When to harvest onions: signs of ripening, advice from gardeners, reviews. When to harvest onions planted in the spring, before winter, sets? When to dig onions in Siberia, central Russia?

When to dig up onions planted before winter?

It would seem that this is a fairly simple question, and an experienced gardener will be able to determine the harvest period without difficulty. However, in reality this is not the case, because the timing of collection is significantly influenced by climatic conditions, weather in a particular period of time, as well as the type of onion and planting time.

When to dig up onions planted before winter:

• Onions that were planted before winter, that is, a winter crop, are harvested 2 months earlier than those planted in the spring.
• On average, the ripening time for onions that are planted in the spring is 70 days, which is about two and a half months.

Harvesting

Signs of onion ripeness

Knowledge of the duration of the onion growing season and the external signs that determine the technical maturity of the vegetable will help you accurately determine when it is time to dig up the crop. Signs of a mature plant:

• 70–80% of the onion feathers turned yellow and died;
• the neck of the onion has dried out;
• its covering scales became dry and golden brown;
• the roots are thin, thread-like.

Ripe onion

When to dig up spring-planted onions?

A crop that was planted in early May can be harvested at the end of July.

When to dig up onions planted in spring:

• However, this rule only works in central Russia, the Moscow region. If these are regions with a more severe climate, rainy and cold summers, and late spring, then the crop will have to be harvested much later.
• On average, harvesting takes place between the end of July and the beginning of September. In the northern regions and Siberia, harvesting is possible even at the beginning of September. However, it is worth focusing not only on the timing of planting, but also on the appearance of the crop.

Drying onions

Onion harvest time

As all gardeners are well aware, predicting the ripening time of onions to precise numbers is not an easy task. The climate of the region, unpredictable weather conditions, and the type of onion chosen should be taken into account. On average, onions take from 70 to 85 days to complete the growing season. Early ripening varieties are ready for harvest in mid-summer, while late ripening varieties may linger until early September. The characteristics of some onion varieties and their ripening periods are summarized in the table.

Onion varieties are most easily distinguished by the color of the bulb.

Table 1. Onion varieties

Onion harvesting in different regions of Russia

In central Russia, as in Siberia and the Urals, onions are harvested at approximately the same time with minor errors. Of course, the influence of weather also leaves its mark. If the summer turns out to be dry and hot, then it makes sense to prepare for earlier ripening. If it has been raining all summer and the temperature has been slow to rise, then the harvest will likely be delayed.

Late-ripening varieties that require warm temperatures are well grown in the southern regions

The best varieties for regions with moderately warm summers are:

• Robusta;
• Amber;
• Belovezhsky;
• Spassky;
• Terekhovsky;
• Stuttgarter Riesen;
• Strigunovsky.

At the same time, it is the warm weather that creates excellent conditions for keeping the bulbs in the ground longer so that they have time to be saturated with vitamins. However, you should remain vigilant, since bulbs that are saturated with vitamins, but have managed to take root, will have little demand. Therefore, the optimal time for harvesting, if the weather is favorable, is the beginning of August. If desired, cleaning can be postponed for another two weeks.

Favorable climatic conditions allow you to keep onions in the soil until the end of October

It is allowed to delay harvesting until the twentieth of August, after which a long period of rain often begins. If the bulbs are saturated with moisture in large quantities, they will quickly deteriorate, so they should be collected before precipitation begins.

In the Northern regions of Russia, in particular in Siberia, onions are prepared for storage in mid-August. Among the varieties recommended for planting in Siberian and Ural areas are:

• Danilovsky 301;
• Exhibition;
• Botherus;
• Buran;
• Myachkovsky 300;
• Red Byron;
• Odinovets;
• Siberian annual.

In regions with cold autumns, it is recommended to remove the bulbs before the onset of frost and heavy rains.

All of the above varieties adapt well to northern conditions, have a sharp, rich taste and cope well with low temperatures both during the growing season and during subsequent storage in the cellar.

Prices for onion seeds of the Stuttgarter Riesen variety

onion seeds Stuttgarter Riesen

When to harvest onions: signs of ripening

There are several signs that will help you determine when harvest time has come. The readiness of onions for harvest can be judged by the following signs.

