some other features should be taken into account:
- Sufficient distance between shelves, especially when racks are located next to each other. The minimum space that must be left for convenient passage and harvesting is one meter;
- The length of the rack may vary depending on the volume of products grown and the walls of the basement;
- The width of the shelves should be calculated based on the planned mounting to the wall. If the placement is close to the wall, then a size of half a meter or a meter is sufficient. If access is from both sides of the shelf, then this figure can be doubled. When calculating the width of the shelf, you must remember that there must be a comfortable passage between the racks;
- The height of the rack is considered taking into account the dimensions of the basement or cellar. The optimal placement is on two floors, then cleaning and caring for the crop will be comfortable and will not require stepladders and ladders. The first tier is made 1 meter, and the second is placed half a meter from it.
The length of the rack can be any, and the width and height must be selected in each specific case, based on the convenience of work. The passage between the shelves should not be difficult, and their width should not interfere with harvest care.
Selecting material for shelving
The main requirement for a rack is its reliability and stability. The strength of the structure is ensured by choosing the right material. The simplest is the wooden version, which can be easily performed even by people without experience in construction and installation.
Wood is inexpensive, and it is very easy to work with - processing with compounds and fastening does not require much labor. But compared to metal, the strength of such a wooden structure is much less, and besides, wood is often susceptible to mold and mildew.
Each of the tiers is equipped with sides on the sides, each height is about 10 centimeters. A polyethylene film is placed on the tier, which can be tucked on the sides.
The substrate for the growth of the bulbs will be poured onto this coating. The floors of the tiers require special attention, since they bear the entire load of the product, substrate and moisture for its impregnation.
The thickness of the boards must be at least half a centimeter to avoid damage to the material. Boards can be placed with some distance from each other, but not more than 2 centimeters. Then you can save on wooden elements.
Metal racks are characterized by increased lightness and strength of their design. They are equipped if onions are grown not once, but on an ongoing basis. The durable design perfectly withstands any weight of the placed product, but the material at its base is quite expensive.
Susceptibility to corrosion can be eliminated with special solutions that are used to treat all metal surfaces. Building such a structure is more difficult than its wooden counterpart, but such work can be done with your own hands, knowing the nuances of working with metal.
Construction of metal shelving
Welding or fasteners can be used to fasten structural parts together. All sharp edges must be processed to avoid injury to the owner's hands. To assemble a metal rack, corners with dimensions of 50*509*5 are used to increase reliability. For horizontal evenness, you need to use a building level to avoid distortions.
After assembling the rack, it must be painted to protect it from moisture that appears when growing onions. To reduce the cost of work, you can use scrap metal, or combine various materials in accordance with your own ideas about the future design.
Processing of planting material and planting in the substrate
Green onions in the basement are planted both in the ground and in a hydroponic mixture, but given the ease of work when growing onions in the basement, it will be easier to plant them in the soil. For these purposes, you can use simple garden soil to which peat and sand have been added. You can replace this mixture with a special substrate.
The bulbs are chosen in small sizes, no more than 5 centimeters in diameter. All material is sorted, rejecting damaged specimens and visible mold spots. After selection, the top of all bulbs is cut off by one centimeter and placed in warm water.
After these preparatory procedures, the material is ready for planting. The bulbs are placed close to each other, not completely buried in the ground, but leaving the top above the ground. The soil is fertilized before planting and after 10-14 days.
Optimal conditions
Growing onions requires a certain temperature regime, which affects the speed of obtaining the first harvest of feathers. The recommended temperature is 20-25 degrees above zero, in which case the onion will be ready for cutting in three weeks.
If you initially set the temperature to 15 degrees, the root system will actively grow. As soon as the feathers begin to sprout, you can raise the temperature to 25 degrees.
Maintaining the desired temperature in the basement is quite easy, since in summer the temperature is already kept around the specified values, and in winter it is enough to slightly warm up the room. The top and bottom racks must be at the same temperature, otherwise growth and ripening will be different on the same rack.
Lighting for growing bulbs
Another factor influencing feather growth is light. Illumination of the bow is necessary, although this leads to additional costs for electricity. All greenery requires light to grow, and the longer the daylight hours, the more actively the greenery grows.
