by Matt Gibson
Ever understand a dozen or so onion braid together in a natural chain flow in your grandmother ’s kitchen ? The practice of braiding ( or plaiting ) onions for long - term storage dates back to the pioneer solar day , and is actually a wonderful way to put in onion plant that you are not planning on using immediately . The braiding technique actually promotes increased gentle wind circulation , which will keep fresh onions impudent than tossing them into a storage ABA transit number , and is also esthetically pleasing .
Similar to french braiding hairsbreadth , start with three Allium cepa and lace them together , working in more as you go along , until you have a twist of around a dozen onions operate together in a natural chain . If you are n’t plan on using the Allium cepa for a long clip , just store them in a cool dark area until you get around toworking the onion plant into a meal . The same technique can also be used to preserve shallots and garlic too .
Which Onions Are Best For
Storing?
Generally , yellow onions are the best onion to rise for long - term storing , as they lean to remain juicy and fresh for much longer than the blank or red varieties . The best yellow onions to grow for longsighted - term storage are Stuttgarter Riesens , Copra , and Prince varieties . The good red onion plant for stack away is Stockton reds . away from these good word , the following lean are the best onions for stash away :
scandalmongering : Bridger , Copra , Cortland , Patterson , Pontiac , Prince , Stuttgarter Riesen , Talon , Yellow Globe ( heirloom & hybrids too ) , Yellow Sweet Spanish
Red : Brunswick ( heirloom ) , Red Bull , Red Creole ( heirloom , short - mean solar day ) , Red - Wind , Stockton Reds
White : Southport White Globe , Stuttgarter White ( heirloom ) , White Sweet Spanish
Choose between light day and foresighted day onions depending on the area you endure in . unretentive day onion plant are arrant for the Southern US , as they call for equal meter in sunshine and dark . Long day onions are well fit for the Northern US , as they postulate more clock time in the sun to determine medulla . Allium cepa growers in the north should also be certain to get their onion plant in the ground as early on as possible , because once the day business firm gets shorter , the onions arrest develop new layers and focus solely on filling out the layers that are already draw up . Choose high quality seed or sets to go with . Questionable count bulbs will in all probability produce refutable looking onions , so , take your sentence and plunk out the good unity you could find . If growing from seed , buy your seeds from a reputable source and get the fresh ones you may find .
How & When To Harvest Your
Onion Crop
If you enjoy small-scale green infant onion , implant your seedling everywhere so that you’re able to thin them out during the time of year , tolerate your main craw time to grow while thinning out the seam or container as needed for lots of fresh baby onions . Onions can be harvestedfor impudent use at any period during the arise season , but the longer you look to reap , the more onion you will receive .
To glean , simply relax the soil by mitt , or using a spade or garden fork , being thrifty not to damage the wiry ascendent ( as you will habituate these to braid the onions for storage ) , sweep off the loose filth as you go . The onions that you are design on storing for a while should be harvest at the very end of the growing time of year as the tops protrude to flop over or when the first threat of icing is at script .
There is usually no problem leaving the bulb in the ground for a while after the season terminate , unless you start to get a lot of pelting , in which case , you will want to pull them all up before the rain causes rot issues . However , if you leave them in the ground too long , the whirligig will deteriorate , making pleach impossible , so if you are want to store them for a while , you will want to pull them up right as you see the tops initiate to get lazy .
How To Cure Onions
mightily after harvest your onions , the outside of the bulb are tender and moist , which can guide to moulder and mould . To get youronions quick for entrepot , they need to be cured , drying the outermost layers . You could leave them spread out out in a shady spot in the garden , or you’re able to move them inside to a greenhouse , terrace , service department or shed . Any well ventilated area will suffice . Do not clean them first , just brush off any redundant poop and permit the outermost layers to dry . Once they have dried out , encounter off any stay dirt and remove any very loose layers of skin , but leave some skin intact for protection . Trim the top of the inning to about an inch above the bulb if you do n’t contrive to braid them , or leave the tops intact if you do .
How To Store Onions
Do not put your cured onion into a certain bag or airtight container . forefend high temperatures , unmediated sunlight , and humidness . Do not stash away onion plant with apples or potatoes . If you want to store them in a root cellar , be sure that it is well ventilated . storage cure onion in an undefended crate or bin with plenteousness of flow of air , or hang them in mesh bags or clean used pantyhose . All these selection play fine , but for the optimal onion storage with the best air circulation , braid them like the pioneer women of the American frontier .
How To Braid Onions
clean the good Allium cepa for the plait , setting oddball bulbs aside to employ first or to store in bins . Select the most solid , largest Allium cepa for the bottom of the braid . Criss - cross the tops of two of them and plump down a third down in the middle . execute a wrapper around with the top of the onion who ’s still hunt was at the bottom and bring the bottom stalk over the top of all three of the bottom level onions . enclose the stalk around and back underneath to throw all three of the onion in lieu , allowing the tail to beat out of the side as it did before . Now you have three strands ready for braid .
Once the first layer is secure , you could start add more onion plant to the braiding . Place an onion right in the middle of the first three with the stalk delineate up with the middle stalk of the first three , then braid it three times , just like braiding someone ’s hair . tot up two more onions into the braid , this time placing one to the left hand and one to the right , defecate sure the stalks line up with the left and right stalks of the previous band . Then pleach each three times to secure them in place . Place another Allium cepa in the middle , then two more to the left over and right , lace each three times before add the next . Repeat this cognitive operation until you have about 12 onion in your braiding . Finish by impart a single onion in the middle row , for a total of 13 onions . Then finish lace the tops until the end of their duration , tying off the braid at the end with a bit of string . The braid should then be hung in a cool , drab position , and your onion should stay fresh for about six months .
discover the braiding appendage is rather difficult , so tally out this short tutorial television to get a visual attention as well :
Make Onion Powder Out of Excess
Onions
This tutorial guide from YouTuber Homesteading Family shows you how to reverse your spare onions into onion pulverization at family in a simple and well timed fashion :
Videos About Storing Onions
YouTubers JoeandZachSurvival pack a heap information into this ten minute onion exposé , covering how to grow onion from sets , how and when to harvest them , how to store them , and the life rhythm of the infamous multilayered bulb . This is a very well made and thorough onion mature guide . Each part is accompanied by separately filmed clips to really help the inexperienced nurseryman realize the knowledge of an expert :
Now that you know how to lay in onions for extended period , mayhaps you would care to know how to grow more onions at a time . This video provides five helpful backsheesh for how to produce more onion than you ever intend possible in a single container or garden bed :
Another way to keep onions around for next use is to dry up them . This helpful video will teach you how to do the drying up appendage :
Want To Learn More About Storing Onions?
Common Sense Home covers How to Store Onions
Grace Garden and Homestead comprehend How to Braid onion plant
The Elliott Homestead address How to Braid and Store Onions
The Kitchn cover Why You Should Braid Your Onions Like a Pioneer Woman
The Prairie Homestead get over How to Braid Onions
The Spruce Eats cover 15 Best Onion Varieties for Storing
