You can eat onions at any point in their growth cycle, including immediately after harvest.
Eating Onions Fresh vs. Cured
- Fresh Onions: Onions can be consumed directly after harvesting. These will be fresher and often milder in flavor. Both the bulb and the green tops are edible.
- Cured Onions: Curing is primarily for long-term storage. If you plan to store your onions for an extended period, they need to be properly cured before being stored. Curing involves drying the onions, typically spread out in a sunny location with good air circulation, allowing them to dry before storing them.
Eating Onions at Different Stages
You can enjoy onions at every stage of their development:
- Scallions/Green Onions: These are immature onions harvested before a bulb forms. The entire plant, including the green tops, is edible.
- Spring Onions: Harvested a little later than scallions, these have a small bulb.
- Mature Onions: These are the fully grown, bulbed onions harvested for storage.
Onions for Storage
If your goal is to store the onions for later use, the curing process is critical. After pulling the onions from the ground:
- Spread them out: Arrange them in a single layer in a sunny, well-ventilated area.
- Ensure air circulation: This helps prevent rot and allows the onions to dry thoroughly.
- Curing time: This process usually takes a few weeks. Onions are cured when the outer skins are dry and papery, and the neck is tight.
