Onions are easy to grow in your own garden. This article tells you how to proceed with harvesting and storage.
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've been picked! We will tell you what is important when harvesting and storing the onion.
Harvesting onions: when and how to do it
The onion harvest itself is relatively easy to do. Much more important is the point in time and the further handling of your fine-spicy onion bulbs. Here you can find out what is important:
Time for the onion harvest
Most onion varieties are ready to be grown by mid to late August. At this point the onions can be stored. The time of harvest, however, depends greatly on the onion variety dependent.
How to harvest onions
To harvest your bulbs, gently pull them out of the ground by the above-ground leaf debris. Then you should spread the onion bulbs in the bed so that they can dry 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 skin is slightly brittle and brown, the onions are ready to be stored.
Storing onions: The optimal storage conditions
When storing onions, there are some mistakes 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 available, you can also store your self-harvested onions in the pantry or kitchen covered with a cloth. You can also store onions either hanging or lying flat. If you want to store your bulbs hanging, simply tie them together by the remains of the leaves and hang in a dry place. The outer shells can also dry better here.
Tip: Never store your onions right next to potatoes! These secrete moisture, which the dry, outer skins of the onion easily absorb.
Onions will store shortly:
- Store onions in a cool, dark and dry place
- Can also be stored in the pantry or kitchen covered with a cloth
- Store onions hanging: tie together to leftover leaves and hang in a dry place
- Attention: Do not store onions together with potatoes!
