The time is different every year: when to harvest onions and how to store them properly

Onions are an unpretentious crop, but to ensure that the harvest lasts long enough, it is important not to miss the right harvest time. Onions have a rather juicy texture, so they are not an easy vegetable to store.

Under certain conditions, such as in basements or cellars, onions will keep well and will not sprout. However, it is not always easy to achieve the optimal temperature and humidity, and many people are forced to store their crops at home or on balconies at best. Experts told us when to start harvesting.

When to harvest onions

You should not focus only on a certain calendar date. This is not entirely correct because weather conditions vary every year.

If you pick the onions too early, they may not reach the right size, and if you pick them too late, there is a risk that they will not be stored for long.

You should start harvesting when the feathers on most of the bulbs are already beginning to dry out - this signals that the fruits have fully gained their flavor. Yellow feathers indicate that the bulbs will not grow anymore, and excessive delay can ruin the harvest, especially when the rainy season arrives.

After the rainfall, the bulbs will take on too much moisture, so they won't last long.

Completely dry tops also indicate that you are a little late in harvesting. You will have to dig up the bulbs instead of pulling them out.

Harvesting mistakes

The bulbs should not be hit one against other to remove excess soil - this can be very harmful to the fruit.

Do not water the beds before harvesting. Stop watering at least a week in advance.

It is better not to harvest onions in the afternoon and evening hours. Gardeners advise picking them in the morning, as both the soil and the fruit will cool down overnight, making it easier to pull them out.

How to store onions

All the harvested onions, along with the tops, should be laid out on a cloth or in a row. They should not be stacked too tightly so that the fruits are well ventilated and dry. Please note that the onions should not be exposed to direct sunlight, and the storing place should be dry and warm.

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