Storing onion sets

[Mr Smith]

Which is the best way to store onion sets till next year, I have just planted out winter onions and garlic and many left over from the 'Sunday People' the other week :)

[Mr Smith]

[star]

I would say cool, dry and dark, but have never stored sets so not sure if they would keep at all really. Why dont you put them up for a swop in case you lose them? Unless someone can tell you they will keep of course ;)

[Mr Smith]

Star,
         Just thought about letting my lotty neighbours have them because they have been very good and helpful to me in my first year on the allotments :)

[star]

Thats probably the best option, I would much rather give things away than have them rot too. :D

[davyw1]

Mr Smith and anyone else that is intrested.
The biggest problem problem with storing onions is not stringing them but the preperation prior to this.
Most of the problems is the disease that is on the outer skin and the juice in the neck of the onion that causes neck rot.
I have found the best way to keep my onions longer is to strip the outer skin to a layer where there are no marks, discoloration or rot at the roots.
Cut the stem of the onion about 3" above the bulb and then place them upside down to drain the juices out of the neck.
I leave them like this for weeks till the neck is dried out, then string them so they are not touching each other so nothing can pass from one onion to another.[attachment=1]