Onion tops dying off

[Marb67]

I have some red barron and white onions which have been doing very well (last year's sets that didn't grow so planted again) But until late, I had to cut the flower tops off and since then the tops have shrived and died leaving the half grown bulb. The roots show no sign of onion fly so what could it be ?

[Alison]

They've simply finished their life cycle. You don't want them to flower as that will stop growth but they are designed by nature to flower in their second year to produce seed and continue existence through new plants. The parent has then done it's job and will do no more. Unfortunately there is nothing really you can do but hopefully you'll do better. Ext year with new sets / seed.

[veggiechicken]

Sorry Marb but your onions were doomed to failure (ie flower) the moment you planted them.
You need to plant new sets and seeds each year to harvest onions - unless you want to save seeds from them.

[Bigmallly]

What the ladies above have said............first year for Onions, second year for seeds.

[Marb67]

So why have a lot of my new sets planted spring this year failed to swell and the tops die off ?

[jaykay]

This has happened with my onion sets too. They were doing well but leaves (not sure if that's the right name for onion greenery) have now disappeared, looks like something has eaten the tops. Normally onions are a reliable crop for me but not this year. Am left with small bulbs at best, empty spaces at worst.

[KevinM67]

This has happened with my onion sets too. They were doing well but leaves (not sure if that's the right name for onion greenery) have now disappeared, looks like something has eaten the tops. Normally onions are a reliable crop for me but not this year. Am left with small bulbs at best, empty spaces at worst.

From another post on here - it appears to be a problem with many this year.

Strange !!

[Dorothy rouse]

Marb, my onion sets planted in the Spring, in a 'new bed' have also failed this year, (autumn planted sets, great), see thread yesterday, 'Rubbish Onions'.

I've dug them all out today, may pickle some if I can be bothered! If not I'll just them 'whole' in casseroles.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have had a 50/50 year with my red onions whilst my whites have done very well.

Onions sets by their very nature are in their second year when you buy them, that's why I buy the heat treated ones to try and delay bolting.

Also have you checked for caterpillars inside the leaves?

[Martin H]

This has happened with my onion sets too. They were doing well but leaves (not sure if that's the right name for onion greenery) have now disappeared, looks like something has eaten the tops.

This happened to my spring-planted sets too. Some of them got to a reasonable size, but really they were disappointing considering how good they looked a couple of months ago.

I didn't look for caterpillars among the leaves because there weren't any leaves. Whatever ate them seems to be long gone.

[arpoet]

I grew from spring planted sets and had quite good results. I harvested em before the weekend rains and they are drying nicely in the cold greenhouse.