When to harvest onions, signs of ripening:

• Green feathers bend towards the ground, turn yellow and begin to dry out.
• The neck became exposed and dry.
• The top of the onion head is visible.

If you see this happening to a garden crop, you can start harvesting. There are a lot of subtleties that do not allow you to harvest the crop immediately after it ripens. In particular, this is worsening weather conditions. It is believed that it is best to harvest on a dry and sunny day, before which there has been no precipitation for 3-5 days. It is best to harvest when the soil is completely dry. This simplifies the process of digging up the crop and improves the keeping quality of the onion.

Onion

How to preserve the onion harvest for the winter

It is not enough to collect a good harvest of onions; you also need to try to preserve it without loss. It is important to note that not all onion varieties store equally well. Late and spicy varieties of the vegetable have the best shelf life. Don’t forget that the duration of storage is directly affected by the timing of cleaning. Much depends on maintaining optimal conditions.

Storage conditions

It’s great if you have a basement or cellar to store onions. The room must be well ventilated and have reliable thermal insulation so that during severe frosts the crop does not suffer from too low temperatures.

If there is poor ventilation in the cellar, excess moisture accumulates in the air and the shelf life of onions in this case will be no more than 4-5 months. The ideal temperature for storing onions is from 0° C to - 3° C. This option is considered a cold storage method.

In the absence of utility rooms, summer residents are forced to store onion harvests in a city apartment. In this case, we are talking about a warm storage method. In an apartment, onions are best preserved at a temperature of +18 - 22 °C and an air humidity of 50-70%.

Humidity conditions are no less important for preserving the crop than the optimal temperature. If the air is too dry, the bulbs will begin to dry out. High moisture content provokes the appearance of mold and neck rot, leading to the germination of bulbs. To reduce air humidity in the storage, you can place containers with sawdust, lime or ash. These materials perfectly absorb moisture.

The balcony is the most unsuitable place for winter storage of onions. It is difficult to maintain the required level of temperature and humidity here, avoiding their sharp fluctuations. A dry pantry is best suited for this purpose in an apartment, where the onions are placed directly on the floor, placed in a box or cardboard box.

On a note! Periodically, the bulbs need to be sorted out to check their condition. Rotten specimens must be immediately removed so that the disease does not spread to the remaining heads. Damp bulbs are dried again.

Methods for storing onions

Most often, onions are stored in specially designated containers. The following are usually used as storage containers:

• wooden or plastic boxes;
• carton boxes;
• nets for storing vegetables;
• wicker baskets;
• canvas bags;
• nylon stockings.

It is better to use small boxes and boxes, 25-30 cm high. The walls and bottom must be perforated so that the onion is well ventilated. Bags and nets should also be filled with bulbs to a height of no more than 30 cm. It is better to use several small storage containers than one large one.

Plastic bags and sacks are completely unsuitable for storing bulbs in them due to the fact that they are completely moisture and airtight. In such a container, the onions will quickly rot.

You can store the bulbs in your apartment by hanging them right in the kitchen. This original storage method will give the interior a unique flavor. To beautifully braid an onion, dried leaves are kept on it and twine is woven into it. At the same time, the vegetable will disinfect the air in the room, thanks to the released phytoncides.

When are onions harvested for the winter, after a rainy summer?

What to do if the summer is rainy and the onions take a very long time to ripen? There are several tricks that gardeners resort to. To speed up the ripening process, you can completely stop watering 10-14 days before the expected harvest date.

When harvesting onions for the winter, after a rainy summer:

• In the northern regions, in order to speed up the ripening of the crop, it is dug up a little over a few days. For these purposes, use a pitchfork, exposing 1/3 of the onion. It is necessary that the neck, feathers, and the third part of the head rise above the soil level.
• All the beneficial substances go into the bulb, and the green feathers begin to fade, turn yellow and reach towards the ground. This allows you to speed up the ripening time, and simplifies the task in the northern regions, which are characterized by rainy, cloudy summers with a small number of sunny days.
• Some gardeners recommend undermining the roots using a pitchfork; however, they do not completely remove the heads from the ground, but leave them until the green feathers dry.

