onion are a staple in many kitchen , add flavour and profoundness to a wide range of sweetheart . develop your own onions can be a rewarding experience , but know when to glean them is crucial for achieving the best timbre and flavor . Timing your harvest correctly ensures that your onions are mature , flavorful , and ready to be store for long - term economic consumption . In this clause , we ’ll explore the signs to depend for and the step to take to harvest time onion plant at their peak .
Understanding Onion Growth Stages
To limit the best meter to harvest onions , it ’s important to realize the unlike stages of their growth . onion go through several phases from plant to maturity . ab initio , they focus on developing a substantial root scheme and green upside . As they mature , they begin to form bulbs , which are the edible part we glean . The end is to harvest onions when these bulbs are fully develop and have reach their maximum size of it .
Onions are typically categorized into three types base on their develop season : short - solar day , intermediate - day , and farsighted - daytime onion . Each type has unlike daytime - distance demand to mould lightbulb . Knowing the type you are originate can help you anticipate the harvest time . Short - daytime onions are unremarkably quick in recent give to other summer , intermediate - day in mid - summer , and long - 24-hour interval onions in late summertime to former fall .
Signs That Onions Are Ready to Harvest
The most honest sign that onions are ready to be harvest is the status of the tops , or foliation . When the absolute majority of the green top start to work yellow and fall over , it ’s a clear meter reading that the electric-light bulb have mature . This typically happens about 100 to 120 days after planting , depending on the variety and grow condition .
Another key index number is the size of the bulbs . softly promote back the soil around a few onions to check their sizing . They should be large and steadfast . If the lightbulb are still small , give them a spot more clock time to ripen . However , avoid leaving them in the ground too long after the upper side have fallen over , as this can pass to splitting or rot , especially if the soil is blotto .
The Best Time of Day to Harvest
The good time of sidereal day to harvesting onion plant is in the forenoon , after the dew has dry but before the heat of the daylight sets in . Harvesting during cool parts of the day helps forbid the onions from becoming too stressed , which can affect their storage caliber . Ensure that the ground is dry when you harvest , as wet soil can have the onion to become muddy and increase the risk of rot during computer memory .
Using a garden forking or spade , cautiously loose the grease around the onions and gently lift them out . Avoid pulling the onions by their tops , as this can damage the light bulb . Once harvest , place the onions out in a undivided layer on the dirt or on a juiceless , well - vent surface to cure .
Curing Onions for Storage
cure is a crucial step to ensure that your onions store well . After harvesting , leave the onions to dry out in a warm , airy spot out of direct sunshine . This physical process allows the outer layers to become papery and the cervix to dry out completely , which serve prevent mold and rot . Curing typically takes two to three weeks , depending on the atmospheric condition conditions .
Once the onions are full cured , trim the base and cut the tops down to about one inch . Brush off any remaining dirt but quash washing the onions , as moisture can reduce their storage life sentence . Store the cured onions in a cool , dry , and dark office , such as a basement or pantry . Properly heal and store onion can last for several months , provide you with a toothsome and versatile constituent well into the winter .
Handling and Storing Onions
To maximise the storage life story of your onions , keep them in mesh grip , basket , or crate that allow for in effect strain circulation . Avoid storing onion in plastic bags , as this can trap moisture and go to spoilage . control your stored onion plant regularly and dispatch any that show signs of softening or sprouting to preclude them from affecting the others .
If you have grown different variety , keep them disjoined , as some types put in better than others . For example , sweet onions typically have a shorter storage living compared to barbed varieties . utilise the sweeter onion first and save the more biting ones for prospicient - terminal figure storage .
harvest onions at the right time and curing them properly are of the essence steps for achieve the best quality and sapidity . By paying attention to the ontogenesis leg , augury of matureness , and right harvest home technique , you’re able to enjoy a bounteous harvest time of delicious , homegrown onions . With heedful handling and storage , your onion plant will stick around fresh and saporous for months , enhancing your meals throughout the year .
