[janiejakemum]

Hi all

I have 20 or so onions that are looking good, some have larger bulbs than others, should i actually harvest them or is it ok to pull them as and when i want to use them?

I tried to grow onions last year but had none atall, same question for garlic i guess?

Thanks

[DD.]

Are we talking winter or spring planted sets?

There's nothing stopping you harvesting at any time you think the onion is useable. I'm using my winter planted ones, although they've not reached full maturity yet, the spring planted ones, whilst doing well,  have a long way to go yet and will make a lot more bulb.

The stem will simply flop over when it's reached full size, it's then ready for the drying & storing process.

[janiejakemum]

I dont remember when i planted them but they were in the ground for some of the cold weather ( probably Dec/Jan when i planted garlic), i noticed 2 of the tops have flopped over now.

Can you point me towards a thread on the digging up/drying/storing?

Many thanks for your help.

[DD.]

Wait until they've all flopped. Put a fork under them & gently tease the roots out of the ground.

Dry them off the ground on something elevated like some chicken wire stretched between supports for a couple of days, then string them up somewhere cool & dry.

Unlike spuds, a light place won't harm.

[themoog]

Silly question (and sorry to hijack someone's post  ), but do I need to wait for the autumn Japanese onions to flop/will they flop? This is my first year growing onions.

The oracle according to John states that these don't store well, so I'll be needing to to use them during the summer, rather than waiting until they're all ready as has been suggested.

[DD.]

Mine are flippin' flopping now, one or two gone since yesterday.

It's correct that they don't store as well as the spring planted ones, but they'll last you at least until they come in.

[Paul Plots]

If in doubt - dig up and dry them out! 

I've cleared one row of autumn planted sets (Red Baron?) They were just about ready to come out - some had gone over and the rest....well, I needed the space.

This year's planted sets are still growing well - some pretty big ones too. 

[DD.]

As I said, there's no need for doubt.

For storage do NOT dig them up if not ready. The onions will tell you when they are.

[Paul Plots]

As I said, there's no need for doubt.

For storage do NOT dig them up if not ready. The onions will tell you when they are.

I agree But.... I needed the space & I was trying to avoid losing them through white mold at the base so....

                    up they came for use around the family. 

[richyrich7]

Pulled all my jap onions friday couldn't wait for a decent cheese and onion sandwich any longer   

[DD.]

I've been eating mine, but the majority will wait until fully grown!

[richyrich7]

Think I've got white rot on mine  hardly any root system and white fluffy rot underneath

[janiejakemum]

I dug one up and used it in our dinner tonight - yummy!.

I think ill wait a bit for them to flop over.  Roots were lovely and healthy looking though.

[Elcie]

Some of mine are flopping over but I understand that I should wait for the green stems to die off before I harvest them - is this right?

[janiejakemum]

I thought with onions it just needs to flop and garlic it needs to die off, could be wrong though.