Maturity Signs and Harvesting of Onion and Garlic
Maturity Signs of Onion:
1. Harvesting depends upon the purpose for which the crop is planted and maturity will depend upon the variety being used.
2. Green Bunch Onion: Green onion is best when they are of lead pencil unit a small bulb is formed.
3. Ripe Bulbs: Ripe bulb crop is ready for harvest in 3 to 4 months after transplanting. Neck fall is the indication of maturity. The best time to harvest onion is when 60 to 70% of tops have broken over. Development of red pigment and the characteristics pregnancy of the variety are also important harvest indices.
Harvesting of Onion:
If the bulbs are mature, they are pulled out easily by hand if the soil is not hard or compact, otherwise, they may be dug out with a shovel or khurpi.
Maturity Signs of Garlic:
1. The crop may be harvested when the top turns yellowish or brownish and shows sings of drying up.
2. Crop gets ready for harvest in about 100 to 140 days after planting.
Harvesting of Garlic:
The bulbs lifted manually, cleaned and the leaves are tied at the top. The bulbs are dried for a week or so under shade.