[russellcm]

Hi,

I've just picked my first batch of my Japanese overwintering onions. First time I've grown these and really happy - some big bulbs, better than my summer ones last year.

I realise that they don't store well and have left most of them in the ground for now. My question is what do I do with the ones that I have picked until I use them? Last year I hung my summer ones in the garage to dry out - shall I do that with the ones I have picked until we use or just chop the plants off?

Think I'm going to have a go at making onion marmalade!

Thanks

Russell

[Aunt Sally]

I would have thought it a little early go have lifted them yet. The leaves on none of my onions have died down yet, so the bulbs are no where near ripe.

[russellcm]

Have only picked about a tenth of them but the leaves were down on all the ones I picked and there are a lot more on the plot where the leaves have dropped down. The leaves weren't particularly yellow though - do you think I have picked them too soon? Will they still taste OK?

Thanks

[Sparkyrog]

Hi,

I've just picked my first batch of my Japanese overwintering onions. First time I've grown these and really happy - some big bulbs, better than my summer ones last year.

I realise that they don't store well and have left most of them in the ground for now. My question is what do I do with the ones that I have picked until I use them? Last year I hung my summer ones in the garage to dry out - shall I do that with the ones I have picked until we use or just chop the plants off?

Think I'm going to have a go at making onion marmalade!

Thanks

Russell

they do not store well and are best used to fill the gap between normal crops ,If you have a surplus the marmalade idea is a good one

[russellcm]

Thanks, am definitely going to make the marmalade just not quite sure what to do with them for the next couple of days while I buy all the ingredients!

[Aunt Sally]

No, they won't store if the leaves were green. The bulbs need a good baking in the sun to ripen them.  Use the ones you have lifted now or slice and freeze them. 

[Annen]

Thanks, am definitely going to make the marmalade just not quite sure what to do with them for the next couple of days while I buy all the ingredients!

I would have thought they would keep long enough for you to get the ingredients together.  I've been pulling mine as I go along and digging up enough for a week's use at a time, and the bulb part keeps alright.