How to harvest onion seeds and when to do it

What onion seeds can be harvested

A variety of species are suitable for this: onion, leek, chives, batun, shallots. Try to remember which seeds or sets you are planted. If it was a varietal vegetable, you can safely remove planting material from it. And if the onion package was labeled F1, then you have a hybrid variant growing. It is obtained by crossing several varieties, and it is not suitable for reproduction. By sowing the collected seeds, you can get an unpredictable result that will differ from the mother plant.

When to harvest onion seeds

Approximate dates for this are the second half of July - mid-September. However, it is better to focus on the appearance of the bow, or rather, the inflorescences on the arrow. When the seed boxes on the umbrella dry up, just start to crack, and black seeds become visible from them, you can start collecting.

Do not hesitate to collect the seeds, otherwise they will scatter on the ground. If for some reason you do not have time to cut the inflorescences on time, wrap them with gauze and tie them with a string at the base. So

planting material will be protected from the wind and wait in the wings.

How to collect onion seeds

Cut the inflorescences with the stem so that its length is about 10–15 cm.

Put the inflorescences on a plate and place it in a well-ventilated place under a canopy where the sun's rays do not fall.

Leave the umbrellas for one to two weeks to dry completely until the stems are light and brittle.

When the inflorescences dry, take a deep container. Place two or three umbrellas over it. Tap them on the palm of your hand and knead with your hands to extract the black seeds.

Rub the contents of the bowl with your hands to separate the seeds from the rest of the florets. Shake the container at a slight inclination - so the grains roll down. And then collect the husk with your hands and discard. It's okay if some seeds get into the trash, and vice versa.

How to store onion seeds

Pack the seeds in small plastic or paper bags.

Close the packages and do not forget to sign so as not to get confused.

Store onion seeds in a dark, dry and cool place. In the spring they can be plant for seedlings or send directly to the ground.