You need to plant the bulbs taking into account the fact that the minimum daylight hours for them will be 10-15 hours. Maintaining this duration will improve the taste characteristics of the grown crop. Experts recommend covering all surfaces with a material that reflects light. Then you can save on lighting equipment.
All illumination sources are placed at the top so that the pen is smooth and straight. Incandescent lamps are not used because they heat the crop.
Green onions are very useful, especially during the cold season, they have a huge variety of beneficial properties. It will also add piquancy and originality to your dishes. In summer it can be purchased in absolutely any store or market, but in winter it is quite difficult to find such a plant. That is why growing green onions at home in winter is an excellent option not only to provide your family with vitamins and give them happiness, but also to earn money.
The main thing is to comply with the rules of its cultivation, and as for the demand, there will always be demand for such products.
In addition, the onion business has many advantages:
- such a business does not require significant financial investments, since it does not need special devices;
- regular income, since the products are in high demand;
- no special skills required and so on.
Business can bring happiness!
Basically, such a business is used as an additional income, which over time can become the main one and bring you not only money, but also happiness. The main thing is that to start a business, you just need medium-sized bulbs, a container and water. The more bulbs you plant, the more green harvest you will get.
There is no need for a special care system for this green plant; you just need to make sure there is enough water. You can plant it on the windowsill of an apartment or on a balcony, select a separate room, or plant it in the garage. Planting bulbs in special greenhouses is especially popular. Each of these options has its own characteristics.
Growing green onions in a greenhouse
In order to start the business of growing greens in a greenhouse in winter, you first need to purchase bulbs, you can have different varieties, but it is better to choose those that allow you to get good results.
The technology for growing onions for sale is quite simple, and it can also be done using hydroponics. The most popular varieties for growing in a greenhouse are shallots and batun onions; they differ only in the type of feather. 
Since such a plant does not require a lot of soil, it can be grown in winter not only in beds, but also on special racks in a greenhouse, thus, a huge amount of greenery can be grown in one greenhouse. The best soil option is a mixture of sandy soil with humus or waste compost. The hydroponics system is about producing greens for sale without the help of soil.
If you still choose soil, then before planting, the bulbs must be placed in warm water for a day, and the soil must also be moistened. But all this must be done in moderation; there should be no standing water on the ground, as this can lead to rotting of the bulb. The distance between the rows should be 10-15 cm.
At the same time, you should not water the onions too often, the optimal period is 4-5 days, you also need to monitor the light and temperature in the greenhouse, and after 25-30 days, you will be able to harvest for sale.
Green onions in the garage or basement
You can plant greens in the basement in winter; onion cultivation has a simple technology; the main thing is to create the necessary atmosphere for this. The most convenient option would be to install shelving there. This also applies to the method of planting this plant in the garage.
This way, you can make the most of all the space in your garage or basement. In this case, hydroponics systems are very convenient. Growing onions in the basement has a significant advantage - proximity to your own home, and therefore the opportunity to constantly monitor the process, as well as positive temperatures in the basement. The only downside to growing green onions at home in winter is the lighting of the room, since it is artificial.
If you are going to grow herbs for sale in the garage in winter, then in addition to light, you also need warmth. After all, you need to provide it with the required temperature, so the garage is not the best place to plant it. But still, if there is nowhere else, then you can do it in the garage, just remember that the bulbs here will need special care. Happiness can be found anywhere, even by planting your plant in the garage.
Technologies for growing onions using the bridge method
Greens are often grown in greenhouses using the bridge method, as it is ideal for producing large quantities from a small area of land. The essence of the bridge method is that the bulbs are planted very close to each other. At the same time, they don’t even have to be buried deep; you can simply lay them on the ground and press them lightly. 
For growing using the bridge method at home, onions are the most suitable; consumption is expected to be approximately 10 kg per 1 sq. m. m. But the main thing is that the crop grown using the bridge method will be about 8 kg per 1 sq. m. m., greenery. This is a pretty good result, since the cost of greens is several times higher than the cost of onions themselves.
Do it right!
At the same time, you need to plant the bulbs correctly using the bridge method and properly care for them. In order for the bulbs to grow faster, you can cut off their top part, and within a month after planting you can start your business.