Onion in spring

Answers to frequently asked questions

Having grown onions, gardeners are sometimes faced with questions about when and how to properly harvest them in order to preserve them throughout the winter.

Is it possible to dry onions outside?

In hot, dry weather you can dry it in the open air. The onions are laid out on a scaffold in a shaded place. It is important to take night temperature and humidity into account. If it is quite cool and damp at night, then it is better to bring the onions indoors.

How often should I stir the bulbs during drying?

It is recommended to turn over once a day.

What conditions are most suitable for drying?

Conditions corresponding to three main characteristics are considered optimal:

• Air temperature 24 – 300C.
• Good ventilation.
• No humidity

In such conditions, the onion will dry quickly and will not have time to deteriorate.

If the head was damaged during cleaning, can it be stored?

Damaged ones must be selected and, if possible, immediately used for food or winter preparations. If there are a lot of wounded heads, they should be dried separately and used for food first.

Do I need to trim the feathers before harvesting to speed up ripening?

Under no circumstances should the leaf be cut before it dries. Pathogens can enter through the cut and rot can begin. Untimely trimming of the feather deprives the vegetable of additional nutrition and does not allow it to fully form.

How can you dig up onions if they are not ripe?

If the summer is cold and rainy, you have tried all the tips to speed up the ripening of the crop, but this has not yielded results, you need to dig up onions with green feathers, but in no case tearing them off.

How can you dig up onions if they are not ripe:

• It is necessary to carefully remove the bulbs from the soil, while preserving the feathers.
• They need to be laid out on a dry cloth under a canopy and left to dry the top part for about 5-7 days.
• As soon as the feathers are dry, you can cut them off and prepare the onions for storage for the winter.

Onions for storage

Harvesting rules

You need to dig up onions, observing the following rules:

• Harvest in the morning so that the bulbs, remaining in the beds, dry out during the day in the sun.
• On loose soils, you can select the crop by hand by pulling the plant by the stem. In other cases, the onion heads need to be dug out with a pitchfork or shovel.
• Remove soil from the bulb and roots only by hand so as not to damage it.
• Dry the plant in a ventilated area without removing the feather (preferably in a suspended state).
• Trim the feather, leaving a 4 cm long neck and roots. The second way to prepare for storage is to braid the tops, twisting them with twine for strength.
• Sort through the bulbs, removing spoiled, mechanically damaged specimens.
• Store the crop in a room with an air temperature of + 1–4°C.

When to harvest onions from the garden: timing for collecting sets

The harvest time depends on weather conditions and the amount of precipitation in summer. It is necessary to focus on the condition of the onion neck.

When onions are harvested from the garden, the timing for collecting the sets is:

• Harvesting is usually done before the first frost, in late summer or early autumn. You need to wait until the onion neck becomes dry. Please note that if you are late in removing the onion set from the soil, it will begin to grow new roots, which will negatively affect the keeping quality of the vegetable.
• Thus, saving it until spring for replanting will be quite difficult. However, if you dig up such bulbs ahead of time, they will quickly dry out or rot. Storing seedlings that were collected ahead of schedule is quite problematic. Accordingly, you may not get a good harvest next year.

Sevok

Why timely harvesting of onions is important

For further preservation of the onion, it is very important to dig it up when the moment of full maturity comes. If you remove an unripe vegetable from the garden, it will not be stored for long. In such onions, the outer scales are not sufficiently formed, and the neck remains juicy and thick, which leads to its rapid rotting.

When harvesting is too long, the heads become overripe. As a result, the scales peel off and new roots begin to grow - this also does not contribute to long-term storage. In both cases, the onion loses its presentation, its taste deteriorates, and the content of vitamins and beneficial microelements decreases.

How to properly collect onions for storage?

Onions harvested ahead of time, or vice versa, after additional roots have grown, are stored much worse. To preserve the harvest for as long as possible, you need to take the right approach to harvesting it.

