[AnnieB]

My onion sets are going pretty well, all germinated and lots of green.
The green is the "problem".

The leaves are easily around 10-12 inches and lying all over the place.

Can I trim them back to say 4 inches ?

Looked round the web and some say yes but in reality not that many so I am left unsure.

This happens every year and I am never sure it is a good idea to have the growth so chaotic everything just gets a mess and some end up under others.

Will be interesting to see if some people do trim and others don't.

[simonwatson]

I've never done this with mine. The leaves are what fuel the swelling later in the growth cycle. More leaf area should mean bigger onions.

[mumofstig]

I agree with Simon - don't trim them.

[Kirpi]

Don't trim - if you do you leve the hollow leaves open to rain, which will fill the leaves and rot the bulb.

Also, as has been said, less leaf area to collect sunlight for bulb growth.

[Beetroot queen]

No trim here either, they just have to look messy 

[plum crumble]

why are you worried about them looking messy? I don't understand 

[Beetroot queen]

why are you worried about them looking messy? I don't understand 

I can understand that 

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

It's harder to hoe them when they're messy, but I guess it's just one of those things.....

[wil4025]

It's harder to hoe them when they're messy, but I guess it's just one of those things.....

Use your hands or space them out wider.

[Totty]

Too much nitrogen causes this, or they will get like it if you start the sets off first indoors. Dont cut them though.

Totty

[grinling]

Later on though when they start producing flower stalk pinch those out and cook off. Same with garlic flower stalks.

[Trillium]

Personally, I trim my tall onions while they're young as it kicks them into action. There are pros and cons to both methods but if it's wet out and the tops are flopped over, then best to trim them to avoid fungus and other problems. They'll send up more shoots that are stronger.