Onions and rain

[Karen Atkinson]

I pulled my red onions up the other day. They re on a garden bench... Drying. It s raining - again. Is this a problem do you think?

[Karen Atkinson]

[goodlife]

Well..in the long term it is problem..they won't dry. But as for now, 'bit' of rain don't hurt.
You will have to move them eventually somewhere where rain can't get to them as they will need to be few weeks in dry conditions to able to cure for the winter storage.

[Karen Atkinson]

Thanks. Does dry mean sunny? Or will a dark warm place be ok?

[elvis2003]

have you got anything you can cover them with,and leave them where they are?

[chriscross1966]

I'm uptting mine in the polytunnel... the melons have done nothing (not their fault, they were late in) so I'm under no need to water in there any more... to ripen onions off it needs to be dry and sunny, breezy helps too otherwise there's all sorts of rots that will get a start.... would like to keep this crop, there are some epic shallots in it....

[goodlife]

Thanks. Does dry mean sunny? Or will a dark warm place be ok?

Most important is that they are in dry place ..outside is fine but if you cover them to keep rain away..there have to be some air movement if not all the way round underneath at least. I use old bread trays, one to lay the onions on and other one on top where I lay sheet of plastic or glass to keep rain away...second tray will give few inches 'air gap'.
Or..I if I have room I lay my onions in greenhouse staging or again using stacked up bread trays.
'Sunny' will help but is not absolutely necessary...dark will do but they will dry better in light conditions.

[davee52uk]

Lost half of mine as they rotted away with the wet.

[Strawberrygirl]

I have laid my onions out on the racks in my mini greenhouse, with the flap rolled up so plenty of air and sun to dry them out.  They have been a good crop this year, although not as many as the over-winter crop but they are better in size and quality.

Garlic was rubbish!