Earthing up onions

[Rocketron]

I'm a first timer with onions and about a third of the onion bulb is sticking out of the soil. Do I need to cover them up? Will they go green if they're showing above the soil?

Thanks for any help!

No, they won't go green like spuds and carrots. I've never heard of earthing-up oninos and am wondering if it is a "growing to show" type of thing rather than simply growing to eat.

[zazen999]

I've heard of people growing onions on top of ridges similar to earthed up tatties! You can then flood the valleys and help keep water away from the basal plate, which in turn should go some way to alleviating fungal problems.

Good point well made - I've got about 10 of these so I'll see if they have any sign of rot - it might be a good get out clause in the mission to avoid rot.

[Hazel at the Hill]

..... he looked horrified and asked if we were going to earth up our onions...they all do it apparently.

Hmm - you don't think that there's a little rosbif ribbing here....?

[Nicos]

Thats easily done. I'm at the lottie at least two days out of three on average and it would only take two minutes to give them a good soaking.

I like the idea of your experiment ...remember you'll need to water all of them though ( don't blame me if they rot !!!)

[Nicos]

Hmm - you don't think that there's a little rosbif ribbing here....?

Hadn't thought of that...and nope- it's not 'Jour de Poisson' ( April fools day)....but nope- the guy had earthed his up ages ago
....I even asked him to show me his onions !( hmmmm...that sounds a bit naughty doesn't it!!!!!)

[Snadger]

Hadn't thought of that...and nope- it's not 'Jour de Poisson' ( April fools day)....but nope- the guy had earthed his up ages ago
....I even asked him to show me his onions !( hmmmm...that sounds a bit naughty doesn't it!!!!!)

And did he?????

[Nicos]

And did he?????

but of course!!!

[TEB]

but of course!!!

Were they big or does he drive a red sports car

[Nicos]

You silly man....e waz on eez bicycle!!!!!

[TEB]

You silly man....e waz on eez bicycle!!!!!

lol, I thought we were talking about Onions

[King Carrot]

I've heard of people growing onions on top of ridges similar to earthed up tatties! You can then flood the valleys and help keep water away from the basal plate, which in turn should go some way to alleviating fungal problems.

Growing mine on the ridge on the left this year to increase drainage and ventilation, so far so good:

[smallblueplanet]

Interesting - can we have a photo of your neighbours onions please Nicos?!

[Dynamo]

Right folks. I've done the experiment.

The first pic is of the rows of onions before I touched them....



.....and the second pic is after. The nearest 3rd of the rows are earthed up, the middle 3rd are left as they are, and the top 3rd have been fingered. I'll keep you up to date with what happens.



Here is a closer look at the ones that were earthed up.



To be honest, I'm not expecting much difference in the yields, but I have to say I'm a bit worried that the earthed up ones may suffer with being covered up and maybe contract some sort of disease. We'll soon find out though.

[Nicos]

good on ya!!!...I love a good scientific experiment!!!

[zazen999]

When you fingered the rest, did you end up by clearing the soil out of the way of the growing bulbs like this....?