[Jamboian]

Hello! Hope you are all well, here's what's bugging me, I've lifted around 90 red onions they look, feel and taste great right out of the ground, I am drying them on racking and covering them when it rains (often), the bulbs seem firm but a lot of the necks are very soft, they've been on the rack less than a week, do you think the necks will dry out well enough to store, bit concerned as We have a few hundred more still to lift. Thank's in advance Ian

[sunshineband]

If the leaves were still growing when you took them up, it is less likely that the necks will dry fully, to store for months

Have a look at the remining ones - are there still new leaves growing from the centre of the bulb?

[Jamboian]

Aye Thanks Sunshine! Looks like we've been a bit keen to lift the first lot, Still no damage done we'll work our way through the first lot in no time and leave the rest till all the greenery is all yellowey 

Thanks again Ian

[sunshineband]

You are right -- you can just munch your way through the first lot whilst the rest get themselves ready 

[gavinjconway]

This is how I have always dried mine as no space to tie and hang..

Most have still been with green necks so i bend them over and place on the slotted table..

[Judd]

Is it best to hang onions and if so,how do you do it?
I've got loads of space but I don't think they are ready to come up yet,do I have wait until they are all yellow and do I do the same with the shallots?
Sorry for all the questions

[Donnay]

Also where is best to dry them, a greenhouse, shed if you are very limited with space??

[savbo]

Also where is best to dry them, a greenhouse, shed if you are very limited with space??

shed better as they can cook in a greenhouse...

[Scotch Thistle]

Check this thread from last year...
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=82769 

[Alastair-I]

Also where is best to dry them, a greenhouse, shed if you are very limited with space??

I have mine laid on planks under the roof of an open-sided log store.  You need as much air movement as possible.  In an enclosed space (like a shed) there's nowhere for the moisture to go.

Open air and sheltered from the rain, that's the criteria.  If there's no rain forecast you'd be better having them outdoors in the sun.

[MyAchingBack]

Once they are dried is it OK to take them indoors and store them just like shop bought onions?

[Alastair-I]

Once they are dried is it OK to take them indoors and store them just like shop bought onions?

Yes.. I dry them first outside so that air movement can dry them quickly (and the smell is strongest when they are green).  After that I give them a tidy to remove the roots, soil, any loose leaves and tidy up the stalk.  Seperate out the "must use first" from the keepers, and either string or net as appropriate (ie. do I have any net bags available, have I got the patience to string them).  From then on their stored in a cool area in the light.

[angelavdavis]

I dry mine on the soil if it is dry and rain isn't forecast, then leave them on a wire rack to dry further before stringing them up:

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This video shows how to do this.  I suspend them from the brackets in my GH roof until they are dry then put into woven vegetable sacks.

[Yorkie]

Mine spent the winter in those plastic greengrocers trays, stacked one on top of the other in my spare room.

Had a lovely view out of the window, they did 

[shokkyy]

In that video, he seems to be drying them in a polytunnel, and actually the Mark Gatter polytunnel book recommends the same, but I'd have thought a tunnel would be too humid and would cook them just as much as a greenhouse. I have to admit I did dry both my garlic and onions in my greenhouse last year and they were fine.