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in Canning & Preserving· Root Cellar

Harvesting, Curing, and Storing Onions

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Storage onions are a variety of onions that will last in a cool location through the winter months. Learn which varieties to grow for food storage, plus tips on harvesting, curing, and storing onions for winter food storage.

freshly harvested onions layered on a table

I grow several varieties of onions each year including quick maturing scallions and other varieties fresh eating.

However, the majority of onions that I grow are storing onions meant to last through the winter months until the next growing season. Store onions add delicious flavor to winter soups, bone broths, chili, stews, and roasts.

How to Choose Onions to Grow for Food Storage

When choosing onions to grow for winter storing, select varieties that are known for their long-term storage capabilities.

Onions are also categorized as “short-day” onions or “long-day” onions. Long-day onions are what we grow in northern US plant hardiness Zones 6 and cooler. These are triggered to bulb when sunlight increases to 14-16 hours.

  • See How to Grow Onions from Seed to learn more

Copra, Stuttgarter, and Redwing are my staple onions for long term storing over winter. These varieties work wonderfully for winter soups, chili, stews, and roasts.

Onions are the first seeds sown for the approaching growing season. The seeds are planted in January or February under grow lights, so they have plenty of time to grow before forming bulbs.

Onions can also be planted from transplants or onion sets purchased online or at your local garden center. Here in the north, onion seedlings or onion sets are planted in the garden in early spring, usually in April and grow all summer long.

closeup of an onion growing in the garden

Did you know that each hollow, green leaf represents a ring in the onion? Strong, healthy foliage growth before the bulbs form results in larger onions when mature and ready for harvesting.

When to Harvest Onions

Onions can be harvested at any time for fresh eating, but allow storing onions to mature fully to ensure the greatest storage capability.

Onions will let you know when they are finished growing. You will start to see the tops flop over. The onions will bend over at the stem and stop directing energy to the foliage.

onions in the garden

There will be one or two plants at first. Eventually, the rest will follow. Depending on the variety, this usually happens in the first few weeks of August in my Maine garden.

Once the tops fall over, the onions are ready to harvest. Stop watering and wait for a dry period to dig up the bulbs.

How to Harvest Onions

Once you have determined that your onions are finished growing, it is time to harvest them. Choose an overcast day to reduce the sun damaging the bulbs as you work.

The easiest way to harvest a large amount of onions is to use a digging fork to carefully loosen the soil under the onions.

Once the soil is loose, grasp around the neck of the onion stalk and pull them up gently trying not to tear the roots, stalks, or bruise the bulbs because damage will reduce the onion’s storage life.

If the sky remains cloudy, I like to spread out the onions on my garden fence so any soil that is still clinging to the bulbs can dry and be shaken of before bringing the onions inside to cure. If the sun is out, spread the onions out in a dry, shady area out of direct sun.

freshly harvested onions hanging over a wire fence

Curing Onions

Curing onions allows the outer layers to dry out and tighten forming a protective wrapping around the bulb.

Onions cure best in a shaded, dry, and cool place. This can be in a shed or on a covered porch away from direct sunlight.

Spread the onions out or hang them so air can circulate around the bulbs and dry evenly. Our summers are humid, so I usually bring the onions inside and space them out on wire shelves in the basement where we run a dehumidifier to keep the moisture levels down.

red and yellow onions hanging to dry

Curing can take several weeks to a month depending on the humidity level. Onions are finished curing when their outer skins turn papery, the foliage at the neck constructs, and the foliage shrivels and turns brown.

Test one by cutting the stem about an inch from the bulb. The center of the cut area should not show any green. If it does, then the onions have not cured completely. Allow an additional week.

How to Store Onions

Once the onions are fully cured and all the foliage is dry and crispy, I like to take the bundles back outside for cleaning and trimming before storing.

