A step-by-step guide on how to preserve onion sets until spring at home

Many gardeners, after collecting or purchasing onion sets in the fall, are interested in how to preserve them at home until spring. To do this, choose a suitable place and monitor the temperature and humidity in the room.

Compliance with these rules will help preserve the seeds until planting and obtain large bulbs without the formation of arrows. We'll talk about the details further.

General rules for storing seedlings before planting

For storage use containers with good ventilation. The seeds are stacked in several layers, but not higher than 30 cm. Self-harvesting is carried out at the end of August.

Whole bulbs are sorted without traces of rotting, dried in the fresh air in the shade or in a warm place at a temperature of +25...30°C.

Save sevok It will only be possible to remain intact before planting in a room where the temperature and humidity levels are maintained.

Choosing a storage location

To avoid early germination, onion sets are stored at a temperature of +2...3°C with a humidity level not exceeding 65%. Such conditions can be created in the basement or cellar. If the temperature is too low, the seeds will lose their viability.

Previously, onions were stored braided. During Soviet times, methods were improved: stockings, wicker baskets, bags made of natural material or boxes with holes were used for storage.

Plastic and wooden boxes

For long-term storage, choose small boxes.When using plastic boxes, they should have holes to allow air to flow evenly. The bulbs are stacked in several layers. This storage method is convenient when there is not enough space in the room.

Canvas bags

Choose small bags with a capacity of bulbs no more than 20 cm in height. They are stored filled, hanging from the ceiling or placed on stands, since contact with the floor or walls causes the accumulation of moisture and rapid rotting of the planting material.

Egg containers

If there is a lack of storage containers, egg containers are used. The trays are moved to racks or special stands and the onions are placed separately in each cell.

Optimal conditions

To create optimal conditions, pay attention to temperature, humidity and ventilation in the room. The most difficult task is ensuring a constant level of air humidity. When the temperature is high, the onion sprouts and putrefactive diseases develop; when the temperature is low, it dries out. Ideal figures are 50-65%.

To protect the crop from drying out, it is sprinkled with the remaining onion peels. Reduce indoor humidity by placing a container with lime, wood shavings or ash.

The room in which stored onions, ventilate. The boxes with the harvest are placed so that there are no obstacles to the free movement of air.

How to prepare sets for long-term storage

To keep onions for a long time, follow these rules:

1. The sets are sorted and sprouted specimens are removed. The bulbs should be whole, with a dry tail.
2. For planting, select seeds ranging in size from 1 to 2.5 cm.
3. After purchase, the seed is dried at a temperature of +30°C for two days. This is done outdoors in the shade, or indoors in rainy weather.In a private house or apartment, onions are laid out next to heating devices, where the air temperature is +25...30°C.
4. If there are traces of rotting on the surface, peel the onion. If it is necessary to completely remove the husk, the planting material is dried again. Then the top layer of the onion will turn into a covering scale.
5. It is recommended to prepare in advance the room where the seeds will be stored. The underground is ventilated at the end of summer or early autumn. Equipment located in the cellar is dried in the fresh air. If mold is present, the damaged areas are cleaned. If there are rotten boards, they are replaced.

Storage methods

Depending on the type of onion store warm, cold or combined methods.

Cold

This method involves placing the seed in a refrigerator, underground or cellar, where the temperature is kept within -3...-1°C. This will protect the bulbs from sprouting and drying out. Two weeks before planting, the seeds are heated to enhance the growing season.

Important! Under no circumstances should the balcony be used for storage. sevka in winter. Constant changes in temperature will lead to rotting or death of planting material.

Warm

This storage method is suitable for those who plan to keep onions for sowing in the apartment. To do this, choose a dry, dark place where the air temperature does not exceed +17…23°C. Seeds are placed in boxes or bags.

The temperature and humidity in the apartment often change, so planting material is periodically poured out and checked for early germination and rot.

Combined

This method involves changing the temperature during storage. Keep the bulbs in a warm place until the first frost. With the beginning of winter, they are placed where the temperature does not drop below zero.

In spring, the seed is placed in a warm room heated to +25°C for 5 days. After this time, the temperature is reduced to +22°C and left until sowing into the ground.

Storing seedlings in the garden until spring

One of the storage options is to plant seedlings in a garden bed in the fall. Onions are resistant to cold weather; seeds germinate with the onset of the first warm days of spring.

If there is no cool room, seeds are buried in the ground in this way:

1. The bottom of a 12-liter bucket is covered with sawdust.
2. Fill in the seeds, leaving a little space for another layer of sawdust.
3. The bucket is covered with a lid and buried in a hole one third larger than the length of the bucket.

What to do if the seedlings begin to rot

To avoid the problem of onion rotting, it is important to properly prepare the planting material and provide suitable storage conditions. But even if all the rules are followed, the source of spoilage can be fungal diseases, stem nematodes, and onion root mites.

When the first signs of rot or spoilage appear, action is taken immediately. To begin with, pour all the planting material onto a flat surface and sort it, discarding all damaged bulbs. If traces of rot appear on the surface or the husks become wet, peel them and dry the onions in a warm place until a new husk forms.

Shelf life

The shelf life of onions depends on the dormant stage of certain varieties and the sufficient content of essential oils and dry substances. Sets of late and spicy varieties are suitable for long-term storage. Early sweet ones, on the contrary, are not stored for more than two months - they begin to deteriorate and sprout.

White onions with yellow skins are the most popular and spicy.They are stored the longest if favorable conditions are created before sowing.

White onion seeds can be stored for up to six months, but are more demanding on indoor conditions. At high humidity, this variety begins to rot.

Red onions do not last long: under normal conditions - no more than two months.

Adviсe

A paper bag will help extend the shelf life. The bulbs are placed in a container, having previously made numerous holes with a hole punch. In such a package, the shelf life will increase to two months.

To keep the sets longer, it is recommended to cut off the top about 5 cm.

Rotating crops on the site will help prevent pest infestation. Onions are planted the next year after early potatoes, cucumbers or cabbage. The bed is reused for onions only after 3 years.

Reviews

Experienced gardeners share secrets on how to preserve onions until spring.

Tatiana, Rostov-on-Don: “We dug up the onions last week and put them under a shed to dry. Today I peeled the husk down to the first coat and put it in wooden boxes. In a week I plan to put it underground and leave it until spring. The temperature there is from 0 to +3°C, it is stored perfectly every year.”

Natalya, Volgograd: “We are used to storing onions in the apartment. I usually make holes in the box and put the seeds there. Then I put it in a dark place and take it out 2-3 times throughout the winter to check the condition of the sets. In winter, the apartment is dry, so the onions are stored until spring.”

Alena, Izhevsk: “I used to keep onion sets in a refrigerator. But often at a temperature of 0...+4°C and high humidity, onions germinate. That’s why lately we put the seeds in the basement or bury them in the ground.”

Conclusion

The main condition for storing onion sets is proper preparation and maintaining the temperature at 0...+3°C. In apartments, seeds measuring 2 cm or more are stored until spring, but seeds that are too small can dry out.

Experienced gardeners recommend planting the latter before winter. The average specimens are sorted and, having selected only suitable bulbs, they are stored for storage under appropriate conditions.