Although I've grown onions for many years, my husband decided he wanted
to grow some. The way I harvest them is waiting until the tops bend
over, then breaking them off, leaving the onion in the ground for
several days. Then I pull the onions out, braid the tops and hang them
just like they grew, bulb side down, in a cool place to finish curing
and to store.

I looked on the internet and one site said to pull them out when the
tops fall over, and let them cure above the ground. I can understand
that. A friend of my husband's told him to hang them with the bulbs
up, before they are allowed to cure. My concern is that the bulb will
"grow" back into the stalk. Is my concern a valid one? Can anyone
give me an idea of the proper way to hang them, bulb up or down, and if
you can cure them while hanging. Thank you.

On 11 Jul 2005 17:17:33 -0700, "Beth Pierce"
wrote:

Although I've grown onions for many years, my husband decided he wanted
to grow some. The way I harvest them is waiting until the tops bend
over, then breaking them off, leaving the onion in the ground for
several days. Then I pull the onions out, braid the tops and hang them
just like they grew, bulb side down, in a cool place to finish curing
and to store.

I looked on the internet and one site said to pull them out when the
tops fall over, and let them cure above the ground. I can understand
that. A friend of my husband's told him to hang them with the bulbs
up, before they are allowed to cure. My concern is that the bulb will
"grow" back into the stalk. Is my concern a valid one? Can anyone
give me an idea of the proper way to hang them, bulb up or down, and if
you can cure them while hanging. Thank you.

My experience is that you can dry them (is that curing?) any old way
you want, just make sure that they are out of the sun. Up, down or
sideways does not seem to make any difference.

Never had one "grow back into the stalk."

John

Beth Pierce wrote:
Although I've grown onions for many years, my husband decided he
wanted to grow some. The way I harvest them is waiting until the
tops bend over, then breaking them off, leaving the onion in the
ground for several days. Then I pull the onions out, braid the
tops and hang them just like they grew, bulb side down, in a cool
place to finish curing and to store.

How do you braid the tops if you have already broken them off?


I looked on the internet and one site said to pull them out when the
tops fall over, and let them cure above the ground. I can
understand that. A friend of my husband's told him to hang them
with the bulbs up, before they are allowed to cure. My concern is
that the bulb will "grow" back into the stalk. Is my concern a
valid one? Can anyone give me an idea of the proper way to hang
them, bulb up or down, and if you can cure them while hanging.
Thank you.

Do what has worked for you in the past. Let your husband do it his (the
correct) way.

;-)

--

Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8
Sunset Zone 5