WESTSIDE Storage Onion Update January

This last summer we trialed all the storage onions we could get our hands on that were quick enough maturity for western Washington.
For information about eastern Washington trials, email ronhull@osborneseed.com

We are no longer able to provide Redwing or Red Bull, and Copra has been discontinued for everyone. We knew there had to better varieties out there.
After taking lots of observations over the growth cycle of our onion trial, we harvested them all and let them cure in the sun for 1 week, when we had to bring them in due to rain. We put them in wooden/chicken wire bulb trays in the warehouse, with a door open and a fan pushing air through the stacks. This was a daily occurrence for 1 month, when we moved them into a room in the back of the warehouse. A little less humidity than some barns, but just as cold.



Every month or so we have been sorting through the varieties and noting which ones are continuing to store with continued high quality.
Here is our October statements based on previous trial results...
http://vegtrials.blogspot.com/2011/11/onion-trials-for-western-wa.html

Here is our January report, along with some current pictures...

Yellow keepers:
Trekker and Trailblazer are fantastic!
Trailblazer is a little larger and more uniform in size and color, but otherwise they are keeping equally well, with very few removed. Copra is not keeping as well, and tends to be a little more elongated of an onion, as well as small.
We were able to get Trekker seed this year, and we coated some of the untreated seed with an organic coating.
Trailblazer was not available, we will try again for next year.


Trekker F1


Trailblazer F1

Joliet is keeping quite well, and is a large clean onion.


Joliet F1

If you are wanting a large onion (jumbo size) that cures on the westside and keeps well, try Esteem. It is keeping very well for a large onion.



Esteem F1


Red Keepers:
Due to previous experience with Ruby Ring, we thought that it would hold longer than Cabernet. Much to our surprise, Cabernet is holding better and is very easy to clean up.
Our hypothesis is that since Cabernet cured down so much earlier than Ruby Ring, the onion necks cured down very well and is elongating the storage window. Ruby Ring needed to be crimped, but did cure down nicely afterwards, but did not have as much time curing outside.
Redwing has not held, and is no longer saleable.



Cabernet F1