Onions are versatile vegetables that can be grown in a garden or yard and are used in many dishes.You will need to harvest and cure the onions if you want to cook with them.Adding garden-grown onions to your next meal is possible if done correctly.
Step 1: It's a good idea to harvest onions in the late summer.
Before the first frost, you should harvest onions that are mature.In the summer, onions should be ready if you planted them in the spring.If you wait until the end of summer when onions are fully mature, you'll be able to harvest and eat onions at any phase of their growth.
Step 2: Pull onions that produce flowers.
If onions are left in the ground, they will rot.It is important to use onions that form flowers within 3-4 days.When an onion plant grows flowers, it is a sign that the onion has stopped growing and the plant is focused on the flowers.The growth of flowers on an onion is calledbolting and is seen as undesirable to onion growers.You don't have to cure onions that have grown flowers.
Step 3: If there are no flowers, wait for the green foliage to fall over.
The onion plants will start ripening in the late summer.It is a good sign that the onion plant is ready to harvest when the green foliage falls over on its side.
Step 4: The onion should be loosened around it.
Use a spade to dig a circle around the bulb.Cut the onion's roots by digging around and under the bulb.Don't cut the onion with the spade because it will cause it to rot.
Step 5: Pull the onion out of the plant.
Pull the base of the leaves from the ground.If you are having trouble getting the soil out of the ground, loosen it with the spade.Don't bruise onions by handling them carefully.rot will be caused by bruising.
Step 6: The onions can be left on the ground for 2 days.
If it is sunny outside, let the onions sit on the dirt for 2 days to allow the roots and skin to dry out.If it starts raining, bring the onions inside.The rain will cause onions to rot.If it's raining, place onions under an awning or inside a shed.They will not be able to spoiling.
Step 7: The onion's green tops should be cut to 1 inch.
The green tops on the onion can be cut with a scissor.If you want to prevent rot, leave 1 inch of green foliage at the top of the onion.
Step 8: The onion has roots.
Don't worry if there are a couple of roots remaining on the onion, as cutting the roots as close to the bulb as you can will not affect it.It is easy to cut off most of the roots with a scissor.
Step 9: The onions should be kept out of the store.
The onions should be spread on the ground in a shady place.During this time period, keep the onions out of the sun.The onions will dry out more over this time.If you don't want onions on the ground, place the newspaper on it.
Step 10: The onions should be kept in a mesh bag or nylon stocking.
The onions can be bruised and formed mold if a mesh bag or nylon stocking is not used.The onions should be kept in a dry area.After it has cured, you can keep a raw onion at room temperature.If you store onions next to apples or pears, they will ruin the taste of the fruit.Pungent onions have a longer shelf life than sweet onions.For 1-2 months, onions will stay fresh in the refrigerator.