[RJR_38]

In the 5 days since I last went down the allotment my onions have grown lots but they also seem to have pushed themselves closer to the surface. About half of them now have the majority of the bulb above the surface (some pushed themselves out completely). Do I need to earth them up and make sure the bulb is covered or do I leave them as they are? I have noticed it on several other people's plots as well

[DD.]

Leave them, the bulb grows above the surface.

[Kleftiwallah]

If you earth them up, they may rot  !

Cheers,   Tony.

[RJR_38]

Ok - thanks! As you can tell this is my first year. I just assumed the bulb grew under the surface - oops

[grinling]

you might have birds pecking at them and pulling them out, if so pop back in.

[JohnB47]

I get this effect when I 'chit' them by pre growing them in compost. The root growth can be so vigorous that it pushes the bulbs up. If you're seeing that, it suggests you have lovely soft soil!

[Salmo]

I would be inclined to pull a little soil against the plants with a hoe or rake. Not a great mound but just enough to help them become stable. This will fall away later as the onions grow and you hoe along the rows to control weeds.

[RJR_38]

I get this effect when I 'chit' them by pre growing them in compost. The root growth can be so vigorous that it pushes the bulbs up. If you're seeing that, it suggests you have lovely soft soil!

I wish I did! I have grown them in one of the front beds which are quite clay-y.

I did have them netted as I read that they should be until the leaves are through to prevent the birds but I took this off yesterday now they are an inch or so high. I will keep an eye on the his though, thanks!