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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: gilly on August 30, 2004, 17:16:19

Title: Bending onion tops
Post by: gilly on August 30, 2004, 17:16:19

Hi

I have a good crop of Albion F1, Red Baron and Sherpa F1 that are still going strong and have very lush green tops - planted in mid June.  The onions are of an average to good size now, but I have read conflicting advice about bending the tops of the onions.  As we live in the south of england (buckinghamshire) the frosts are hopefully still a month away - any tips?

Thanks

Title: Re:Bending onion tops
Post by: Mrs Ava on August 30, 2004, 17:33:41

Going by what has been posted previously, I believe it is totally unecessary to bend the foliage of your onions, and infact, bending and breaking the foliage could allow alsorts of lurgies in.  The fox and the weather did most of mine for me  :(.  I don't think large scale onion growers would have the time to go around and bend all the tops before harvest.  

Title: Re:Bending onion tops
Post by: tim on August 30, 2004, 17:45:46

Let 'em be! = Tim

Title: Re:Bending onion tops
Post by: philcooper on August 31, 2004, 12:20:58

Bending the tops causes bruising that can lead to problems in storage.

The way to stop them growing is to gently ease them out of the ground with a fork, let them lie on the surface and bake in the "sun" this will cause the tops to die back. If the current rain continues this will not work so move them to a dry warmish place and lay them out there.

Phil

Title: Re:Bending onion tops
Post by: tim on August 31, 2004, 12:33:54

Yes - but do you want to stop them growing with all the good weather forecast?? = Tim

Title: Re:Bending onion tops
Post by: philcooper on August 31, 2004, 13:04:25

Mine slowed down in the dry spell to such an extent that they would now split and/or go to seed

Phil

Title: Re:Bending onion tops
Post by: tim on August 31, 2004, 18:04:32

Like tomatoes. Or even potatoes. = Tim