Good afternoon.
Today I'll write a short review of a mini garden bed for growing onions. For some, this device might be just a toy, but for others, it might be a real hit. After all, you can grow onions in a jar, or you can save money by cutting holes in a five-liter jar—that's also a unique option.
But I didn't really like the plastic bottle option, since you have to fill it with soil or sawdust, and then secure the onions in the holes. Besides, it looks best on a distant window behind a curtain. You can also sprout onions in an egg carton. I tried that option too, but I didn't like the small amount of water and the need to keep adding some. Plus, I wanted something more aesthetically pleasing, something that would sit neatly on the windowsill near the kitchen table, uncluttered, and easy to pick and eat or chop into a salad at any time.
And then I saw an "Onion Growing Bed" in a group purchase. It had 21 cells. It cost 85 rubles. I ordered it... I expected it to be made of soft plastic, like the mini greenhouses they sell for sprouting seeds—thin, fragile, and disposable.
And I was pleasantly surprised when I received a sturdy plastic box of good quality.
The lid was slightly curved, but under the weight of the bulbs it straightened out.
And it comes with a sturdy lid, with holes for the bulbs. Everything is well-made, the walls are thick, nothing bends or breaks.
I filled the container with water. Since my onions were large, I didn't fill every hole, but arranged them in a checkerboard pattern. This is what I ended up with. A couple of weeks later, a green feather sprouted. Since then, we've always had fresh onions on our windowsill and in the kitchen.
It's convenient, even while eating—you can reach in and pluck a feather, neatly and beautifully. I rarely add water; the onion roots are actively growing in the bottom bowl. The water has no odor; it's clean, beautiful, and free of flies.
I saw a similar, but more expensive option—the same sprouter, but it comes with a mini aquarium compressor. The description says that if you aerate the water in the tray, the onions grow faster, and you can harvest a larger crop. It's just that it costs 900 rubles instead of 85. But I'm quite happy with the budget option. Green onions are always on the table.
Now, with spring approaching, I want to use this tray for growing seedlings. I saw a method online for wick watering plants in these cassettes. The holes in the lid fit disposable plastic 50-gram cups comfortably.
Like this:
I plan to use this bed in this way, for seedlings or rooting cuttings.
Next winter you can grow onions again.