Harvested Onions - Now some Questions

[ninnymary]

Today I harvested 60 onions! I wasn't sure if they were going to make it because I think I got the wrong kind for my area. I may have gotten long day instead of short or intermidiate. Anyway, I have some questions.

1. They looked kind of floppy and were half way dried. Did I pick them at the right time? The blulbs were also alittle "papery".

2. About 5 were very soft and I threw them away. What made them soft?

3. I have them outside in a cool shady spot that is underneath our 2nd story deck. In my type of cool summer weather, how long will
they take to cure?

4. Some looked like they were underdeveloped. The bulb was not as big and round as others. Will these cure?

I should also mentioned, that some of them got flower stalks, and I cut them as soon as I saw them.

I forgot to mention that they have a tinge of green. Will this go away after they cure?

Thanks
Mary

 

[digitS']

I bet I can't answer all your questions, Mary.

It sounds like you did good ! That those outside layers were beginning to dry and become "papery" and the plants were floppying over indicates the end of their season.

My onions may get an hour or 2 of direct sunshine each day while they are in their 2 week curing mode. With your cool and moist environment, you shouldn't have them in any kind of damp area.

Turn the onions every now and then. The ones that tried to flower will need to be used first. Sixty onions!? Good for you!

Steve

 

[ninnymary]

Yes..Steve..I am rather proud of myself as this is only the second year that I've grown them. I managed to squeeze them into a 3x3 space! I try to put as much as I can into my tiny garden. Some of them were like hugh leeks but some actually look like the kind you find in the store! Next year I will probably grow less.

What is the greenish tinge? Will it go away? I'm wondering if it will affect the flavor of the onion.

As to using the ones that had the flower stalk first..well they are all mixed up!!

I still feel that I might have harvested them alittle early. I'm not sure how floppy the are supposed to get. I'd like to see a picture.

Mary

 

[vfem]

Greenish tinges will go away... its just going to be a paper layer of the onion you won't eat later and peel away. No worries.

Even those smaller bulbs will dry fine. My concern is the one's that started to flower, I cut a few of the flowers away on mine early, but those onions got mushy during the drying period and couldn't be cured to save. Don't worry you did an awesome job on everything!

Just be careful of curing in warm/moist weather. That can mush your onions or extend curing time awhile.

I suggest sun curing for a day before you do the long cure, it will get out any heavy moisture first and prepare them for the long cure. Just check them regularly for mushiness. I lost about 20 onions because of our HIGH humidity the didn't cure well. I barely got many storage onions out of mine.

OH, and any you think are too small or are worried they won't cure, just bring them in and use them up first. They'll store fine in the house for a week or 2, or the fridge for 3 weeks so you can use them up. OR slice/chop them and freeze them for ready onion bits for cooking when you want them quick.