How to properly collect onions for storage:

• Many gardeners are divided in their opinions; some believe that it is necessary to pull out the heads by holding the feathers, while others believe that it is best to use a pitchfork for this purpose.
• It is not recommended to use a shovel to avoid accidentally cutting the onion head. Some gardeners smash the heads together to remove the layer of soil. However, this is not recommended, as the top part of the onion can be damaged, which will significantly shorten its shelf life. If feathers accidentally come off while removing the onion from the soil, such a head should be used immediately for cooking. They don't last long.
• It is recommended that after harvesting it leaves approximately 1-2 cm of roots, and 2/3 of the length of the feather. Only after the onion is completely dry, this will happen after 2-3 weeks, is part of the stems and feathers cut off. You need to leave about 7-15 cm.
• It all depends on how you are going to store the onions. If you plan to weave onion heads into braids, then leave the tops about 15 cm long. If the bulbs are stored in boxes or nets, then you need to leave about 5 cm. Onions ready for storage are distinguished by husks that easily break into pieces and are well dried .

Good harvest

How to determine whether onions are ready for harvesting

If the leaves have not yet completely yellowed before harvesting, then there is no need to trim them immediately after harvesting; let the bulb lie for at least 2-3 weeks under a canopy. During this time, all nutrients will pass into the bulb, and when the foliage dries, it is removed.

If you are late for onion harvesting

, and at the same time it rains - secondary regrowth of the bulb may begin. The bulb will give roots again and new bulbs will begin to grow from the bottom; such onions do not store well.

If you harvest onions before their ripening time

, then the covering scale on the bulb will not have time to fully form, and a thick neck will also remain.

When harvesting an onion, you should pull it out from the ground carefully; if the tops are carelessly broken, rotting will begin in this place and the onion will disappear.

If there is a lot of soil on the bulbs when harvesting onions, clean it with your hands as much as possible at the moment. When the soil dries out while lying under a canopy, it will easily fall behind.

Required two weeks before onion harvest

stop watering, this will increase the shelf life of the fruit. Some gardeners even recommend covering the onion bed at this time from the rain with a thick cloth.

When to dig onions in Siberia?

Siberia is a region in Russia with rather harsh climatic conditions. That is why the timing of harvesting onions, as well as other vegetable crops, differs significantly from those accepted in central Russia.

Siberia is distinguished by some peculiarities of weather conditions:

• Spring with frequent frosts
• Changeable weather characterized by strong winds
• Dry, very hot summers or, conversely, endless rains

When to dig onions in Siberia:

• Thanks to this, it is worth concluding that there are no uniform rules, as well as terms for harvesting onions. It all depends on the specific year, as well as the weather in the spring and summer. In Siberia, it is best to harvest at the very beginning of September or at the end of August, depending on the selected variety. It is worth giving preference to early or mid-season varieties. Later species may not have time to ripen sufficiently and will be unsuitable for storage in winter.
• The main condition for onions to remain throughout the winter is the formation of a dense, scaly film, as well as husks that tightly envelop the heads. If the onion is dug up early, the shell will be very thin, fragile and brittle, and will not be able to protect the head from the effects of rot, dampness, mold, and drying out.
• Most often, such onions are stored for only a short time; they are recommended to be used for food immediately. That is why it is necessary to choose varieties that ripen quite early and form a dense shell and scales. Proper harvesting has a huge impact on keeping quality. As for Siberia, it is necessary to harvest on a dry, sunny day.

Acceleration of maturation

Onion storage

To store onion crops, it is necessary to select an appropriate room that must meet the following requirements:

1. This could be a cellar that meets the standards: air temperature - from 0 to +4°C, humidity level - 75-85%. A ventilation system is required. The heads are hung or placed in containers. Vegetables can be sprinkled with dry sawdust, sand, chalk, dried grass, and onion peels.
2. Room in a house/apartment: air temperature – up to 20-22°C, humidity – up to 70%. In a warm room, the bulbs are provided with darkness. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.

