How to Harvest and Store Onions

They are ready to store when the skins are papery, the leaves are completely shrivelled up, and the roots are wiry and dry. At this stage you should cut off the roots and remove any loose skin. If you want to store your bulbs as onion strings, cut the stems to within two or three inches (5-7cm) of the neck of the bulb.

How do you store onions after harvesting?
How do you prepare onions for storage?
Do you wash onions before storing?
How long before you can harvest onions?
When should you lift onions?
How long do you hang onions to dry?
What happens if I don't harvest onions?
Should I cut the flowers off my onions?
Where should onions and potatoes be stored?

How do you store onions after harvesting?

Pungent onions that will be stored for the winter need to be cured for two to four weeks. A good storage onion stored properly will retain its eating quality for 10 to 12 months. For best results, onions should be stored in a dark, cool space (35 to 40 degrees F) like a cellar, garage or shed.

How do you prepare onions for storage?

Spread the onions in a single layer on a clean, dry surface. Let them dry for two or three weeks until the necks are dry and the skin is papery. After they are cured, storing onions can be done in a couple of different ways. Cut off the tops or necks of the onions after they are cured.

Do you wash onions before storing?

Don't wash your onions or garlic before you store them. Keep them very dry. While in Storage Check and cull them often to make sure the onions and garlic are not sprouting or developing soft spots. Remove and eat any damaged bulbs.

How long before you can harvest onions?

Bulb onion harvest time can begin when onion tops naturally fall over and brown. This is usually 100 to 120 days after planting, depending on the cultivar. Onion harvest time should be early in the morning when temperatures are not too hot.

When should you lift onions?

Although it's sometimes suggested to bend over the foliage or gently lift the bulbs to break the roots, this is no longer recommended. Instead, lift the bulbs before the foliage completely dies down. Place them on a rack in full sun outdoors or in a well-ventilated greenhouse for about two weeks to ripen.

How long do you hang onions to dry?

You can hang the onions in bunches, or spread them out on a rack to cure—whichever works best for you. Allow the onions to dry for two to three weeks, or until the tops and necks feel dry to the touch and the outer onion skin is shrunken and papery.

What happens if I don't harvest onions?

An interesting fact about onions is that if you choose to leave a mature onion in the ground over the Winter, rather than harvest it, it will begin to multiply. It forms sections, much like garlic cloves, that can be dug up, seperated and replanted each Spring. ... Onion plants also go to seed if left unharvested.

Should I cut the flowers off my onions?

Once your onions bolt, their bulbs stop growing and their storage capacity diminishes. Bending over or cutting off the flower stalk won't re-initiate bulb development. ... That said, onions that have flowered are still edible.

Where should onions and potatoes be stored?

Keep them in the dark: Potatoes and onions are best stored in the dark in a cool place (separately of course). If you have a basement, this is a great place to store them!