Onion sets grown from seeds for the next garden year are naturally harvested earlier than the full-grown onions. Read here what you need to consider when harvesting onion sets.
When and how should onion sets be harvested?
Onion sets are ready to harvest when the leaves turn yellow (usually at the end of July) and they reach a diameter of approx. 1.5 cm. After harvesting, they should be dried well before being stored in a frost-free, cool and dry place, ideally in nets for good air circulation.
Identify the right time for harvesting
Did you sow onion seeds in March-April to get your onion sets for the next garden season? Now the densely grown onion sets should be harvested. This usually happens around the end of July. You can tell when the onion is ready to harvest - just like with a full-grown onion - when the foliage has turned yellow.
In addition, the onion sets should have reached a certain size by the time they are harvested. A diameter of around 1.5 cm or the size of a hazelnut is optimal. Onion sets that are too large tend to sprout. If onion sets that are too small are harvested, there is a risk that they will dry out by the time they are set in spring.
If one or two specimens are too small or too large, you can plant such onion sets in the ground in the fall of the same year. So they will sprout in early spring and, if not for large tubers, at least for the fresh greens in the salad.
Harvesting onion sets
When harvesting onion sets, the same procedure should be followed as when harvesting full-grown onions. These also need to air dry well so that they can be stored. The he althy onion sets are firm and dry. The herb is removed after it has completely dried out.
Store onion sets
When storing onion sets until they are planted, it is important that the room is frost-free, cool and dry. It is best to store the onion sets in nets, but ensure good air circulation. Before planting, the onion sets are warmed by keeping them in a heated room at 25-35° C for about four weeks. This measure is intended, among other things, to prevent annoying shooting