Onion Tops

[JimineyC]

How do.
The onions I have are beginning to swell up and poke the top of the bulbs above the soil. Should I keep the tops covered with soil or are they free to leave exposed?

[Shortie]

Hi JimineyC

Last year mine were pactically rolling in the ground there was so little left underground

Didn't cause me any problems, and I think it's actually what they do anyway..?

[Lesley Jay]

Hi JimineyC! Welcome! Just leave your onions to grow. The bulbs should be sitting on the ground when they are fully grown with just the roots in the ground.

[Shortie]

Phew, that's what mine did last year... thought it was a bit odd but obviously not

[Peter]

Onions are one plant that likes it hot and dryish, especially once the bulb is swelling, obviously they need some water, but the nearer to harvest the more sun you want on the bulb, it also improves the flavour.

[JennieAtkinson]

Hellow JimineyC - I grew onions for the first time last year and I was amazed at how the roots hung on when I tried to dig them up! There was so much of the onion above ground, I wondered how on earth they didn't topple over. But there was obviously alot of root holding them there.

[Doggler]

Ah hah! This is the answer I've been looking for. Guess I should have tried searching the threads earlier. This is my first year growing onions in pots and I thought I'd done something seriously wrong when they started coming out of the soil. Another lesson learnt, thanks to the Vine...