The harvest time for the onions depends on when they were planted. As with most vegetables, the main harvest takes place in autumn. A dry, sunny day in September is perfect for some fall harvest fun.
Before harvest
A few weeks before harvest, you should stop watering the onion beds in good time. A dry and warm soil at the time of onion formation and maturity will help the grower to have a more storable crop. The lack of moisture also causes the leeks to dry out.
If you have grown the onions from onion sets, they will ripen a little earlier than the onions that have been sown. Planted onions are said to not store as well as onions grown from seeds. It is all the more important to increase the shelf life - as long as the weather permits - to let them mature on the bed until no more green leaves can be seen.
harvest
When two-thirds of the leaves on the onions are dry and bent over, the harvest can begin. To do this, the bulbs are pulled out of the ground on a dry day (possibly help with a digging fork if the roots are too deep in the ground) and the tubers left on the beds to dry. Leave the dried herb on and remove it before storing the onions.
After harvest
If the weather stays moderately sunny and dry, the entire onion crop should continue to ripen on the bed for a week or two. The onion skin hardens in the process, which also contributes to a better shelf life. When it rains or the sun is too strong, it is better to dry the bulbs under a protective canopy.
The dry leaves are used to tie the onions together in groups and hang them under the shed roof or, with a little manual skill, to braid the onion braids. The bulbs can then be stored in nets or other air-permeable containers. The storage should be cool, dry and frost-free. A shed, garage or attic is ideal.
tips and tricks
Bring a touch of nostalgia to your pantry or kitchen by hanging some onion braids there. The dried onion herb is good for braiding.