[666]

They are not all that big either!  Is that it, shall I dig them up or will they keep growing?

[beansticks]

When the stems begin to fall over it usually signals the end of their growing cycle,however make sure it is not wind damage.Personally i would leave them in the ground for a week or two,if you do lift them ,make sure you use a fork,dont just pull them out with your hands.

[SG6]

They're supposed to fall over.
The RHS say if they haven't then bend them over by hand.
After that the onions "develop".

Not sure what develop means but I assume that it means the onions start to bulk up.

Mine didn't do anything until well after they had flopped over.

[SnooziSuzi]

They're supposed to fall over.
The RHS say if they haven't then bend them over by hand.
After that the onions "develop".

Not sure what develop means but I assume that it means the onions start to bulk up.

Mine didn't do anything until well after they had flopped over.

Another school of thought is that by forcing them over before the onion is ready you could introduce rot into the onion and lose the lot

[DD.]

Actually - the RHS say this......

"Onions can be harvested when the foliage turns yellow and starts to topple over. Although it is sometimes suggested to bend over the foliage or gently lift the bulbs to break the roots this is no longer recommended. Leave for two to three weeks and then carefully lift with a garden fork."

[SG6]

The RHS vegetable growing one I have states:
"If the leaves have not toppled over naturally, by this time, whichsometimes happens in wet weather, bend them over by hand to assist ripening."

So go argue with the RHS, not me. I simply have stated what I can read.

Page 110, section Onion 2, RHS Growing Vegetables by Tony Biggs.

[DD.]

My quote is from the up to date website.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/GROWYOUROWN/onion.asp

Where did I argue with you?

Likewise, I merely quoted what I read.

[Mitsy]

My shallots had fallen over so I dug them up today. Various sizes all useable though. Red and white onions still swelling a treat 

[aelf]

my rule is: sqeeze the stem down near the bulb, if it's firm, leave it. If it's soft, lift it. As already said, the wind can lean the stems over but if they are firm, the bulb is still growing.

[sunshineband]

Do onions carry on bulking up once the leaves have bent over?

Or are the stems then just drying off and roots drying up?

[DD.]

When they do that - their time is up.

[sunshineband]

Well this year's crop will be a modest tennis ball or less size  but that's quite usable  Shallots are OK too and loose enough to pull out.

When it stops raining for long enough I'll get them into the shed I think