Onion storage

[gordoner]

What is the best way to store onions. I am successful growing onions, I follow advice on when to harvest but no matter howI try to store them they start to deteriorate. I have strung them and placed them in a cool place, strung them and put them in a warmer environment, cut the foliage off and stored in nets all to no avail. Any helpful tips would be gratefully received.

[Thelma Sanders]

it's drying them properly that's the hardest part - if they're not really really dry they just won't store well.

Any that have thick necks at harvest time, I chop and freeze (in double bags to stop the smell) cos these won't dry/store well at all.

[rustylady]

As Thelma said, you need to ripen or dry the onions before storing. Having said that, overwintered (Japanese) onions don't store as long as those harvested August / September time.

You say you cut the foliage off, but this shouldn't be necessary if you leave them in the ground until the foliage collapses of it's own accord. If you then lift them and lay them on racks in the sunshine the remaining foliage and roots will go dry and brown and can be rubbed off.

[arpoet]

I harvest mine once the tops has flopped down and start to turn brown, then let them ripen on upturned mesh trays in the greenhouse until the tops are dry enough to rope up. I also find that the gas they let off while ripening helps the tomatoes to ripen too.
If you don't have greenhouse space ripen them in a cold frame, but leave to top ajar for air flow.

[TrialAndError]

Absolutely agree with correct harvesting and drying. The variety is important also, some store far better than others.

My main crop is Red Baron and after drying I string them up at the far end of an open garage which works very well. The forst comes and goes but doesn't get to them. The garage is a bit rickety so the onions get lots of ventilation.

[Snadger]

I usually 'rope' mine once dried but this year they haven't got any further than the slatted bench in the shed.
If anything they appear to be storing better this way than when I plaited them?

This could be because I haven't got onion next to onion as you do in a plait?

I don't know, but I shan't be plaiting them next year either.

[arpoet]

They also freeze very well. I found a bag in my chest freezer last week from a glut 3 years ago. I drop a handful into stews and things like that.

[Two_Sheds]

I have ...cut the foliage off

They shouldn't HAVE any foliage. I think you're trying to store them before they're properly ripe

[Chippy Minton]

We store our Japanese ones as French (Japanese) Onion Soup. Mmmmm soup......