When do I pick my onions?

Answer by  ZanneC (25)

When harvesting green onions, pick when the shoots have grown but have not yet unfolded as individual leaves. To harvest fully matured onions, watch for when the foliage has lost its color and wilted near the base. Afterwards, allow 1-2 weeks for the bulbs to finish maturing then harvest while the soil is dry.

Answer by  megdesmik (13)

It depends on the variety but most are ready to harvest by late summer. Although bulbs are usually allowed to ripen as much as possible you can also harvest and use less mature onions. You will know they are fully ripe when the tops begin to break, fall and shrivel.

Answer by  Hobo (19)

Onions are ready to be picked when the foliage above the soil line is tall and well formed. The bulb is likely to be well formed as well. Care must be taken to make sure that onions are picked before they flower.

Answer by  Kath (1537)

It depends on the type of onion. As a general rule, harvest in late summer. Green onions can be picked as soom as they begin to swell. As a general statement pick when the onions are dry and tight. They can stay in the ground as long as you get them out before the first frost.

Answer by  champaign9497 (11977)

That depends on what kind of onions they are onions with green tops you can pick them when ever you think the tops are ripe others the bulb.

Answer by  LMSmegal (81)

Different onion species will have a variety of harvest times, however, as a general rule of thumb onions should be picked when you can easily note the the scales of the onions are dry and the neck of the onion has tightened.

Answer by  JohnHolmes (2660)

It would depend on what part of the country you are from but most people pick them once they are large enough they start weighing down the branch.

Answer by  johnnyoptiks (31)

That depends on what you want to do with them. If you want green bunch onions, you can pick them as soon as they begin to swell. Earlier is better. If you want to store them, you need to check your growing season before pulling and drying.

Answer by  AKM79 (330)

If your plants have toppled on their own they are near ready. Wait ten days and the tops will begin to die, sealing off the neck of your bulb and cutting off it water supply. They may still be green but now is the time to harvest.

Answer by  ruffy (1117)

i plant them close together then i pick them every other one and use them a green onions, then i do the same thing pick every other one to give the onion more room to grow.then i leave the the other ones in the ground till the fall, then pull them and let them dry