Author Topic: when to lift my onions? (Read 2906 times)

deepinthewoods · « **on:** July 03, 2011, 09:53:48 pm »

my onions are starting to brown on the outer skin and have fallen over, should i leave them to ripen in the ground or lift them, i could use the bed being freed up for winter brassicas? will they keep better for being ripened in the ground? thanks d

Dan · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2011, 10:14:12 pm »

As a rule of thumb we lift ours when more than half have fallen over.

They should all dry and store well by that time, except for those which have bull necks or have bolted.

You must be a long way south from us, because ours' are barely swelling yet!

deepinthewoods · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2011, 10:49:22 pm »

i am, mid cornwall. i planted japanese sets in october to overwinter so theyve been in a while.

ellied · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2011, 09:24:54 am »

My early sets (white) are pretty big now but not falling over - either they're going to be giants

or can I lift a few early and use them without drying?

A couple with wide necks in the next batch (reds) - is that bull neck and what if anything should I be doing to keep them edible?