Country Slovenia

Growing sets and seeds of Raka onion

Subtitle / abstract Agroeclogical practice explained
Domain of activity
  • Agriculture
Support of the practice documentation video, short notice of conversation
Place of experiment Raka (E Slovenia 45°55′42.74″N 15°22′56.3″E)
Description of experiment The interview with the president of local Turist association in Raka (Dolenjska region, Slovenia) was conducted to identify good practice of transfer of agroecological kowledge by help of CAP mechanisms. He explained how they managed to revive production of traditional old local variety of oninons of once well kown Raka onions. In the interview he told us a story of traditional approach of growing sets and production of seeds of local variety oninon. The story was recorded on video and is usefull for illustrating what is agroecological knowledge and the example of oral tradition transfer. .
More information The knowledge is a part od agroecological pratcices connected to Raka onion traditional growing in the past desribed in: http://sagiter.eu/intranet/wakka.php?wiki=TraditionalOnionVarietyFromRakaESlovenia&lang=en The traditional way of onion growing in Slovenia was planting of small onion bulbs called sets (čebulček) produced from the seed a year before For growing onion sets women at Raka used to select special place on the field or in the garden. They prepared a heap of straw and branches and fired it. The heat eliminated potential weeds which could compete with young onion plants from the seed during first weeks of development. Ashes also represented an isolation and fertilization of the plot. Onion sets (čebulček) were collected and dried for the next season. For the production of onion seed the best small onion bulbs (sets) were selected and planted on the edge of the field. It enabled special manitenance of elite plants and it didn't disturb regular onion production on rest of the field.
Fichier : bf_fichierjoint_PB071592.jpg Download
Succes factor A part of traditionlal knowledge about onions from Raka is documented and usable for presentation of agroecological practice. Using sets (čebulček) was necesary to produce stabile yields and good quality onions in regional pedoclimatic cicumstances. According to the informator onions grown from the sets have better aroma and even shapes of bulbs than onions from plantlets produced by direct sowing.
Met difficulties Video material is of not high quality, but important information is recorded. Production of the sets prolongs the time from the seed to the produce since it takes two seasons to get consumption onions. It poses higher risk of spreading diseases borne by bulbs.
Contact Alojz Kerin
Contact email td.lovrenc@gmail.com
Address Raka 36 a, 8274 Raka SLOVENIJA
Town Raka, Slovenia
Website http://www.tdlovrenc.com
Author of the index card dr. Janko RODE
Author Structure Chamber of agriculture and forestry of Slovenia, Gospodinjska 6, SI-100 Ljubjana, SLOVENIJA
Author Email janko.rode@kgzs.si