Harvest Onions

[etdeb]

We are pulling 10 to 15 per day. How can we dry them to over time. I want to dry whole and not dehydrated.

 

[Martinhouse]

Dry and dehydrate mean pretty much the same thing and I don't think a whole onion would dry before it rotted. If you are wanting to store them, maybe you mean you want to cure them, not dry them? If that is the case, I think it depends on what type of onion you have. Some are made to store well but some are not.

 

[summerthyme]

Martinhouse is correct. IF they are a storage variety, leave them in a warm, dry, shady place... on a pallet or board, not on concrete or damp soil. Once they are cured (generally a week or so) the outer skins will be dry and somewhat loose. Knock any dirt off the roots, trim the dried tops and store in baskets or mesh bags in the coolest place you have.

If you don't have anyplace cooler than room temperature, they really need to be refrigerated to keep for long.

If they are a sweet variety, refrigerate them and plan on using them up within a month or two...

Summerthyme

 

[etdeb]

You are correct I should have ask about curing.

 

[duchess47]

I pulled mine, let them dry for a few days, braided the tops, six to eight in a string and hung them in my pantry. Lasted for months. These were yellow and white varieties, I never tried red onions.

 

[duchess47]

How to Braid Onions

Braiding onions instructions and pictures. Help your harvest last longer!

www.almanac.com

 

[summerthyme]

How to Braid Onions

Braiding onions instructions and pictures. Help your harvest last longer!

www.almanac.com

I love having braided onions for kitchen use and storage management! You can easily pick out the size onion you require, and sprouting onions (or, God forbid, rotting ones) can be spotted and easily removed.

But around here, we get enough rain the tops rot quickly after falling over. Plus, I've been growing 4-8 bushels yearly, and it just is simpler and faster to put them in 10# mesh bags.

Summerthyme

 

[Meemur]

Not my photo, but I have a similar set-up under my basement stairs.
I still have dozens of panty hose. This is how I'm recycling them.

 

[West]

Sweet red/purple and large red/purple onions are the best!

Just my preference.

I've kept onions for many months in our pantry in hanging wire baskets.

 

[philkar]

Not my photo, but I have a similar set-up under my basement stairs.
I still have dozens of panty hose. This is how I'm recycling them.

View attachment 412976

I store onion, shallots, and garlic in hose hung in shed while cool but as it heats up have to store in designated fridge! Gets too hot and humid here. But I grow mostly sweet onions.