When To Pick Onion6

Knowing when to pick onion6 is the key to getting the biggest, best-tasting bulbs from your garden. This guide will walk you through the simple signs that tell you your onions are ready, ensuring you harvest them at their peak.

Harvesting at the right time affects everything. It determines how sweet or pungent your onions are, how big they grow, and most importantly, how long they will store without rotting. Pull them too early, and you’ll have small bulbs. Leave them too late, and they might spoil in the ground.

This main heading is your answer. The perfect time to harvest most bulb onions is in late summer, but the calendar is just a rough guide. Your onions themselves will give you clear visual signals when they are ready.

The Top Visual Signs Your Onions Are Ready

Forget guessing. Your plants communicate their readiness. Watch for these two things happening together.

Neck Softening: The area where the leaves meet the bulb (the neck) will start to feel soft and lose its rigidity. When you gently squeeze it, it should give a little, not feel firm and upright.
Foliage “Falling Over”: About half to three-quarters of the onion tops will naturally bend over at the neck and fall to the ground. This is the plant’s way of saying it’s done growing and is beginning to shut down.

When you see most tops down and the necks are soft, it’s your cue. The bulbs have reached maturity. This process is natural, so don’t force tops over early.

Understanding Onion Growth Stages

Knowing the growth cycle helps you understand why timing matters. Onions have two key phases.

Bulb Formation: In early to mid-summer, day length triggers the plant to stop making leaves and start swelling the bulb. All energy goes into this expansion.
Maturation & Curing: After bulbing, the plant prepares for dormancy. The tops fall over, the outer skin begins to dry and papery, and the neck tightens to seal the bulb for storage.

Step-by-Step Harvesting Instructions

Follow these simple steps for a successful harvest that maximizes storage life.

Check the Forecast: Pick a time when the soil is dry. If possible, choose a sunny, breezy day. Harvesting in wet conditions can introduce rot.
Loosen the Soil: Gently insert a garden fork or trowel several inches away from the bulb. Lift the soil to loosen it, being careful not to pierce the onions.
Pull and Lift: Grasp the onion near the base and gently pull it from the loosened soil. Avoid yanking by the leaves, as they may break off.
Initial Field Curing: If weather permits, let the onions lay right on the garden soil for 1-2 days. This sun and air exposure kills root hairs and starts the drying process.

What About Green Onions?

Green onions (scallions) are a different story. You can harvest these anytime they reach a usable size, from pencil-thin to about an inch in diameter. They are a non-bulbing type meant for fresh eating.

The Critical Curing Process

Curing is not optional for storage onions; it’s essential. This process dries the outer layers and neck to form a protective seal.

Move your onions to a covered, dry, well-ventilated area after their initial sun bath. A garage, shed, or covered porch is perfect.
Spread them out in a single layer on a rack, screen, or even newspaper. Good air circulation on all sides is crucial.
Let them cure for 2-4 weeks. The outer skins will become papery and rustle to the touch. The necks will dry out completely and feel tight.
Once cured, you can trim the roots and cut the dried tops down to about 1-2 inches above the bulb.

Common Harvesting Mistakes to Avoid

A few errors can ruin your crop. Here’s what to steer clear of.

Watering Before Harvest: Stop watering your onions once a significant number of tops have fallen over. Excess moisture can cause rot and dilute the onion’s flavor.
Harvesting After Rain: Always wait for the soil to dry out if it rains near your planned harvest date. Wet bulbs are much more prone to disease.
Bruising the Bulbs: Handle onions gently. Bumps and bruises create entry points for decay organisms, shortening storage life dramatically.
Skipping the Cure: Putting uncured onions in storage is a recipe for mold and a soft, mushy crop. Patience here pays off.

How to Tell If an Onion is Overripe

If you leave onions in the ground to long, they give clear signals. Watch for these signs of being overripe.

The tops completely wither and disappear into the soil.
The outer bulb skin may split or crack open.
New root growth may start at the base, indicating the onion is trying to grow again.
They become more suseptible to insect or disease issues in the garden.

If you find split onions, use them immediately in your kitchen, as they won’t store well at all.

Storing Your Perfectly Harvested Onions

Proper storage keeps your harvest usable for months. Follow these tips.

Use only fully cured, firm bulbs with tight necks. Any soft spots or thick necks should be used first.
Choose a cool, dark, dry, and well-ventilated place. Ideal temperatures are between 35-50°F (2-10°C).
Store in mesh bags, woven baskets, or slotted crates. Never use sealed plastic bags, as they trap moisture.
Check your stored onions every few weeks and remove any that show signs of softening or sprouting.

FAQ: Your Onion Harvest Questions Answered

Can you pick onions too early?

Yes. Early-picked onions will have thinner necks that don’t seal properly, leading to quick spoilage. The bulbs also won’t reach there full size potential.

What happens if onion tops don’t fall over?

If most tops are still upright by late summer, you can gently bend them over yourself. This signals the plant to start the curing process. Wait about a week after doing this before harvesting.

How long can onions stay in the ground after tops die?

Once tops are fully down, harvest within 1-2 weeks, especially if weather is wet. Leaving them makes them vulnerable to rot or re-sprouting.

Is it okay to eat onions right after harvest?

Absolutely! Fresh, uncured onions are delicious, though often more juicy and pungent. They just won’t have the dry, protective skin needed for long-term storage.

Why are my onions flowering (bolting)?

A flower stalk means the plant is stressed—often by temperature swings. Once an onion bolts, the bulb stops growing. Harvest and use these onions quickly, as they won’t store well and the center can become tough.

By watching for the simple signs of falling tops and soft necks, you’ll master the timing for when to pick onion6. A careful harvest followed by thorough curing is the secret to enjoying your own homegrown onions all the way until next season’s crop is ready. With this guide, you can confidently gather your onions at their peak of flavor and storage potential.