Onions can be grown well in your own garden. Learn how to harvest and store it in this article.
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. 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 harvest time, however, is very different from that Onion variety addicted.
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.
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. The outer shells can dry out even better here.
Tip: Never store your onions right next to potatoes! These secrete moisture, which the dry, outer peel of the onion easily absorbs.
Onions will store shortly:
- 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!