Why do onions pop out of the ground?

[Dynamo]

Any ideas?

[veggiechicken]

1. If you push the sets into the ground, the new roots will push the onion upwards. Make a hole first, and plant the set in it, leaving the tip exposed.

2. They may be pulled out by birds

[Dynamo]

This is what I can't really understand. The onions I've planted are all in pots in compost prior to planting in the ground. All are well planted into the compost and some have no roots on them when they pop out. Some have nice long roots though. Has anyone ever done a proper study on the subject?

[cptncrackoff]

Alot of people blame birds.. i wonder if the move themselves around like tulips etc if not planted totally upright... maybe a hidden camera is in order.

I had to re-plant 2 or 3 out of 125... hmmm

[Bill HH]

It is (or some would have you think) obviously to do with the lunar cycle, The pull of the moon moves the worlds oceans so how much easier for it to yank the odd onion up.

[kathyd]

I don't understand it either. I planted all mine using a dibber, having read warnings on here about pushing them in being definitely dodgy, and I've had them covered with debris netting ever since to keep the cats and chickens (and therefore the wild birds) off them, but I noticed yesterday that the majority of them seem to be lying on their sides now. I think they must find left-over supplies of slug beer and have raves late at night while I'm not watching...

[bearded bloke]

So between them Bill & Kathy have sorted a problem that has baffled gardening professionals for decades ... The onions are getting drunk in the evening & going out "on the pull" due to romantic notions caused by the full moon

[MarkHackwell]

I now have images of these onions popping out the ground and onto someone else's plot

[Bill HH]

I have images of Niel Armstrong stepping onto the moon and saying "One small step for man, one giant leap for..........Jesus Houston the place is covered with Goddam onion sets"

[bearded bloke]

BTT..I was always told to "dib" a hole too deep,half fill it with compost then put the set in & cover over,something to do with the roots not being able to penetrate the sides/bottom of the hole due to compaction when dibbing.
That said,some time ago (years) I was watching a tv program & the presenter (???) said he always made the hole with his finger,if that was not possible then the the bed needed more preparation,which sort of bears out the notion of compacted soil.

[darcyvuqua]

Any ideas?

Pop corn envy there just trying to get main stream

[Alison]

I think your soil type may have a bearing too as they don't seem to pop out on my plot.

[SlugLobber]

They don't do it on mine, either! I find the odd one disturbed by birds, but I put mine under straw in the Autumn and the only disturbed patch is very rabbity!! Quite like the idea of raving onions...

[Tripmeup]

My onions are well behaved and generally stay where they are told to...

[Penellype]

I cover mine with netting or fleece after pushing them into soft soil by hand, covering all of the onion skin with soil. This year my piece of fleece was a little short and some onions were not covered.
Result:
Onions lying on top of the soil under the fleece: 0
Onions lying on top of the soil outside the fleece: 8 out of 12.
The soil has scratch marks in it and other parts of the soil nearby has also been flung about. 99% certain this is blackbirds.