Storing Onions

Graham Smith2

I lifted my onions a couple of months ago, tied them in bunches of 10, then hung them in the greenhouse to dry off.

I now find 50% have gone rotten, is it the variety, or a bad year for onions?

Dave Morgan

I think you should have dried them first then tied them Graham. If you tie them too early it retains the moisture around the neck of the bulb which leads to the rot. I dry mine for a few weeks before doing anything.

Steve 309

Yes - they do need to be dried, preferably in the sun (ha ha).  We have a two-inch grid propped up over what is the cold frame in spring, and spread them in a single layer on that, if it's fine.  If not, they go on something similar in the greenhouse.

I do like stringing them up though.

Graham Smith2

Thanks The bulbs and the roots were dry when I hung them up but the tops were still green, next time I will let the whole onion dry out before I hang them up.

Steve 309

...and brush off the soil as well, once it's dry.

chris 172

Hi

i keep an eye on my onions and if I see any showing sign of damage or starting I just chop them up and freeze raw in the freezer. Lift them out frozen and just add to soups and casaroles when needed easy

happy gardening

Steve 309

Yes - I did that this year too, for the ones that were damaged.  They need to be double wrapped, I discovered, otherwise the whole freezer smells of onions.

Graham Smith2

Thanks all for the tips

GWRS

Hello ,lifted and left in the sun for a couple of days then  I dried mine in a cold frame for a couple weeks because of rain , then on a rack in allottment shed and finally on a rack in the garage and so far ok 

Graham Smith2

Thanks again for all the tips, will try them next year