Around here, you’ll find onions in just about every vegetable garden. It’s no surprise, really—these bulbs are as delicious as they are healthy. In this post, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to make sure your onions make it through the winter in tip-top shape.
Onions in the Garden Bed
Winter onions are typically sown in the fall, which means they have to brave the cold months before they’re ready for harvest. Usually, by the time winter really kicks in, you’ll see little green shoots popping up through the soil. For the most part, overwintering them in the garden is a breeze. They actually love being tucked under a thick blanket of snow! However, if Mother Nature doesn’t provide that natural insulation and things get really frosty, you’ll want to step in. Just cover your young onions with some brushwood or garden fleece to keep them cozy.
Harvesting and Storing Your Onions the Right Way
Getting your onions ready for winter storage actually starts before you even pull them out of the ground. This is when you set the stage for hardy bulbs that will last. A few weeks before harvest, stop watering them entirely. Once you dig them up, let them sit out on the garden bed for a week or two to dry and cure. This is especially crucial for sets (onions grown from small bulbs), as they don’t always have the best shelf life. A little patience during the curing process goes a long way!
Proper storage is the make-or-break factor for keeping onions through the winter. If things go wrong here, you’ll end up with rotten or inedible bulbs. When picking a spot, look for a space that hits these marks:
- It needs to be dark.
- It must be dry.
- It should have good airflow/ventilation.
- It must be frost-free.
- Temperatures should stay between 40°F and 50°F (4-10°C).
If you stick to these guidelines, your onions should stay firm and mold-free all winter long, keeping that great flavor for your cooking. Most gardeners use a basement, attic, or a sturdy shed. Wooden crates or mesh bags are perfect because they let the onions breathe. Whatever you do, stay away from plastic bags! Onions will suffocate in plastic and rot before you know it. One last pro-tip: make sure to keep your dog away from your onion stash, as they aren’t safe for our furry friends.
