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7/5/12

How To Harvest Onions

I'm sure everyone can figure out how to pull onions. The best time to do this is when
the leaves have flopped over. This is when the plants stop growing and start preparing for winter.

You can lay the plants on top of the soil where you pulled them up if the weather is going to be dry. The necks will begin to tighten and the foliage yellows. Let them dry for a week or two. If your weather is wet or frost is possible, harvest your onions and move them where they will stay dry.

Spread the onions out in a single layer and let them “cure” for two weeks. During this time the necks will wither and turn brown, and the papery skins will tighten around the bulbs. Once the necks have dried and there’s no more moisture in the stem or leaves, you can bring your onions indoors and store them in mesh bags or bushel baskets. Keep them cool (35 to 45 degrees F.) and away from light.

I pulled mine and hung them on a piece of fencing to cure.


Now I have to figure out what to do with all my potatoes. My basement stays cool but not 50-60 degrees cool.


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6 comments:

  1. Those are some nice onions! I sure hope that mine get that big this year. I keep my potatoes in the basement. Once fall arrives and the temps drop, I'm going to put mine in the stairwell to the outside from the basement. I think I will cover them to keep them warmer over the winter.

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    1. I'm going to try planting more onions for a fall harvest and see who it goes. I'm going to store my potatoes in the basement, just not sure how. I won't have to worry about keeping them warm. I need to keep them cool.

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  2. Nothing like a good onion harvest - beautiful onions.

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    1. Thanks Chili! It's the first time we've ever grown regular onions.

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  3. Congrats on a great onion harvest,their such a useful crop and you will be enjoying them for a ages !

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    1. Thanks Andrea. It always feels good to successfully grow vegetables for my family. They taste so much better also!

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