When will onions be harvested in Siberia in 2025?
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Timing for harvesting onions
Onions need to be harvested in a timely manner. This usually takes about 10 days, but no more. By the time gardeners see the onion leaves completely lodging, harvesting should be complete. If the planting area is small, this can be done in 1-2 days. However, with large field plantings, harvesting the vegetables so quickly won't be possible. For this reason, it's important to pay attention to the maturity of most of the onion sets.
When the leaves have fallen and dried out on more than 60% of the plants, you can begin harvesting the onions. By the time harvesting is complete, the remaining 40% will have ripened but not yet absorbed excess moisture. Overripe onions can absorb moisture, which will affect the shelf life of the onions. If the weather worsens or there is frequent rain, harvest the onions immediately and then dry them in a dry place. If the onions are stored in boxes or bags while damp, they may begin to rot within a week.
On average, onions take about 70-80 days to ripen. It's important to consider the climate of a particular region. The hotter and drier the climate, the faster the vegetable will ripen. Rainy and cold summer weather will extend the ripening time.
Some gardeners base the harvesting time on the planting date. Depending on the variety's ripening time, they add another 5-6 days. Then, they can dig up a couple of bulbs to test whether they're ripe. If they're ripe, they can begin harvesting the rest of the plants.
Video: "Harvesting Onions from the Garden"
The video talks about how and when to harvest onions.
When to harvest onions in Siberia
When growing onions in Siberia, it's important to accurately determine when farmers will begin harvesting. The following signs should be noted:
- most of the plants fell to the ground (from 60 to 80% of the total number);
- lying onion leaves make up about a quarter of the total mass of the plant;
- the lower leaves turned yellow and dried out;
- root system death more than 10%;
- drying of onion necks;
- softening of the false stem of the plant.
When all the onion sets have fallen over by harvest time, their flavor will be significantly reduced. It's also worth noting that delaying harvesting can lead to the emergence of new roots, which will draw nutrients from the plant for further growth.
To determine when to begin digging up root vegetables, look at the plants' appearance. There's no exact time for this process, as much depends on the growing conditions and growth of the vegetable crop. If the stems are bending toward the ground or the tops are turning yellow, you can tell it's time to harvest the sets soon.
When growing onion sets in Siberia, it's worth noting that watering is no longer necessary until the second half of July. In 2025, harvesting was possible as early as early August. In northern regions, it's advisable to begin digging them earlier. Some specialists use plastic sheeting to cover the seedlings. This will prevent excess moisture from seeping into the soil. This will prevent the onions from absorbing moisture and will allow them to be stored in the basement for much longer.
If gardeners don't know the right time to harvest a particular onion variety, missing the deadline can affect the quality of the vegetables. Harvesting sets usually begins in late July. This is best done during dry, hot weather. During this time, the plants can dry out from excess moisture. The later the onions are harvested, the shorter their shelf life will be over winter.
The weather forecast for the coming week, as well as the time for planting vegetable crops, will help determine the time for harvesting in 2025.
Onion harvesting technology
Once the harvesting time has been determined, it's time to consider the harvesting method. Onion sets should be dug up first, followed by leeks if they were planted in a plot with other varieties.
Onions should be harvested carefully. Avoid pulling hard on the tops, as this can damage the tissue or tear off the leaves. This will prevent the onion from storing for long. Harvest with a garden fork or spade. Dig the soil, then lift the spade slightly to loosen the soil. This will allow you to easily remove the onions from the soil without damaging the bulbs or leaves. Avoid picking off the onion scales, as they protect the onion from damage and also extend its shelf life.
After digging up onions during the day, you can leave them on the ground until evening to dry thoroughly. Then, before dark, store them in a dry, periodically ventilated place. Drying in this manner can take several days or even a week. In the morning, if the weather is dry, take the onions out into the sun, and in the evening, remove them or cover them with plastic. It's best if they are turned throughout the day. The sun can not only remove excess moisture from the plant but also kill most of the harmful microorganisms remaining on the surface.
In the past, gardeners didn't trim the tops of their onions when harvesting them. After the onions dried, these tops were used to braid the fruit into large bundles. The tops were intertwined, forming a long braid. This allowed the onions to be hung in the attic or pantry, saving space. This method is convenient and practical.
Nowadays, farmers prefer to trim the tops of the peas. They cut the tops off, leaving a small shoot about 10 centimeters long. It's not recommended to remove the tops all the way to the bulb, as pathogens can enter the peas, causing them to spoil. If you follow these guidelines, the harvest can be preserved for a long time.
Video: How to Determine When Onions Are Ready to Harvest
This video explains methods for determining the ripeness of onions.