Advice on drying onions please

[SammieB]

Hi, only a couple of my onions had flopped but when I just touched most of the others they went down with ease. Then decided to force over the last few that had resisted. Based on advice read, had planned to leave them in the ground for a couple of weeks before pulling up to dry them properly. BUT as it hasn't rained for a good while but are due a downpour anytime soon I wondered if I should not leave them in the ground after all but pull them now and put them on the bench in the shed to continue drying? Or would it be a good idea to cover them with some plastic sheeting and leave them where they are? Or should I just stop fussing and stick to plan A?

[Shadylane]

I'm leaving mine a bit yet, mainly because I've a million and one other things to do first. You're supposed to lift them gently with a fork to loosen the roots form the soil. You then leave them in the sun to dry for a bit before bringing them in. A bit of rain won't hurt, but if it's going to rain for days on end then I would bring them in. In future though just leave them to fall on their own, as if they haven't flopped yet, they may swell a little more for you

[solway cropper]

Mine grown from sets are starting to flop but the seed grown ones are still full of vigour.

I find with drying that they need to be left as long as possible before storing. If it's too wet outside I have one of those blowaway things with wire shelves in the greenhouse and I spread them out on there till the tops are as brittle as straw.

[Shadylane]

I do the same solway cropper, although this chap I know just hangs them up after lifting and doesn't faff with drying. Says he's never had any problems. Still, I think if you have somewhere to dry them properly, it would be beneficial.

[Bigmallly]

this chap I know just hangs them up after lifting and doesn't faff with drying. Says he's never had any problems.

That's what I do, lift them, cut the stalks to 6" then string them up.

[Bill HH]

I suppose when you think about it they will go on drying when hung up anyway provided they are hung in a dry place. I lifted my winter ones a bit early cos I needed the space and despite being still a bit green they are drying out well. I would not cover them with plastic, as they dry the moisture will condense on the plastic and rot the onions. I am keeping the biggest for general use and hopefuly they will last till Christmas, the rest I have chopped up and frozen.

[Penellype]

I've lifted a few of my Red Baron which had got to the point where the foliage was all (or nearly all) brown. I put these on a rack in the garage to dry. The others are still green although bent over, and I've eased them out of the ground but left them where they are. I'm somewhat concerned as one of them was quite soft and when I opened it up it was rotting inside. I used another, which had some white mould around the neck. I've not grown Red Baron before, and I won't be growing them again as over half have bolted. Hopefully the good old reliable Sturon will be fine (I've got 1 left from last year which is still perfect). They haven't bent over yet, despite being planted earlier than the Red Baron.

[Bill HH]

Apparently red onions are prone to bolt more than white, not sure why people bother they taste the same to me.

[SammieB]

Will keep an eye on weather forecast then it sounds like my best bet might be to lift them even tho still green and put in shed to dry. Does it make any difference whether they sit on racks or get strung upside down from ceiling? (Sorry if thats a silly question)

[Bill HH]

Will keep an eye on weather forecast then it sounds like my best bet might be to lift them even tho still green and put in shed to dry. Does it make any difference whether they sit on racks or get strung upside down from ceiling? (Sorry if thats a silly question)

I have seen both methods used.

[teakdesk]

A/ stick to plan A.

B/ lift and eat onions daily as you need them.

C/ good drying of onions is only really needed for those going into long term storage. Those you will use over next couple of months will be happy drying spread out in a dry, draughty garage or shed.

We use around 5kg of onions per month so the 100 or so that I grow rarely get any further than the car port.

Any small onions (I always have some that resist getting bigger than a plum!) can be pickled (pop a chilli in for extra taste) for later use. Plenty of recipes around but I find mine are best eaten by Christmas.

[SammieB]

OK,thanks to all for the advice.

[Jarz]

Hoping I'm successful in putting in photos, these are just some of my onions drying in the communal greenhouse (fortunately no-one else is using it at the moment.)

[brownfingers]

Same racks as mine in the first photo.

According to most advice on here, surely you have lifted them way too early, well before the foliage has gone brown?