How to store onions for winter without rot or premature sprouting

Storing onions successfully through winter depends less on the calendar date and more on the quality of the drying process and environmental controls. Storing damp or damaged bulbs in a cellar is a primary cause of mid-winter rot and premature sprouting. Preparation and Storage Process This method applies to most onion varieties. For long-term storage, select pungent or semi-pungent varieties, such as Strigunovsky or Zolotisty, as sweet varieties have a shorter shelf life. When to start: Begin when the leaves yellow and fall over, and the neck becomes thin and dry.