Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Store Onion Sets

...
green onions image by William Berry from Fotolia.com

Waiting too long to plant onions from seeds does not mean you have to miss out on planting onions. Selecting onion sets and storing them until ready to plant will give you a head start. Some interchange onion sets with onion transplants, but the transplants refer to older onion plants between eight and 10 weeks for growing large onions while the sets have bulbs less than 1 inch wide for smaller mature onions. When looking for sets, opposites reign. Smaller bulbs at the bottom of sets grow best into larger onions while sets with large bulbs should be used for green onions as they may flower before producing a large bulb. To keep your sets healthy for planting you must properly store them until ready for growth, usually between March and April.

Remove the onion sets from their container and separate them into two piles: those with bulbs larger than a dime and those with smaller bulbs.

  • Waiting too long to plant onions from seeds does not mean you have to miss out on planting onions.
  • Remove the onion sets from their container and separate them into two piles: those with bulbs larger than a dime and those with smaller bulbs.

Set a window screen on top of four bricks, each placed under one of the corners of the screen.

Lay the two piles of onion sets on top of the screen in a single layer with at least one inch of space around each plant to allow for air circulation.

Keep the onion sets in a cool, dry and dark place such as a basement or cool pantry for up to three weeks, or until ready to plant.

Onion Sets Vs. Onion Plants

Sets are small, dry onion bulbs that have been grown the previous year. They are the easiest for many gardeners to grow. Round sets will produce a flattened onion, and tear shaped or elongated sets will produce round onions. They were produced from seed in the year they were sold. Cover with soil and irrigate. Short daylength winter onions should be planted in October to January and long daylength onions between January and March. to San Francisco, short day length south of that line and intermediate day length for several miles on either side of the line. When an onion sends up a flower stalk, it is called bolting.

  • Set a window screen on top of four bricks, each placed under one of the corners of the screen.
  • Keep the onion sets in a cool, dry and dark place such as a basement or cool pantry for up to three weeks, or until ready to plant.

Tip

Purchase your onion sets as soon as they are available in garden centers to prevent the plants from improper commercial storage.

Related Articles

How to Plant Onion Sets
How to Plant Onion Sets
How to Plant Onion Bulbs in the Spring
How to Plant Onion Bulbs in the Spring
How Long Does It Take for Onions to Fully Grow?
How Long Does It Take for Onions to Fully Grow?
How to Stop Onions From Sprouting
How to Stop Onions From Sprouting
How and When to Plant Onion Sets in Tennessee
How and When to Plant Onion Sets in Tennessee
How to Plant Onions in Colorado
How to Plant Onions in Colorado
How to Grow Onions in East Texas
How to Grow Onions in East Texas
How to Grow an Onion in a Jar
How to Grow an Onion in a Jar
How to Plant Onion Sets in Pennsylvania
How to Plant Onion Sets in Pennsylvania
Onion Plants
Onion Plants
How to Plant Onion Sets in Florida
How to Plant Onion Sets in Florida
How to Plant & Grow Walla Walla Onions
How to Plant & Grow Walla Walla Onions
How to Identify Bulbs
How to Identify Bulbs
How to Grow Onions From Bulbs
How to Grow Onions From Bulbs
How to Plant & Fertilize Garlic Correctly
How to Plant & Fertilize Garlic Correctly
How to Plant and Care for Texas Supersweet Onions
How to Plant and Care for Texas Supersweet Onions
Garden Guides
×