08/30/2026
Onions have been set up for curing! I used my seed starting wire racks in the garage this year. These are Patterson yellow onions and red Rossa di Milano onion varieties.
Both of these are excellent storage onion varieties. Sweeter onions like Walla Walla do not store well due to the extra sugars in them, and should be eaten fresh and not stored long term.
In order to cure them properly, you will want to lay them out flat in a dry place with good air circulation out of the direct sun. In the past I have just layed them out carefully on a table top.
You want to wait until all the greens and roots have shriveled up and dried completely, about 2 weeks or so. At that point, trim off the greens and roots, rub off any excess dirt, and store them in a cool dark place, but not with potatoes!
Potatoes and onions when stored together, both off-gas, that encourages decay to the opposite crop, so be sure to store them in separate locations.
If done correctly, I have had my storage onions last until May before they begin sprouting. It is always a good idea to go through them all about once a month or so and remove any that have begun to rot.
If you haven't grown and stored storage onions before, you should really give them a try. If you cook from scratch, think about how often you need an onion or how often you buy them in the grocery store!
As always, home grown food is best! Eat what you grow, grow what you eat!
