probably a simple answer. . . .

[pinkprincess]

I am fairly new to the whole growing your own thing and I planted some onions last autumn but how do I know when they are ready?
I have read the green bits go yellow but is it all the green bit or just the end of the tips? I have looked for some pics of onions ready for havest but cannot find any. Can anyone please help?

[zazen999]

What types of onions - seeds or sets?

i googled 'onions ready for harvest' for you and found these images. They are usually ready when the leaves all die back.

onions ready for harvest - Google Image Search

[pinkprincess]

that fantastic - thanks loads - don't think they are quite there yet. They are sets I planted then last september(i Think!)

[Lottieval]

Hi Pinkprincess, I think you'll probably have to wait until July-ish, depending on the weather and where you are, but as the season goes on you can probably pull one or two of the larger ones if you need an onion and don't want to buy, but if you want them to keep you have to wait for them to mature.
Good luck with all your growing.

[Snadger]

Autumn sown/planted onions are best used as a stopgap until the spring planted maincrops are ready.

They will mature a couple of weeks before the others but won't keep very long. If you have quite a few, start using them before they are fully mature and as soon as they have reasonable size bulbs!

btw once the tops fall over you can ease a fork under them to break the hold the roots have, this will hasten ripening!

[gojiberry]

If you have spring sown sets on the go then follow Snadgers advice and start using as soon as you think they are big enough. Mine have started to bulb out but are still a little on the small side so I will be leaving mine till at least the start of June and maybe later.

Ian