Methods for storing onions:

1. Wooden boxes with holes in the walls , that is, structures made of individual boards. If the container is solid, you can make holes using tools or pour sawdust and sand into them.
2. Plastic boxes usually do not have holes. Therefore, they can be drilled (diameter 3 cm). Today there are special models designed for vegetables on sale. Their advantage is that they save space in the room, since the containers are stacked on top of each other.
3. Cardboard boxes (banana boxes, containers for household appliances, food, etc.). The material is considered natural and perfectly breathable, but since the onion needs plenty of ventilation, you will have to make small holes.
4. Natural wicker baskets are the best option, as the flexible wood and wicker allow for maximum ventilation inside. Please note that you need to choose small baskets, since the middle part of the bulbs in them will not breathe. The optimal volume is 3-5 liters.
5. Fabric bags (cotton, linen, burlap). Their size should be small - for a maximum of 5 kg of vegetables. If the farm does not have such dimensions, the bulbs are placed in large bags, but not to the fullest, and the container is laid on its side. This way the heads inside will breathe.
6. Every woman has old nylon tights The bulbs are laid in bulk and the structure is suspended. For better preservation, you can use another method - put one head in a stocking, make a knot, place the next one and tie it again. This is done until the mesh is completely filled.
7. Paper bags purchased at the supermarket are well ventilated and eliminate the risk of putrefactive diseases.
8. Polypropylene mesh is another of the best options, as it provides maximum air access.
9. Weaving braids using feathers that do not need to be cut off and rope. There are several universal methods that not only preserve bulbs, but also save space in the room and create a special flavor in interior design. The simplest method of braiding is based on a three-strand connection of bulbs - similar to the type of braiding a regular braid. You need to take a long string, fold it in half, make a loop into which to insert the first onion with feathers. Then the remaining heads are woven alternately from one side and the other. The lowest row is fixed with twine (a knot is tied).

Regardless of the chosen method, you can simply store onion vegetables in the room, in the pantry, under the bed, on shelves and even in the refrigerator, whole or cut into rings:

1. A small amount of onions is placed in the refrigerator on the lower vegetable shelf for use throughout the month.
2. Vegetables can be stored in the freezer for a long time. The bulbs need to be peeled and chopped in a way convenient for you. Place in plastic bags in portions and freeze.
3. Powder - cut the cleaned and washed heads into rings, the thickness of which should be up to 4 mm. Next, cut the rings into 4 parts and place them in a saline solution (50 g of table salt per 1 liter of water). Leave for 5 minutes, then dry until completely dry, grind into powder. Used as a seasoning, stored in a glass jar.
4. Rings - cut into thin rings, dry.

How to dry onions for powder and rings:

1. In direct sunlight.
2. On a heating device.
3. In an electric or gas oven. Turn on the device at 50 degrees, add chopped onions and dry for 6 hours.
4. In the oven. First place the onion rings in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Turn on the oven at 70 degrees, dry for 2 hours. Next, reduce the temperature to 40 degrees and allow to dry completely.

How to store sets?

The sets that will be planted in the spring are pre-prepared in the standard way, but by sorting the wild oats (small root crops up to 10 mm). These elements are not able to fully survive until spring planting, so they are planted for the winter or on a windowsill for greenery.

You need to store the sets in the same way as regular onions, but strictly follow the following rules:

1. With a warm storage method, onions are placed in a room at a temperature of up to +25°C.
2. With the cold method - in the cellar, temperature - from 0 to + 3°C.
3. Sevok is better preserved in the dark.
4. Before planting, the onions are kept in a warm room for 10-12 days.

How do you know when onions are ripe?

Ripeness can be determined by several factors.

How to tell if onions are ripe:

• According to the time of disembarkation. As mentioned above, on average, from the moment of planting onion sets to harvesting the heads, approximately 70 days should pass. On average, the ripening time of onions depends on its variety. Early varieties ripen much faster.
• Focus on the condition of the bow . If the tops are on the ground, dry out or turn yellow, then it is time to harvest. The neck should dry out and become quite thin.
• Focus on the lunar calendar . Many gardeners use the lunar calendar to help them harvest their crops.
• Consider rainfall and weather conditions. If the summer is rainy, you may have to speed up the ripening process of the bulbs.

