Variety traits

Storage life — onion

Allium cepa L. var. cepa

The ability of bulbs to maintain market quality after harvest, assessed on a five-point scale based on the percentage of marketable yield. Key factors include dry matter content (17–22%), timeliness of harvest, and adherence to nutrient management practices.

In the reference 151 varieties crop Onion, where this is mentioned in the description.

To assess the storage life of onions, a five-point scale is used, where high scores correspond to a shelf life of 90% or higher, and low scores to 65% or less. The indicator is calculated as the ratio of the mass of healthy bulbs to the total mass of the batch at the end of the storage period, which for breeding samples can reach 6–9 months.

Technologically, storage life depends on the formation of well-developed dry outer scales. Excess nitrogen at the end of the growing season leads to the formation of a "thick" neck, which reduces storage stability, whereas phosphorus fertilizers promote scale strengthening. An important indicator of storage potential is the dry matter content in the bulbs, for which optimal values range from 17–22%.

A critical condition for storage life is timely harvesting during mass leaf lodging, which ensures a dry neck. Premature harvesting or excessive soil moisture before harvest prevents the formation of a proper "skin," making long-term storage impossible.

General information about the subject — on the page Keeping quality.

Sources8

Varieties of Onion mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.