When to dig out different varieties of onions from the garden

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

For this vegetable, it is extremely important to harvest in a timely manner. When to dig onions and what factors does it depend on?

How to determine maturity

The yielding ripeness of the onion is manifested in the fact that the stem becomes dry, and only near the root collar does it remain slightly fresh. If the onions are allowed to ripen naturally, they will not only grow larger, but they will also bear fruit longer.

In case of late harvest, you can lose part of it. In addition, there is a risk of increased incidence of infections. On the contrary, prematurely harvested onions do not dry well and have little storage.

After harvesting, the onion stalk should not be broken or twisted. Usually, it is enough to grab it and gently pull it out of the ground. Alternatively, you can use a pitchfork to harvest in the garden. This will gently remove rooted onions from the soil.

Harvesting time by variety

You can understand when it is better to dig up a vegetable by focusing on a number of parameters. The right time depends on how it is grown and where it was planted.

Onions grown from seedlings have an earlier harvest - usually in mid-July, for some hybrids - two weeks later. If you are looking for an early harvest, you can grow winter onions.

Spring

The onion will be ready to be harvested when the stem forms wrinkles. It can be harvested in the fall and prepared for winter storage.

Shallot

Shallots are harvested in July, when the stem and leaves are dry. The bulbs should be pry off carefully, being careful not to damage them. Then you need to dry the onions in the sun for about 2 days, remembering to change their location every few hours.

Small onions can be planted next season, while larger vegetables can be used for culinary and storage purposes.

Sevok

Onion sets can be harvested when sunny weather ends and should be harvested on the last sunny day. On average, in the central region of Russia, the crop yield falls on the period from August to September. Before your expected harvest time, you should check the weather forecast and choose a few days to harvest your vegetables.

Leek

The collection of the vegetable is carried out before the frost occurs. Leeks usually ripen between August and September, but can be considered fully ready in late autumn.

Winter

When planning a growing date, keep in mind that by the onset of winter, the plants should already have 4-5 leaves and bulbs as thick as a finger. When grown by this method, winter onions are harvested about 1, 5-2, 5 months earlier than with spring sowing. Depending on the variety and harvest phase, it can be done at the end of April.

Winter onion varieties yield an even earlier harvest than a vegetable grown from seedlings. Seeds are sown from mid-August to early September and the growing season is about 180 days. The big advantage of winter onions is the ability to harvest young bulbs in a short time.

When to dig out different varieties of onions according to the lunar calendar in 2021

This year, the periods of the rising and falling phases of the moon fall on certain periods in July and August. The lunar calendar of 2021 indicates that the following dates will be favorable:

• July: 1-3, 22-31;
• August: 1, 21-31;
• September: 1, 19-30.

Pay attention to the days before and after the full moon and new moon. Specified dates are considered dangerous by specialists.

Astrologers advise not to harvest during this period, as changes occur in the plants. This is a turning point, when their energy reaches the highest point, and subsequently goes to the roots or rushes to the tops.

Vegetation weakens, becoming more sensitive to stress and injury. Onions harvested these days are poorly stored, quickly losing their own useful, taste characteristics.

Timeframes by region

In the Urals, onions are traditionally harvested at the same time as in central Russia. At the same time, much is also determined depending on the latitude, because the climate makes its own adjustments at the optimal dates. For this reason, be sure to pay attention to local weather reports.

In areas north of the Chelyabinsk region, it is best to prepare onions for harvesting by the early dates of August.

If constant warm weather can be expected in mid-August, use it to dry later and start digging later. However, regardless of the circumstances, onion harvesting in the Urals ends by August 20.

Harvesting onions in Siberia and the Northwest

The optimal time for harvesting a vegetable in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region coincides with the time of carrying out a similar manipulation in Siberia. This is the period from the second decade of August, to the arrival of heavy rains. The best onion harvesting period in the Chemal region is much earlier than in the northern regions.

When to start digging onions in the Moscow region? The timing of when it is desirable to harvest onions in the Urals, Siberia or the Moscow region depends not only on the prevailing weather conditions. What else should you pay attention to? Growing time and soil properties are also important: clay soils can store moisture longer.

How to speed up the ripening of onions

When it is time to harvest the onions and there are still no signs of ripening, it is time to take steps to speed up the ripening process. To do this, gently bend the stems and press them to the ground so that they do not break.

After a few weeks, you can further accelerate the ripening process by carefully digging up the plants with a pitchfork. Soon the onions can be harvested, they will be juicy and will last for a long time.

How to dig up crops correctly

Having decided when to dig out onions planted in spring or at an earlier date, they proceed to harvesting. The vegetable is usually harvested in two ways:

1. The manual method is used for harvesting small areas. If the soil is loose, it is enough to pull out the stem by hand. If it is dense, a tool (pitchfork, shovel) is used.
2. In mechanized equipment, onions are harvested using special onion harvesting machines.

Onion harvesting rules

If using a shovel, insert the tool far enough away from the row to avoid damaging the bulbs, and lift the soil by shaking it to expose the onion. Spread out and let the tubers dry for 1-2 days on the floor. Peel and sort the bulbs, then cut off the remaining leaves with a knife.

Rub the vegetable in your hands to remove residual soil and excess skin flakes that fall off on their own. Sort them so that only the finest, firm-tactile vegetables remain.

What other requirements to consider when harvesting ripe onions:

1. Vegetable heads are harvested in sunny weather.
2. The optimal period for harvesting the harvest received during the season is morning. Immediately after removing the heads from the ground, the onions should be laid out in the garden to dry. If it's not dry by evening, cover the vegetable with a plastic sheeting to prevent moisture build-up.
3. Do not pull out 2 or 3 stems at a time, even if the soil is very loose.
4. Be careful not to damage the skin of the onion.
5. Do not knock off the remaining soil from the heads of the vegetable, wait for the earth to dry naturally and crumble.

Interesting! How to plant cucumbers in open ground with seedlings

How to store

Onions should be stored in dry and ventilated areas, where the temperature is maintained at 0-1 ° C and relative humidity of 65-75%. An increase in temperature accelerates the growth of the vegetable and its roots and creates favorable conditions for the development of pathogenic organisms. Monitor your onions regularly by removing vegetables that are beginning to soften and those that show signs of mold.

Outcome

1. In order to provide access to fresh vegetables from the site or garden in winter, it is necessary to follow certain rules not only with regard to storage, but also in the choice of varieties and time of collection.
2. Harvest time is especially important for onions.
3. Vegetables should be carefully inspected and only healthy and undamaged samples should be sent for storage.