Harvesting

How to properly dry onions after harvesting

After the onion has been dug up, it needs to be dried properly. There is no special wisdom in the procedure. But you need to know some nuances.

REFERENCE. On average, drying takes about 2, sometimes 3 weeks.

Drying in beds

The easiest way to dry the collected vegetables is to leave them along with the feathers in the garden bed. The sun and wind will quickly do their job.

But there is an important note. It is still better to bring the collected bulbs indoors at night so that morning dew does not fall on them.

Drying indoors

That is why some summer residents immediately collect onions and move them under a canopy or indoors.

The harvest is placed on bags, boxes, boxes and pallets in one layer. During the day, all this is exposed outside (on roofs, thresholds, or simply on the ground), and at night it is brought indoors.

The advantage of this method is that in case of rain you can quickly hide the bulbs.

Oven drying

As a last resort, the vegetable can be dried in the oven. To do this, heat it to 40-45 degrees and place onions on a baking sheet. The procedure should take no more than 8 hours.

This is a last resort method to save the harvest in a cold and rainy summer.

When to dig onions according to the lunar calendar?

Experienced gardeners take into account not only the timing of growing season, which is 70-85 days, but also the lunar calendar. There is an opinion that it is best to carry out work related to the garden during the waxing Moon, but this does not apply to onions, as well as root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. The condition of plants is influenced by the Moon.

When to dig onions according to the lunar calendar:

• It is believed that the waxing Moon is closer to the Earth, and the waning Moon is further away. That is why it is recommended to collect fruits that are above the ground, or a feather on the growing Moon, and the bulbs themselves - on the waning Moon.
• During the growing Moon, all the juices are in the part that is located above the ground, that is, in the feathers or tops. During the waning moon, immediately after the full moon, on the contrary, there is a movement of juices and saturation of the bulbs with nutrients. That is why you need to wait until the full moon and start burying the onions.
• However, if you see that the onion has ripened, you should not wait for the waning Moon, so as not to spoil the harvest. If the onion sits in the ground for a long time, it will be much more difficult to store it in the winter. Therefore, when determining the timing of the onion harvest, it is necessary to use an integrated approach: assess the signs of readiness of the heads, take into account the vegetative ripening periods, as well as the lunar calendar.

Harvest

Main signs of ripeness

In July, early varieties of onions begin to ripen, followed by the end of the growing season of middle and late varieties. Gradually, each species changes in appearance, which “indicates” that the onion is fully ripe and ready for harvesting:

• the growth of new leaves has stopped;
• more than half of the plants fell to the ground;
• the feathers have turned yellow and are beginning to dry out;
• the false stem has become soft, the neck of the bulb dries out and closes;
• the scales of the bulb become dry and acquire a varietal white, purple, yellow or brown color.

If the harvest time has come, and the onions do not show these signs, you need to independently speed up their ripening directly in the garden.

The method of ripening in the ground is a long-tested method that is used by experienced gardeners:

1. 7-10 days before the harvest time, you need to expose the tops of the bulbs. To do this, rake the soil away from the heads to a depth of 1-2 cm so that they begin to dry out faster.
2. Using a shovel or pitchfork, pry up the layer of soil under the heads and lift it to a height of 5-6 cm so that the small roots break off and stop feeding the plant.
3. Longer (not broken) roots are cut with a shovel 5 cm below the bulbs.

It is not recommended to remove or trim onion feathers. They contain nutrients that must be preserved and transferred to the “turnip”.

When to harvest onions: reviews

It is very difficult to guess the weather and accurately determine the ripeness of onions. Poor keeping quality is not always associated with incorrect harvest dates.

When to harvest onions, reviews:

Victoria . I don’t have a garden, but I have a small plot near a private house. I grow parsley and onions on it. This year I decided to plant regular onions. Focused on the state of the green part. When the leaves began to wither, dry out and turn yellow, they dug up the onions. The heads are quite decent in size, with a dense husk. I did not intend to store it for a long time, since there was little planting material. We ate it in just a couple of months.

