[Sparkyrog]

out of the ground on wire netting they won't hurt 

[goodtogrow]

Woz very interested by Yorkie's report of John cooking his onions in his greenhouse.

I'm not able to believe that anyone would leave a greenhouse unshaded in Summer, and with no ventilation, and then declare a greenhouse a bad place to dry onions!

John's experience was as a result of an oversight, I think!  I prefer to believe that people would take normal precautions!

But then, as my signature says, I'm still not sure!  I remain open-minded....

[Yorkie]

Woz very interested by Yorkie's report of John cooking his onions in his greenhouse.

I'm not able to believe that anyone would leave a greenhouse unshaded in Summer, and with no ventilation, and then declare a greenhouse a bad place to dry onions!

John's experience was as a result of an oversight, I think!  I prefer to believe that people would take normal precautions!

But then, as my signature says, I'm still not sure!  I remain open-minded....

Your post makes a lot of assumptions about what John might or might not have actually done, doesn't it?

[goodtogrow]

Yes, it does, Yorkie, because you don't give any more information to qualify your report.

I'm left to assume a state of affairs.  My own experience tells me that a shaded, ventilated greenhouse is as good a place as any to dry onions, without them cooking.

Tom

[A Reyt Tayty]

I lifted mine two weeks after they had keeled over and the necks had gone soft. The tops were still quite green though, just withered and yellow right at the tips. I thought it unwise to leave them in any longer, particularly with the threat of heavy rain, even though the leaves had not fully yellowed. I laid them outside on a rack with plenty of all round ventillation, for the initial drying period of a few days. I have a white cotton sheet secured over the front of the rack to provide shade, and a plazzy sheet which I can whip over sharpish should it rain heavilly. After a few days, I cut the foliage to about a foot from the bulbs (an article I'd read gave this advice), and left them to dry some more. Shortly, I shall manicure them again to within a couple of inches of thre bulb, then more drying. They do seem to be taking quite some time for the roots to completely dry and go brittle and the foliage to yellow off completely. Could I perhaps haver lifted them too early, and if I have, will it be detrimental in any way?

[fatbelly]

I lift mine when they have fallen over and gone mostly yellow. I then lay them on the ground for a few days (unless heavy rain is forecast) followed by at least 8 weeks turned upside down on a wire mesh. When the foliage & roots are fully dry & brittle then I store them either by plating or simply in a wooden box.

This way most of my Onions make it through the winter & are still good for eating in March. The only time they didn't store well was year one, when a few days after lifting I cut all the foliage and roots off to get a nicely trimmed Onion, because I did this nearly every Onion had gone rotten by Bonfire night .

[chickpeacurry]

In the same position lifted the roots on the ones that have fallen over.  I have a small greenhouse at home where I could put them or in the shed at the allotment.  Might do a bit of both so I don't have them all in one place

[Armleywhite]

I'm new to this onion drying lark but my method is to dig em up, bunch half a dozen or so together and hang them from the tree in daytime and at night, or if pouring down bring them in to the porch.  I now have several bunches hanging in a cool dark shed for winter.  All seem to be ok?