Guidelines for Onion Harvesting: Comprehensive Insights Revealed
In the world of gardening, onions are a popular cool-season vegetable that can be grown from seeds, sets, or transplants. To ensure the best flavor and prolonged shelf life, it's essential to understand the right time for harvesting, proper drying, and storage techniques.
When it comes to **harvesting onions**, the ideal moment is when their tops begin to yellow and fall over, signaling that bulb growth is complete and the flavor is fully developed. This usually occurs 100 to 120 days after planting, depending on the cultivar. If onions start bolting (flowering early due to stress), they should be harvested immediately to preserve flavor and texture before rot develops.
**Proper drying** is crucial for good storage quality. After harvesting, onions should be dried thoroughly in a well-ventilated area. Drying duration can vary: with heated air, it may take 2 to 3 days, whereas drying in ambient air can take a week or more. Proper curing helps strengthen the onion skins, reducing moisture loss and decay during storage.
Once dried, onions should be **stored** in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated environment. Humidity levels for onion storage should be between 65 and 70 percent for best results. Store dried onions in a wire basket, crate, or nylon bag in a temperature range of 32 to 40 F (0-4 C). Onions that have been properly dried and stored can keep for up to three months.
It's important to note that the **longer you wait to harvest green tops**, the stronger they become. Cure onions for at least two to three weeks or until the tops necks are completely dry and the outer skin on the onion becomes slightly crisp. Once cured, cut tops off to within one inch after drying is complete.
Growing onions from seed may take longer before bulbs are ready to harvest compared to growing from sets or transplants. Regardless of the method, **proper planting and care throughout the growing season** are essential for successful onion harvest.
This approach ensures optimal flavor, proper drying, and long-term storage of your onions. Contributors to this article include Susan Patterson, Amy Draiss, and Laura Walters. For those interested in growing tomatoes, a free e-book titled "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes" is available upon newsletter sign-up.
The optimal time for harvesting onions is when their tops begin to yellow and fall over, which typically occurs 100 to 120 days after planting, ensuring the best flavor and prolonged shelf life. Proper drying is crucial for good storage quality, as drying thoroughly in a well-ventilated area helps strengthen the onion skins, reducing moisture loss and decay during storage.
