Harvesting and storing onions

Onions can be grown well in your own garden. Learn how to harvest and store it in this article.

Harvesting and storing onions

Let the onions dry a little so that they can be stored [Photo: liz west – CC BY 2.0] The onion ( Allium cepa ) is ideal for growing in your own garden. The season extends from spring to late summer. However, you can still enjoy your onions long after they are harvested! We’ll tell you what is important when harvesting and storing the onion.

Harvesting onions: timing and procedure

The onion harvest itself is relatively easy to do. Much more important is the timing and further handling of your finely flavored onion bulbs. Here you can find out what is important:

Time for the onion harvest

Most onion varieties are ready to be grown in mid to late August. At this point the onions can be stored. The time of harvest, however, depends heavily on the type of onion.

Harvesting and storing onions

These onions are ready to be harvested [Photo: Jim Linwood – CC BY 2.0]

Harvesting and storing onions

The time of harvest strongly depends on the type of onion [Photo: Ciarán Mooney – CC BY-SA 2.0]

Harvesting and storing onions

The onion harvest is easy and uncomplicated [Photo: Martin Pettitt – CC BY 2.0]

Procedure for the onion harvest

To harvest your onions, carefully pull them out of the ground using the remains of leaves above ground. Then you should spread out the bulbs in the bed so that you can dry them in the sun for a few days. It is important that you turn the freshly harvested onions regularly so that they dry thoroughly on all sides. When the outer layer of peel becomes slightly brittle and brown, the onions are ready to be stored.

Harvesting and storing onions

Freshly harvested onions from their own garden [Photo: Forest and Kim Starr – CC BY 2.0]

Harvesting and storing onions

Let the onions dry a little so that they can be stored [Photo: liz west – CC BY 2.0]

Harvesting and storing onions

When the outer layer of peel becomes slightly brittle and brown, the onions are ready to be stored.We recommend the following products for harvesting and optimal storage:

  • Harvest & garden basket: ideal for harvesting, easy transport and storage of fruit.
  • Vegetable box: Practical storage box in various sizes for storing vegetables.
  • Vegetable box: Stackable boxes with ventilation slots for ideal storage of different types of vegetables.

Harvesting and storing onions

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Storing onions: the optimal storage conditions

There are some mistakes when storing onions that you should definitely avoid. The onion needs a cool, dry and dark storage place to protect it from germinating again. Most basements meet these requirements. If you don’t have a cellar, you can store your self-harvested onions covered with a cloth in the pantry or kitchen. You can also store onions either hanging or lying down. If you want to store your bulbs hanging, simply tie them to the leftover leaves and hang them in a dry place. Here the outer shells can dry out even better.

Harvesting and storing onions

Store your onions in a dark, cool, dry place

Harvesting and storing onions

To hang up onions, simply tie them together at the leaf base [Photo: Frederick Lang Jr. – CC BY 2.0]

Harvesting and storing onions

The bowls can dry even better when hanging [Photo: Forest and Kim Starr – CC BY 2.0]

Tip: never store your onions right next to potatoes! These secrete moisture, which the dry, outer peel of the onion easily absorbs.

Storing onions in a nutshell:

  • Store onions in a cool, dark and dry place
  • Covered with a cloth, it can also be stored in the pantry or kitchen
  • Store onions hanging: Tie up on leftover leaves and hang in a dry place
  • Warning: do not store onions together with potatoes!

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