When to lift onions

[rary]

All the stems of my Autumn planted onions are bent over and lying on the ground, they have been like this for two or three weeks now but the leaves are still a fresh looking green, should I leave them in the ground or start lifting?

[ameno]

If you are lifting them to store, leave them until they actually go yellow. This will allow the skins to harden properly so that they keep.
You can start lifting them one or two at a time to eat straight away, though, as they are unlikely to get any bigger.

[Jungle Jane]

They taste better after they’ve cured a bit. I’d lift them now if they’ve fallen over,they’ll dry better out the soil where the roots can stay dry. Leave them somewhere not in direct sun. When the leaves are dried cut them & the roots removing the dried soil,try not to break off any peel it’s all protective layers,if you want to eat them you can peel them

[Tripmeup]

Rary
If you are happy with the size ( unlikely to change much now though), you could loosen them from the soil by gently pulling them free and leave them to dry a little on the soil.
Then you need to put them somewhere under cover (probably) to dry out fully.

You can obviously use these onions now too as and when you need them. Some people like this "fresher" tasting onion anyway..

[Snadger]

I intend easing mine with the fork to break the roots a bit and allow them to ripen. I have started eating them as and when we require onions for the house as well though.

The Japs don't store too well and I have spring planted onion sets waiting in the wings to keep as stored onions when they mature..

[burnie]

I guess the theory would be if the stems are green and photosynthesising then the onions should be still growing, but I think from experience that may not be the case.

[Snadger]

Mine are huge and a few of them have split. That's the main reason why I want to stop them growing!

[keat63]

Some of mine are still actively growing, but we've lifted a few, as we go through tons and I'd rather not buy any.

[greenishfing]

I pulled my Autumn planted onions a couplè of weeks ago. They are the best I have ever grown. I am happily eating them and giving them away to family hoping that the Spring planted ones ( of which I have lots) will be equally good.

[burnie]

My over wintered sets look dismal, but the seed grown mammoth reds are still growing strongly and swelling well, I'm hopeful of at least one that will over 5 pounds.

[rary]

Thanks for the answers Folks, with what has been said I decided to start lifting them at present I have loosened the roots and hopefully I will be able to get them dried though that is always a problem for me as its rare to get three dry days together

[Tripmeup]

I pulled most of my Autumn planted ones today and good crop as usual..
As usual with the reds though, some have bolted..

[Snoop Puss]

My penny's worth: lift a few and have a look at the roots. If they seem short or few in number, it's time to lift them.

[Sweet savory]

Hi
I have grown onions from seed for the first time this year. Outside leaves are yellowing but most are still green and obvs growing. Var b’ford champion. Apparently we will have significant rain at the end of the week (none for at least the last 3) Will this help or hinder their readiness? Was thinking they would not be ready until at least the beginning of august.Have had a quick furtle and they look a decent size.

[Snoop Puss]

^By the sound of it, your onions are still underground (not risen above the surface). If that's the case, they've probably got quite a few weeks still to go. Rary was asking about onions he planted out last autumn, and those tend to be ready about now or very soon.

When did you plant yours out?