Lifting Onions

If you want to store them long term, then yes you will reduce the length of time they store for if you lift them early.

If you have to lift them now, then suggest you chop and freeze them.

I lifted my onions this week. Plenty of the green foliage had died well back, but the intense rain we have had looked to be damaging the onions.
They had plenty of mouldy spots appearing and the outer skins looked sodden. I have now removed the dead foliage from the tops of the onions as they were rotting rather than drying. I cut the worst of the rotting matter off 4 inches from the bulb and where possible removed any mouldy layers of wet skin that looked like it might rot if left.

I've now wiped them dry with some clean cloths and stored them in my garage on a large wire rack.

Do you think they will dry out ok and will I be in with a chance of storing them?

Fatbelly - if your onions have not fallen over yet they are still growing and will be putting on weight. Sown in March I would not really expect them to be ready for another couple of weeks. Once they have fallen over and have obviously given up you can ease them gently with a fork to break their roots. After a few days pull them up and rub any earth off.  Either leave them on the ground or better make some sort of a frame to keep them off the ground and let the air under them. If you can hang them in a shed or greenhouse with plenty of air circulating so much the better. Once they are dry you can cut some of the top off. Leave a good neck as this protects the onion. Just remember that when your onions are dry then dry them some more.

On the subject of gently lifting them to break the roots, the RHS has this to say:

Although it is sometimes suggested to bend over the foliage or gently lift the bulbs to break the roots this is no longer recommended.

Don't ask me why!