Miroslava . I have a large dacha where I grow almost all vegetable crops, including onions and garlic. Onions turned out to be one of the difficult crops for me, since I couldn’t guess the harvest time. The year before last I was guided by the lunar calendar, as a result it did not last long. I think I left it too long in the ground; it needs to be dug up much earlier. Last year, the onions were stored longer, as a dense film and several layers of dry husks formed. But the heads turned out to be small. I think it's a matter of lack of feeding. In general, I am satisfied with the quality of the onion; it was well stored in a net on the balcony.

Olga. I have a large family, so I use a lot of onions over the winter. I start planting onion sets in early spring. I harvest in early September, since I live in Siberia. Due to the rainy, cold summer, it does not always have time to fully ripen. This is why I often speed up the ripening process. I dig it out 1/3 with a pitchfork, leave it to dry under a canopy, without tearing off the tops. Only after the onion is ripe do I cut off the tops and carry out final processing and preparation for storage. Usually there are no problems. I rely on planting dates and weather conditions. After all, Siberia has changeable weather, often cold summers, and several days of heat.

Onions
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Gardeners claim that crops collected on a rainy day are stored much worse. It is necessary to allocate another 7-10 days for complete drying under a canopy. This worsens the taste of onions and also shortens the shelf life. That is why gardeners tend to dig the crop out of dry soil on a sunny day.

Onion harvest time

Gardeners approach this issue truly creatively. Some people just wait for the onion feather to wilt and dry completely. Some people trust only the lunar calendar, arguing about when it is better to pull out the bulbs - on the Full Moon or on the Waning Moon. Some people believe that onions collected after the holiday of Elijah will not be stored for long.

How do you know when an onion is ripe?

There are several sure signs. In a ripe onion, the feather turns yellow and bends to the ground, the neck dries out, and the peel protruding from the soil begins to peel off.

How to speed up the ripening of onions?

If it’s time to harvest, because the autumn rains are just around the corner, and the onion feathers are still turning green, some gardeners resort to small tricks. To speed up the ripening process of onions, you need to stop watering them two weeks before harvesting. Sometimes gardeners first undermine the roots of the plant, slightly lifting it with a fork, but leaving it in the soil until it is fully ripe. Or they pull the bulb half out of the ground five days before harvesting, but only if the soil is soft and dry enough. And if the onion is planted quite deeply, and the feather does not wither even in September, you can slightly expose the bulb by removing the top layer of soil.

When to harvest the sets?

There is no one universal cleaning time. As a rule, this happens at the end of summer with the arrival of the first night frosts and directly depends on the time of sowing onion seeds, as well as weather conditions (in cold, wet summers, onions take longer to ripen). When the neck of the plant becomes thinner, you can begin harvesting. If you hurry, the scales on the bulbs will not dry out. And if you are late, the plant may begin to grow new roots. In both cases, the seedlings will not be stored well.

When should onions be harvested?

In the middle zone, onions planted in May begin to be harvested at the end of July. However, sometimes the bulbs ripen only in August. The timing of onion ripening is significantly influenced not only by the weather, but also by the region of growth. On average, you need to pay close attention to the beds 70 days after planting the sets and, if necessary, speed up the ripening of the onions using one of the methods that we talked about just above.

When to harvest winter onions?

Winter onions delight gardeners with fresh spring greens and an early harvest. The onion fly does not have time to feast on them, and after harvesting the beds, they can be re-sowed with early-ripening vegetables.

• 7 Fast-Growing Plants for the Fall Garden

  We'll tell you what to plant instead of previously harvested vegetables.

When to harvest onions planted before winter? On average, winter onions ripen one to two months earlier than they were planted in the spring. But in order not to make a mistake, you will still have to focus on the drying of the onion feather and the thinning of the neck. And in order to preserve the harvest, it is important to choose the right variety with good shelf life.

• Winter onions - the most popular varieties

  Do you want to get an early harvest of green onions? Be sure to find out which varieties can be planted before winter.

When to harvest leeks?

