[ceri green]

hello
now, I know you have to leave onions to dry for storage resons, but is there any reason why you can't eat them straight out of the ground?

ceri 

[Tattyanne456]

I'm no expert, but I would say if you want  to eat them staight from the ground, then do it!

[Ice]

Yup, straight out of the ground is ok. 

[RichardA]

No problem with pulling them and using them, storage adds nothing except you have them put away safely when being in the ground would cause them to rot and the ground is clear for cultivation. About 3 weeks ago my wife needed two onions and that took the very last one of the stored ones from last year (red Baron) and the first fresh pulled one (Sturon). So for once the quantities grown and stored where just right to bridge the seasonal gap. I guess we lost only about four or five in store so quite pleased with that.
R

[DD.]

Yup, straight out of the ground is ok. 

Yuk! I brush the soil off & peel mine first.

[Ice]

Yuk! I brush the soil off & peel mine first.

Only wimps do that.

[ceri green]

thanks all, i just didn't want to go and buy them when there's a row sitting in the garden! not very successful i might add - i've seen a few posts echoing that - has it just been a bad year, or are onions one of those things that are more trouble than they're worth in people's opinions? (this is the first time i've grown them)

ceri 

[DD.]

My onions from sets, (Centurion) are the best ever.

My 3 rows of onions plants made two jars of pickled onions. Good job I didn't reply on them

[ceri green]

  perhaps i'll use the space next year to grow stuff thats more expensive to buy in the shops!
what's a good thing to plant after onions then?

[Mitsy]

My onions were ok too. last pulled are drying now. I too can't decide what to grow there next 

[Pompey Spud]

My onions were ok too. last pulled are drying now. I too can't decide what to grow there next 

I've just pulled all mine up for storage.

I'm chucking in some Turnips (Snowball) 8 weeks to harvest and Purple Milan.

Raddish 3/4 weeks.

PUP!!

[totalnovice]

it is my first yr growing onions too and i have just pulled them and put them to dry, well apart from the one earmarked for tea tonight! I planted 30 sets and got 28 onions! so i will definatley be repeating again next time round. have ordered my over winter onions a couple of weeks ago and can't wait to try them!

What onions are best for pickled onions then DD? I fancy a go at making them!

[DD.]

Shallotts and I've got two cracking rows of Paris Silverskin onions grown from seed.

Mrs Digger will be crying her eyes out for weeks!

[fatbelly]

Sorry to hijack the thread, my Sturon Onions (they are beauties) are now on the soil drying after I pulled them yesterday afternoon.

How long should I leave them on the soil to dry? And what if it rains does the drying process have to start all over again?

Thanks in advance FB