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Onion Harvesting, Curing, and Storage Tips

Gardening Guide: The Outstanding Onion Gardening Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Onions

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Onion Harvesting, Curing, and Storage Tips

By Norann Oleson

Onions ready for harvest

Onions ready for harvest

You know your onions are ready for harvest when the plant falls over! That’s a pretty clear sign to get out in the garden and get picking. Once most of your plants have toppled, go out to the garden and tip over the rest of them (gently!).

Carefully pull or dig your onions out of the ground and gently brush or shake the extra soil off the bulbs. But wait! They’re not ready to store yet. Onions need some time to dry out before they’re ready to be stored. Trim and store them too early, and you’re opening your harvest to the hazards of infection.

Cure your onions by first spreading them out on a clean, dry surface in a well ventilated space, like a gardening shed, or an unheated garage or basement. Let them rest and dry out for at least two to three weeks. The top of the necks should be completely dry and the outer skin should be dry and slightly crackly. Once they’re dried, cut the tops of the onions off, leaving just 1 inch of neck.

Store your onions in a ventilated container—a wire basket, a mesh bag, or some other breathable bag. The temperature should be between 32 to 40 degrees F, with a humidity level between 65% and 70%. Most onions will store like this for up to three months—if you cure and store them properly.

Please tell us how you use your onion harvest. Do you make big batches of onion soup? Do you freeze them in batches to use in cooking later? Or do you put them into storage so you always have a supply on hand?

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Onion Plants
  • Choosing to Grow Onions from Seeds, Transplants, or Sets
  • Growing Onions in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Onion Plants
  • Companion Planting with Your Onion Crop: What to Plant Nearby—and What to Keep at a Distance
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Onion Plants
  • Should You Fertilize Your Onion Plants?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Onion Plants
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Onion Diseases
  • Bulb Rot in Onion Plants: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Different Types of Bulb Rot
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Onion Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Onion Patch
  • Why Do Onions Make You Cry?
  • Onion Harvesting, Curing, and Storage Tips
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Onions
  • Plant Profiles

  • Dutch Yellow Shallots
  • French Red Shallots
  • Patterson Onions
  • Walla Walla Onions
  • Southport Red Globe Onions
  • White Sweet Spanish Onions
  • Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish Onions
  • Candy Onions
  • Red Burgundy Onions
  • Yellow Granex Onions
  • Early White Grano Onions
  • Recipes

  • Easy Onion Dinner Rolls
  • Onions in a Pickle
  • French Onion Soup
  • Scalloped Onions
  • Onion-Topped Focaccia Bread
  • Caramelized Onions
  • No-Guilt Onion Bloom
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Onions
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Onions
  • Resources about Onions
  • Onion Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • Are You Storing Onions the Wrong Way? Learn How to Store Every Variety
  • 10 Deer-Resistant Vegetables and Herbs
  • The Best Vegetables to Plant Together for an Unbelievable Harvest
  • 5 Tips for Growing a Healthy Harvest of Onions This Year

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