Harvest and store onions
You can get ready-made onions from garden shops. Proper harvesting and storage is an important part of successful self-cultivation.
When the onions are ripe
Did the sowing work and the Onions have grown well, harvesting can begin.
- The correct time is from July to September.
- The finished tubers must not be larger than two centimeters in diameter. Otherwise they will be unusable as they tend to flower easily after planting out.
- A sure sign of maturity is the wilted, yellow herb.
- Remove the onions in sunny and warm weather.
- Once harvested, they remain on the bed to dry.
Reap the rewards
- Use the right tool. The best way to remove the onions from the ground is with a digging fork.
- Use fork properly. Place this on the ground in front of the onion sets. Push the device about halfway into the ground by pressing down with one foot. Move it back and forth until the bottom loosens.
- Tubers to harvest. To do this, lift up the soil with the onions. Now these can be easily removed.
- Let the fruits dry. Remove the coarse soil by gently shaking it. If the weather is sunny, the harvest remains on the bed for a few days. In wet weather, move them to a dry and airy place.
Onions are the number one vegetable on German plates and also really ...
Store onions properly
Examine the onion sets for damage or rot. Sort out the useful ones. Remove the soil and loose pods. Separate the foliage at least two inches above the bulb. With this measure you prevent the head rot, which often occurs during storage. The foliage must not be too short.
Keep the fruits in a dark and cool place. It is important that they get air from all sides. Suitable temperatures are one to three degrees Celsius. The ideal humidity is 70 percent. Ripe tubers can withstand temperatures down to minus six degrees Celsius for a short time. Avoid excessive heat.
An unheated cellar or attic is ideally suited as a storage room. If possible, do not touch the onions during the storage period. Otherwise, pressure points can arise that later rot.
Decide on a final storage location until use. If you relocate, you must expect a loss of aroma and taste.
Tips for growing the onion set
When sowing, make sure that the soil is loose, herb-free and finely crumbly. A short distance between the seeds is good. If these have little space to grow, the onions will stay small until they are harvested.
If the soil is loose and rich in oxygen, fungal diseases do not spread as easily as mildew and onion rot. Care should be taken when raking the soil. The fruits are shallow roots and develop delicate foliage. Injuries are good conditions for putrefaction and disease.
Home grown onions are not only interesting for organic gardeners. With proper storage, the onions will stay fresh for a long time after harvest.