Whatever method you choose, be it pavement or using a hydroponics system, such a business will still bring good income, and therefore happiness to the family! You just need to properly care for the onions.
Thus, without any special difficulties, after some time, you will be able to fully provide for yourself and your family, and give happiness to your loved ones. You can sell eco-friendly, clean greens by delivering them to markets, shops, catering establishments, or you can sell them yourself on the market.
When you already gain experience in this matter, you will be able to expand your business and thereby increase your profit from it. After all, what a blessing it is to have your own business that brings good profits!
Now the time has come to harvest the harvest, which will now go for storage in the basement and cellar. The most common vegetable that goes into the cellar for storage is onions. Some summer residents and gardeners, especially if they have grown and harvested them for the first time, do not know how to properly store onions.
Storing onions in the basement will be successful if certain conditions are met.
If you suddenly have neither a cellar nor a basement, you can store onions directly in your house or apartment. The cellar has undeniable advantages over home storage of vegetables. At home and in your apartment, you can only store small volumes of onion vegetables. The cellar will allow you to increase them many times over. In addition, it is the conditions in which the onion vegetable will be stored until spring in the home cellar that allows you to save all the vitamins that this vegetable is rich in.
Preparing onions for storage
In order for the harvest to please you throughout the winter and even spring, you need to know the rules for effectively preserving vegetables in your apartment.
When collecting different varieties of onions, it is important to follow some rules. Regardless of the variety, under no circumstances should you pull a vegetable out of the ground. Otherwise, the bulbs may be seriously damaged, and their shelf life in the cellar or at home will be significantly reduced. When harvesting vegetables, it is important to pay attention to each bulb separately. They are carefully dug out using a small spatula. You need to make sure that the bulbs are not thrown and are not damaged against one another.
The shelf life of onions at home or in the cellar directly depends on the variety. Therefore, if you have several varieties growing in your garden, you need to sort them. And send it for storage in the same way.
Sweeter varieties do not have long shelf life. When stored for a long time, they are often susceptible to disease. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be possible to preserve such onion varieties for a long time, until January at the most.
Regarding the more vigorous varieties, this is a completely different matter. Such species can easily lie in the house and in the cellar all winter, completely intact.
Different varieties of onions require different storage conditions
Before storing onions in the cellar (or if you decide to store them at home), you need to carry out preparatory work. First, the bulbs are thoroughly dried in the sun or indoors. If you do not have a cellar, but do have a garage, it is not recommended to store vegetables in it. Such onions will be unhealthy. The bulbs are dried for two weeks. Next they are processed: the leaves are cut off, but not completely. There should be a head left on the bulb, the height of which is 5 cm.
Before storing onions in the cellar for a long time, select them. Not only sort by grade, as already mentioned. Among the total volume there are onions unsuitable for storage. Only dense bulbs that look healthy and whose scales fit fairly tightly to each other can be stored.
Regardless of how many varieties of onions will be planted, one or several, they are sorted by size. It's easy to do at home. The remaining vegetables that are of “different calibers” will be stored in another place, in a drawer.
To protect the onion vegetable from moisture, it is sprinkled with crushed chalk.
Basic rules and conditions for storing various varieties of onions in the cellar.
We have roughly figured out how to store onions in a cellar or apartment, but it is important to comply with all the conditions.
Once you have decided where to store the onions (at home or in the cellar), prepare wooden boxes into which they will be sorted. Sometimes it is stored in thick and opaque bags, decide what is more convenient for you.
Onions are conveniently stored in a box
Ways to Preserve Onions
The main ways to store this vegetable are:
- How to preserve onions for a long time? Place it in boxes. The main thing is that a sufficient amount of air reaches the vegetables, since they must be stored in the most comfortable conditions. It is important that the height of the onions placed in the boxes does not exceed 50 cm. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the lowest layers will be locked. Make sure that the bottom of the box does not touch the cellar floor and that the sides of the box do not touch the walls of the storage room.
- Onions can also be stored in thick bags. The bag must be made of durable and opaque fabric. For storage, it is poured into bags (literally several kilograms each).
- How to store onions in winter? There is another way. Egg containers are used for this. And simply, instead of eggs, an onion is placed in each compartment. If the cellar area allows, then racks are installed in it, on which containers will be stored.
