Onions really are the MVPs of the garden. They’re delicious, packed with health benefits, and—best of all—they’re incredibly low-maintenance. Even harvesting these flavorful bulbs is a total breeze. Here’s everything you need to know to get your onion harvest just right.
Getting Ready for Harvest
The best time to pull your onions mostly depends on when you put them in the ground. For most of us, harvest time hits in the fall. One pro tip: stop watering your onion bed a few weeks before you plan to harvest. Keeping the soil dry during this final stretch is key to making sure your onions stay fresh in storage later on. Plus, it helps the foliage dry out naturally.
If you started with onion sets, you’ll likely be harvesting a bit earlier than if you planted from seed. Just keep in mind that onions grown from sets don’t usually keep quite as long. To give them the best shelf life possible, let them fully mature until the green tops have completely withered. Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast!
How to Harvest Like a Pro
Once the onion tops have dried out and flopped over, it’s time to get those bulbs out of the ground. A good rule of thumb is to wait until about two-thirds of the foliage has turned brown and fallen. That’s your green light! Pick a sunny, dry day for the job. After pulling them up, let them sit out in the garden to cure. You can trim off the dried tops once you’re ready to move them into long-term storage.
Post-Harvest Care and Storage
Depending on the weather, your onions will need about one to two weeks to dry out completely. If the forecast calls for heavy rain or scorching direct sun, make sure to move them to a protected spot. Proper curing is the most important step if you want your harvest to last through the winter.
Once they’re dry, you can braid the onions together using their dried tops or simply stash them in mesh bags or breathable crates. The goal is to keep them in a cool, dry, and frost-free spot. A basement, garage, or garden shed usually works perfectly.
Onion Harvesting: The Quick Checklist
- Harvest timing varies depending on when you planted.
- Stop watering the bed a few weeks before you plan to harvest.
- Start harvesting once the majority of the foliage has dried and fallen over.
- Let the onions cure in the garden for one to two weeks.
- Protect them from rain and intense sun during the drying process.
- Store your harvest in a cool, dry, and frost-free location.
