[skywalker]

My onions grown from seed (sown end of Jan) which are currently in the conservatory got very long whilst still very thin resulting in them bending over, some all the way over and touching the ground. Basically they were too thin to support their own weight but continued to grow healthily and were around 4 inches long. (Most of them being 2 shoots each off the main stem.) I decided to trim them to around 2 1/2 inches long around a week ago. Since then further shouts emerged each one now having generally 3 shoots and growing fairly rapidly. The main stem also appears to have thickened up a bit and I am generally happy with them. My question is though being a complete novice to the whole thing - Have I done the right thing??
Please advise!!       :oops:   :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:

[John]

I don't think so but if they're surviving just say phew.

[shaun]

sometimes they start to rot from the tip of the 1st shoot and cutting of that is sometimes the norm should be ok like john says,well you top n tail leeks dont yer dont do them any harm

[DadBear]

I don't think so but if they're surviving just say phew.

are they allright then if they are so thin that they bend over....? mine are doing that now and i've staked them up.. pic on my thread onion stems...hmmm :?

[John]

Well you can stake and use little plastic ring things - all seems a lot of fuss for eating onions.

[corndolly]

I grew onions from seeds too and planted them out , but the rabbit/s? nibbled the ends of the stems , similar action to your trimming them, they have sent up new shoots and hopefully will get over this .Once they get to about 6-8 " the rabbits dont bother with them. I did trim the roots before planting them , as I do with leeks , I believe it helps the plant  roots to settle in their new home quicker.

[Annie]

Someone on here recommended trimming the tops a little(not sure about a drastic hair cut) and mine have also done well since.Not too sure when I should plant out though.

[shaun]

well mine are going in today annie they have done realy well.also I have been givin a few of the robinsons giant ones,now these can grow to around 6lb   :shock:

[Annie]

Well,I`d better think about hardening them off then.How big are yours(onions)?

[shaun]

this big annie(8"-10") and the robinsons are about the same size i gave them 12" spacing because there going to be huge  

[Trillium]

When all my onions and leeks get tall and floppy, they all get a haircut. Why? Because all the garden centres here do it to the ones they sell and the plants are vigorous little fellas. I leave about 6" on and they're off and running, but once in the ground they're on their own.

[WG.]

Trimming onion foliage goes against the grain for me, I must say.  Reason is that wounded foliage at harvest time is the major source of neck rot.  Perhaps this isn't relevant before harvest but since I don't know, I don't do.

[John]

I discussed this with some champion onion growers from the NVS  - they grow wonderful table onions too - and they were amazed anyone would trim onion foliage.

It used to be the practice with leeks at transplant time but has been shown to be counter-productive.

[DadBear]

I discussed this with some champion onion growers from the NVS  - they grow wonderful table onions too - and they were amazed anyone would trim onion foliage.

It used to be the practice with leeks at transplant time but has been shown to be counter-productive.

Interesting thread this, I made a mistake by starting some onions under a cloche, with the result that they became all tall and floppy. i decided to experiment and cut them back to about 4" some weeks ago. They have all made a wonderful recovery and are growing strong and thick, perhaps this is due to the powers of recovery of the Centurion Onion, !!!

[shaun]

i dont think you should trim healthy plants, i got told when they are seedlings and sometimes they can start to rot from the tip,you should trim the rotting top off to stop it from spreading down the plant