Use scissors and cut the stems cleanly an inch or two from the bulbs and trim the roots. Brush the bulbs gently with your fingers to release any additional soil still clinging to the papery skin. Sometimes, the outer layer falls off. This is ok, but I try not to damage the skins any further than the first layer.

yellow onions stored in a basket

Inspect the trimmed onions are carefully. Any blemishes, bruising, or damage to the onions will affect their storage potential. Set these aside and use first.

Store cured onions loosely in baskets or hung in mesh bags in a cool, dark, and dry location for winter. Ideal storage temperatures are around 35-40˚F. Different onion varieties and storage conditions will affect how long they last.

Copra and Stuttgarter usually last the longest for me and usually begin to get soft or sprout around April. Check the onions every few weeks and remove any that develop soft areas or show signs of sprouting.

Trim off any bad areas and use the onion right away, freeze for later, or dehydrate into onion flakes and onion powder.

You May Also Like:

  • 9 Crops to Grow for Food Storage
  • How to Grow Onions from Seed
  • Benefits of Crop Rotation in the Garden
  • How to Make Chicken Stock from Scratch

Good planning is key to a successful vegetable garden

Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. You will find everything you need to organize and plan your vegetable garden in my PDF eBook, Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden.

Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden

Storage onions are a variety of onions that will last when stored in a cool location through the winter months. Learn which varieties to grow for food storage, plus tips on harvesting, curing, and storing onions for winter food storage.

Learn when to harvest and how to cure storing onions to provide delicious flavor to winter soups, bone broths, chili, stews, and roasts.
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Filed Under: Canning & Preserving, Root Cellar Tagged With: food storage, onions, root cellar

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beth says

    February 2, 2019 at 2:47 pm

    I like to chop up some of my onions and pre measure out and put in zip lock bags and pop in the freezer. That way when I want onions in a dish but am short on time I just dump the pre measured onions in while my meat is cooking and they are perfect! Huge time saver and great way to store those extra onions that are reaching the end of their shelf life.

    Reply
  2. ML Chaney says

    August 6, 2016 at 10:09 am

    Very helpful information for starting onion seeds.

    Reply
  3. Virginia says

    August 3, 2016 at 8:18 pm

    I dehydrate my onions. It seems to consume the least time and they last so much longer.

    Reply
  4. Kirsten Lie-Nielsen says

    September 2, 2015 at 9:16 am

    Great post! Looking forward to getting our onions harvested in the next week. Thank you!

    Reply
  5. IdlewildAlaska says

    August 31, 2015 at 11:58 pm

    I’m determined to grow onions next year. Thanks for sharing a great how-to on the Homestead Blog Hop!

    Reply
  6. Christine says

    August 21, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    Great post! We’ve been getting loads of onions from our CSA this season and I’ve been thinking about how I want to save them. This has been very helpful!
    Thank you,
    Christine

    Reply
  7. Angie says

    August 20, 2015 at 8:47 am

    Fantastic tips & beautiful pictures. Hanging them on the fence to cure is a genius idea! I’m visiting from Our Simple Homestead blog hop.
    Thanks
    Angie

    Reply
  8. Krista says

    July 20, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    I planted 7 varieties of onion, leeks, and two garlic varieties…We love all of these so much!! My question is–if the tops flop over from little feet should they be harvested or will they still grow? Foliage still green and onions pretty small still. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      July 21, 2015 at 9:45 pm

      Krista, They may still grow. I would let them go for a while and wait until the foliage begins to turn brown.

      Reply
  9. Laura from Firelight Heritage Farm says

    July 9, 2015 at 9:08 pm

    My mother braided her onions instead of cutting the neck once they were cured. She hung them from nails around the edge of the store room in our basement. They can then be used by cutting them from the braid, bottom onions first.

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      July 11, 2015 at 6:43 am

      Laura, I love how pretty braided onions look. Plus it would be much easier to keep an eye on them to check for any rotting.

      Reply
  10. Yolanda says

    June 28, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    What a fabulous article! Thank you! I always grow a lot of onions and did NOT know how to cure or store, so many many rotted.

    Reply
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