How to Cure and Store Onions and Garlic

Cure onions 2 to 3 weeks and garlic 3 to 4 weeks somewhere dry and airy, until the necks are dry. Then store both cold and dry: 32 to 40F and 65 to 70% hu...

Published 2026-10-07 by ThriveThyme

onion garlic curing storage

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The Short Answer

Cure onions for 2 to 3 weeks and garlic for 3 to 4 weeks in a dry, airy, shaded spot until the necks are dry and tight. Trim, then store both cold and dry: 32 to 40F and 65 to 70% humidity. A home fridge is fine for both. Use mesh bags or crates, never sealed plastic.

See every storage crop on the Harvest Storage Desk.

Onions

• Pull onions after most tops fall over and start to dry.
• Cure 2 to 3 weeks somewhere warm, dry, and airy. They are ready when the necks are dry and the skins rustle when you handle them.
• Cut the tops to about 1 inch above the bulb.
• Store at 32 to 40F and 65 to 70% humidity in mesh bags or slatted crates.
• Pungent storage onions keep longest. Mild, sweet onions keep the shortest, so eat those first.
• Expect about 4 months in home storage. Near 32F, good storage types can last longer.

Garlic

• Dig garlic when the lower leaves brown and about 4 to 5 upper leaves are still green. See when to harvest garlic.
• Cure 3 to 4 weeks in shade with good airflow, until the necks are dry.
• Brush off loose soil and skin. Trim the roots and stems after curing.
• Store at 32 to 40F and 65 to 70% humidity. Expect 6 to 7 months.
• Set aside the biggest, firmest heads for fall planting. The Garlic Desk has your zone's window.

Where to Keep Them

University of Minnesota Extension notes that a home fridge runs about 40F at 50 to 60% humidity. That is fine for long-term onion and garlic storage, but too dry for most other vegetables. A cold room or garage also works if it stays above freezing.

Do Not

• Do not store onions or garlic in sealed plastic bags. Trapped moisture leads to mold and rot.
• Do not store them in a damp basement. Humid air leads to mold and rot.
• Do not let them freeze.

Next Steps

1. Cure and store the rest of the harvest with the Harvest Storage Desk. 2. Plant garlic for next year with the Garlic Desk.

Shop onion seed for next season at Seeds Now.

Sources

• Colorado State University Extension fact sheet 7.601, Storage of home-grown vegetables
• University of Minnesota Extension, Harvesting and storing home garden vegetables
• University of Minnesota Extension, Postharvest handling of fruit and vegetable crops
• UC Davis Postharvest Technology Center storage chart, based on USDA Agriculture Handbook 66
• University of Wisconsin Extension A1135, Storing vegetables at home