Cure onions before braiding?

[ourarka]

A bumper onion harvest this year, and I've dug them this morning. I want to bird to store them ,but am wondering if you are supposed to cure before braiding ...... or braid them straight out the ground, then hang to cure?

Regarding during ..... the verdict seems to be, 24-48 hours in the sun, then a shady, dry place for a couple of weeks. All in agreement?

[Bigmallly]

Lay them out & dry until the stems are crispy then braid, plait, string.

[Bill HH]

Do half and half then let us know how they store.

I am told the foliage must be dry to store them and indeed you cant string them if the stalks are not at least partially dry But logic tells me they are going to dry out anyway if hung in a dry place, I cant see why they wouldn't.

[bearded bloke]

I think that the general opinion is that if you plait,braid or string them before the foliage is properly dry the plait,braid or stringing will become loose due to shrinkage.

[Penellype]

If you string them before the leaves are dry there will be parts of the leaves that are not dry that have no air flow round them. This means that they will dry out more slowly, increasing the chances of rotting. Always, for storing things, you need to make sure they are as disease free as possible before you start, and that conditions are optimum for them to last as long as possible.

Moulds, which are the main problem with stored onions, need moisture to thrive.

[teakdesk]

If you string them before the leaves are dry there will be parts of the leaves that are not dry that have no air flow round them. This means that they will dry out more slowly, increasing the chances of rotting. Always, for storing things, you need to make sure they are as disease free as possible before you start, and that conditions are optimum for them to last as long as possible.

Moulds, which are the main problem with stored onions, need moisture to thrive.

Wot she said!!!

Nuff said!!!

[Snadger]

Last year I didn't braid them for a change and I found my onions kept better and longer just laid out on a latted surface in my shed.
Braiding looks good, but the very fact the onions are touching each other means you get less airflow and more spoiled onions. I have a good crop this year also but I won't be braiding!

[Martin H]

Last year I didn't braid them for a change and I found my onions kept better and longer just laid out on a latted surface in my shed.

Nice idea. That's how I keep my apples, so I think I'll try and build some multi-level storage in my shed and do the onions that way too.

[Alison]

I store mine in old tights with them all knotted separately so you can take one without the others falling out. Always fully dry them first though as they rot otherwise.

[Bigmallly]

Great idea Alison..............now where did I put them tights?.........

[ourarka]

Great help, as always. Dry then braid it is (not enough room really to store in trays).


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[Martin H]

Here's my onion storage, partially filled:



Hope it works out!

[Alison]

Is it just me or us it very early to be lifting main crop onions for storage?

[Penellype]

It is early here - mine are usually ready mid August. The Sturon are just bending over but are still very green. However if people have overwintered onions they may be ready now.

[Alison]

It is early here - mine are usually ready mid August. The Sturon are just bending over but are still very green. However if people have overwintered onions they may be ready now.

Yes, my overwintered were ready a week or two ago but they won't keep like the spring planted main crop ones, hence my confusion