- The last, no less effective way to preserve vegetables for the winter is braiding. This method is truly an art. Weaving braids from onions allows you to save them all winter.
Do not forget about the ventilation of the cellar or room where the onions will be stored. It is strictly forbidden to store any types of onions in a damp or poorly ventilated area. The vegetable will lose its beneficial properties or completely deteriorate.
Onions in braids are perfectly preserved all winter
The most optimal condition in which onions can be stored is an air temperature of +3 degrees. At this temperature, not only onions are stored, but also many other vegetables that are stored for the winter. Therefore, maintaining the temperature in an apartment, house or cellar is very important.
Look into your cellar from time to time and check the bulbs. If you come across soft vegetables, they should be removed. If the onion suddenly becomes wet, take it out and dry it thoroughly. The cellar must be ventilated.
If the cellar room is too wet, scatter lime or crushed chalk on the floor and corners. This will eliminate moisture.
When dry scales accumulate in the cellar over time, do not rush to clean up the mess. It is recommended to leave these scales, they will also help in the fight against moisture.
Onion peels accumulated in the basement will remove excess moisture
Leeks and features of their storage
The rules for storing onions and leeks at home are somewhat different. To store leeks, drop them a little into wet sand. The temperature requirements are the same.
To ensure that the vegetable lasts until spring, it is important to harvest it when it is not fully ripe.
Thus, the beneficial substances that this vegetable is so rich in will saturate it and last for a long time. Leeks can remain safe and sound in the cellar for up to six months.
Before planting, the roots are cut off, leaving a length of several centimeters. If yellow leaves appear, remove them.
Now, the leek bulbs are ready for planting. In the cellar, prepare a sufficient amount of wet sand to bury the vegetable in it. It is recommended to disinfect the sand first. After this, dig the onion vertically into the prepared sand.
Thus, you organize an artificial bed in the cellar.
Leeks at home are stored in similar conditions as onions. Air humidity is 70 percent, air temperature is 3 degrees. Make sure that the sun does not hit the vegetables.
As you can see, preserving onions is not a complicated process. The main thing is to follow the basic storage conditions, and then this vegetable will feed you all winter, and even spring.
Green onions are deservedly considered the most popular greens in the autumn-winter period. Remember how in childhood we grew it on the windowsill in jars. But if you want to build your own business growing green onions, jars are no longer enough.
Green onions can give very good profit. Sometimes profitability reaches 400-700%, but for this you need to work hard. Although there is nothing fundamentally difficult about this.
Ideally, green onions should be grown or grown in heated and light greenhouses. Growing or forcing green onions in a greenhouse is the topic of a separate article, so now I will focus on the method of producing greens in the basement, cellar or garage. When I decided to start my own business of forcing green onions, I was faced with a problem: I don’t have money for a greenhouse! Then I seriously thought about my cellar.
So, my cellar or basement, in my opinion, was ideal for growing onion greens. The dimensions of the basement working area, which I allocated for myself for gardening, were only 2 by 2 meters. That is, only four square meters of total area, including the space between the shelves.
I decided to grow onions on racks. For this purpose, two three-tier racks were built.
About what shelving is needed for growing green onions written here. Growing greens on racks is the best way to get maximum profit from a minimum amount of space. And if you are going to force green onions in the basement, cellar or garage, then you simply cannot do without racks. You won't plant onions directly on the floor, and you won't pour soil directly onto the floor, will you?
Among the positive aspects of growing green onions in basements and cellars, it is worth noting the ease of heating the premises. In a normal basement the temperature is always above zero. While it can be 20 degrees below zero outside. Accordingly, it is much easier to heat the air from +5 to +20 than from 20 degrees below zero to 20 degrees above zero.
The second advantage of a basement (if it is under the house) is ease of use.
And among the main disadvantages is the need for artificial lighting. Artificial lighting is vital for obtaining high-quality onion greens.
When you have resolved all the technical issues of arranging your basement, cellar or garage, you can begin to directly plant onions.
Onions grow in the basement the same way as in the greenhouse. Onion planting technology for forcing onto a pen it is no different. Just as it is no different technology for its collection.
The economic side of the business of forcing green onions is also quite extensive. In short, we can only say that if you make at least minimal effort, you will not be left at a loss.
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