Query about Overwintering Onions

[lozza_9]

Hi All

I planted some overwintered onions ( Electric and Radar), they are doing really well but I have a question. On the instructions it says harvest in August when the leaves start to die down BUT I have read Junes GYO mag and a few gardening books I have and they say to Harvest them NOW!!!

Can anyone tell me which advice to follow. Some of the onions are really big and I suppose I don't want to leave them in too long and they get damaged by slugs and all my hard work wasted.

Thanks
Loz

[TEB]

I had to harvest my Radar about 2 weeks agobecause they started to produce flowers but I would have left them until the leaves started to die off. You could always do half and half.

[Paulottie]

If you planted in the autumn the time to harvest is nowish but best to wait for a sunny spell if poss. Normally the tops will be easy to bend over and they just look like the are ripening. I believe its a good thing to bend them down away from the bulbs then ease them up a week or two later to dry. I have been drying them on one of those swing seats-excellent rack complete with rain cover!

ps. slugs don't seem to eat onions

[Snadger]

The beauty of the overwintered onions to me is that they fill a 'hungry gap' in between when last years maincrop are finished and this years aren't ready!
I believe they don't store as well as spring sown maincrops so tend to use them 'in the green' as I need them.
If any make it to fruition and the tops die off, I lift em but use them rather sharpish, relying on my spring sown maincrops for storage!

[lozza_9]

I might harvest a few this week as some of them are HUGE! but worried about them drying as the weather looks a bit wet. Can I leave them in the shed to dry?

Lozza

[Sebbster]

Best to leave in the sun if you can wait for a couple of sunny days. Else hang them tied together in the shed, but try to make sure they dont touch each other.

You could always leave them outside on some sort of rack and cover them so the rain does not get on them.

[vicpivo]

I've noticed a few of you mentioned bending the plant over (or letting it do it naturally).

What does this actually do - does it demonstrate it is ready for harvest? Also, is it the same for Shallots?

[Snadger]

Once the tops have fallen over and they are starting to dry and shrivel there is no point in leaving them in the ground where they will become fodder for all kinds of creepy crawlies! I usually put them on the greenhouse staging or somewhere light to allow the ripening process to completely finish.

I stored some onions in the greenhouse last year and some in a 'lightless' shed. The ones that were kept in the light stored much better!

[lozza_9]

Some of mine have fallen over so maybe they are ready - I thought something had been walking on them!

[lozza_9]

Great Advice as always - Might need to make a trip tonight and store at home - can i store indoors next to the window - i can hang a few from the curtain rail