Onions are a common cool-season vegetable that can be grown from seeds or sets. They are an easy-to-grow and manage plant that, when properly harvested, can serve as a kitchen staple throughout the winter and fall seasons.
Obviously, the success of your onion harvest will be linked to proper planting and treatment all through the growth period. Rich soil, consistent moisture, and cool temperatures all aid in bulb growth.
Aside from proper planting, you must also know when to collect onions for the best flavor profile. When the foliage begins to become yellow and the bulb appears to be pushing out of the growing medium, your onions are ready to be harvested.
Knowing When to Harvest Onions
Harvest green onion tops when they reach 15 cm in height. The green tops become tougher the longer you take to harvest them. As the epidermis on the bulbs matures, the leaves should wither naturally.
While onion tops gradually fall over and brown, it is time to harvest bulb onions. Take the bulbs from the soil with care. Lay them on their edges for a few days to allow the soil at their bottom to dry out.
Harvesting onions should take place early in the morning when weather conditions are not too sunny. Furthermore, any bulbs with flower stalks should be removed and used immediately because they are not suitable for storage.
Learning How to Harvest and Store Onions
Pull the onions carefully from the ground, keeping the tops intact. You don’t want to hurt the onion bulbs, so gently shake the soil away from them.
Onions must be dried after harvesting before they can be stored. To begin the curing process, spread them out on a hygienic, dry surface in an adequately ventilated area.
Onions should be cured for at least three weeks, or until the tops of the onion are fully dry and the surface layer becomes a little crisp. When you notice that they have completely cured, remove the tops off within about 2.5 cm.
Dried onions should be stored in a wire basket, box, or fabric bag at a temperature no higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid rotting and achieve the best results, humidity levels should be somewhere around 65 and 70 percent.
Most onions can be dried and stored properly for up to three months. What counts most is that you keep the onions in a cool, dry area so they don’t rot and can last for so many weeks.
