Onions going soft and mildewy

[RandAParticipant]

I wonder why this year for the first time after 5 years no dig, my onions, I grew from sets, have gone soft with Grey mold on them, in store. I harvested them in the dry weather after all the tops had fallen over. I left them out in the dry air for 24 hours then stored them in a dry barn that has daylight and on a ventilated shelf. It did get warm in the barn on the sunny days. This year I thought, because it was so hot and dry when we harvested, we had a bumper crop, but it is not turning out like that as they are not keeping. The type is early fen and red baron please can any one help?

[alParticipant]

Mine have been like this too though I am storing for the first time in a brick shed in the dark so thought it might just be too damp haven’t negotiated agreement to keep them hanging in the kitchen!

[charlesModerator]

Dry warmth is best for onions, dryness especially.
Al, say how they look so nice hanging in a kitchen!!
RandA my money is on the sets bringing some disease. I never had problems from seed-grown onions in dry years like we just had. And there was probably a bit of grey mould there at harvest time, fungus on leaves.

[allotmentdaveParticipant]

I too have grown onions in raised beds this year at home as I have given up my allotment now due to severe weed problems
on the site.
So far all is well I have them strung up in a cupboard in the house which is warm and dry.
I will keep a close eye on them for any problems.

[Author]

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