Leeks are usually dug up in early October. To make it whiter, two weeks before harvesting, its lower part is sprinkled with earth or covered with light-proof material, and after digging, the roots and leaves must be shortened.

When to harvest heirloom onions?

Shallots, or the so-called family onions (in some regions they are also called bush onions), are distinguished by the fact that each nest can contain about 4-8 onions. Its harvesting should begin immediately after the lodging of the greenery. If it is late, the bulbs begin to intensively accumulate moisture from the soil, which has a bad effect on their storage.

When to harvest onions in a rainy summer?

In cold, rainy summers, the ripening period of onions usually increases. To harvest, you should try to choose the dryest day possible, because... onions removed from wet soil require a long drying time and, as a rule, store less well. If it has been raining all season and the onion feathers are still green in the garden, despite the fact that you have used our tips for speeding up the ripening of onions, do not cut off the above-ground part right away. After harvesting, let the bulbs lie under a canopy for another 7-10 days and only then remove the dried greens. This will help the onions ripen.

How to properly remove onions from the garden

Some gardeners believe that onions need to be pulled out of the ground. Others are sure that this should not be done, but that it is best to dig up the onions (definitely with a pitchfork, since a shovel can damage the onion heads). But both of them agree on one thing - harvesting should begin in good sunny weather, provided that the soil is dry enough.

If you accidentally tear off the tops, try to use this onion as quickly as possible to prepare your favorite culinary dishes, since most likely it will not be stored for long.

Sometimes gardeners smash the bulbs against each other to remove any stuck soil. This is not recommended if you plan to add onions to your food all winter, because any mechanical damage can lead to rotting of the bulb and its neighbors in the cellar.

Common mistakes

When removing onions from the garden, it is a mistake to dig them all up at once. First, inspect your proposed crop for signs of ripeness. If it is obvious that the feather has not dried enough, then this onion should be left in the ground for some more time to ripen. Otherwise, such bulbs will not be stored well and will quickly rot. Therefore, the process of collecting turnips can take up to a week.

It is important to very carefully clean the onions from adhering soil. Under no circumstances should the bulbs be knocked against each other. The turnip has very tender flesh. Having received blows or other mechanical damage, it will inevitably deteriorate. Such specimens cannot be stored so as not to cause damage to other turnips. They should be eaten immediately.

What to plant in the garden after harvesting onions and garlic in July - August

In July-August, depending on the planting time, it is time to harvest onions and garlic. Having harvested their crops, the beds remain free until late autumn or next spring, while becoming overgrown with weeds. Of course, you can sow green manure to improve the health of the soil and increase its fertility. And since the weather is good in August - September, why not use this time and beds to sow other crops. Then what can be planted for this relatively short period of time? Yes, a lot of things!

• Salad crops such as lettuce, spinach, arugula, dill. They grow quickly, so there will always be fresh young greens and healthy vitamins on your table. When sowing, take into account the length of daylight hours, since by the end of summer it is significantly shortened. Read about this on the back of the seed package.
• Don't be afraid to plant early-ripening cabbage varieties. In central Russia, ultra-early ripening varieties are suitable. Of course, you won’t have time to grow dense, tight stems, but young heads of cabbage with tender leaves will be so good for salads and cabbage rolls.
• Peas and beans for the kids to enjoy, or to preserve young peas for the winter. Green beans are also suitable for planting in the second half of summer. But also choose early varieties so that the first frosts do not damage the plantings.
• Turnips, radishes, radishes are traditional vegetables on the Russian table. They will have time to grow before the end of summer. But from my own experience I will say that you should pay attention to the control of cruciferous pests, especially the cruciferous flea beetle or cabbage moth. The best option is to cover them with covering material.
• After the onions, you can sow carrots or beets. Carrots will survive the first frost just fine. Young beet and carrot tops, along with young cabbage leaves, are an excellent dressing for summer borscht.

If you don’t want to plant something right now after onions or garlic, all these crops are excellent predecessors for planting next season.

Dear readers, I hope these helpful tips will be of help to you. When, having grown a rich harvest of onions, you then don’t have to look for advice on how to properly harvest and store them after harvesting.

I wish you good harvests!