Does anyone 'cut' their onions

[Westi]

Picked up a local paper at the garden centre and their is an article in it on onions from seed. It says 'keep tops trimmed to about 4inches'. I've not heard this before - does anyone do it and why do you?

Westi

[Arnie]

Hi Westi

I have done this with Leeks but never with Onions. With leeks I always top and tail them before I plant them, they would be about 6 to 8 long, makes it easier when dropping them in the dibbed holes.

Kind Regards

Kevin

[Primrose]

I've never heard of this process. Wouldn't it damage the onions and leave the cut stems open to bacteria or rotting, and wouldn't the plants have to use some of their energy trying to heal themselves, rather than trying to grow?

I've heard of some people cutting off extensive leek roots from seedlings before planting out but I've never bothered, and with all the fuss of having to bend down and use a dibber for making the leek holes before planting them I really couldn't be bothered to trim off any surplus roots as well.

Is there any scientific evidence that doing this actually produces any better plants?

[Johnboy]

Hi Primrose,
Topping and tailing of leeks is now almost a thing of the past but in the days when they were grown in nursery rows the actual removal from their growing position used to cause damage the the roots and the foliage hence the topping and tailing with clean cuts to both. Both damaged roots and damaged foliage can cause diseased but clean cuts back to good sound material does not.
My Leeks are now grown in modules and I not only use a dibber I make a V trench about 4" - 6" deep before I insert the dibber and as the Leeks progress I earth them up and generally end up with a slight mound.
This gives me a very well blanched shank and a larger leek than if I were to simple plant them.
I have never heard of cutting back the foliage on onions before Westi's posting.
JB.

[Primrose]

JB - I did try making a shallow v-shaped trench last year before making the dibber holes for my leeks in the hope that I would get longer plants but I didn't earth them up and am not sure that I noticed any great improvement when I came to crop them. I grow Musselburgh. Is there a another variety which grows taller?

[PLUMPUDDING]

I've heard about trimming leeks, but not onions. If you can transplant them without any damage that is much the best option. Why mutilate plants when it isn't necessary and of no benefit?

[realfood]

Musselburgh is a short leek. Many others have longer shanks.

[Westi]

I'm beginning to think it must be a typo but after stating 'keep tops trimmed to 4 ", it adds 'until March or April then set them in your garden' so that doesn't sound likes leeks either as you trim them when you plant them out if you want not in the pots.

It is the Country Gardener magazine but their web site doesn't seem to have a forum or question section only the advertising bits so haven't been able to get further info. Don't know if anyone more IT minded than me might be able to find out what the hell they are talking about as is quite intriging.

Westi

[oldherbaceous]

Westi sits back into cosy chair, glass of wine in hand, still looking puzzled.

[Westi]

Rugby's been on - lager lout with the neighbours today! (but still perplexed). Actually felt let the Aussies down today with the Irish neighbours consumption - don't tell the ancestors.

Westi

[plot103]

From what I can see on the web, this seems to be a method practised more widely in America. Couple of examples:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5683103_trim-onion-plants.html

http://www.gardenguides.com/90703-trim- ... lants.html

[Johnboy]

Hi Plot 103,
On both websites you have quoted I got a security warning and suggest to others that these might not be safe sites to explore.
JB.

[alan refail]

Hi Plot 103,
On both websites you have quoted I got a security warning and suggest to others that these might not be safe sites to explore.
JB.

I had no warning, Johnboy. Just for your interest, here is what it says on the second of the sites. I'm sure your comments on this method of growing onions would be appreciated by the previous posters.

Overview
Boost the flavor of your favorite dinner dish with onions, a pungent and sweet herb that grows a large and juicy bulb underground. Encourage the underground bulb growth by keeping the onion's foliage trimmed. This helps divert the plant's energy and nutrients toward bulb development rather than growing large leaves or flowers. Trim regularly throughout the onion plant's lifetime until harvesting.

Step 1
Set a ruler in a vertical position against the onion with one end resting on the base of the onion where the plant enters the soil.

Step 2
Measure 4 inches from the onion's base and mentally mark where this is on the plant.

Step 3
Grasp the onion leaves together. Use sharp scissors and trim the onion plant at the 4-inch mark. Discard the cut leaves or throw them into your compost pile.

Step 4
Repeat the trimming process as needed to keep the onion plants at a height of 4 inches until harvesting. Onions are ripe and ready for harvest when 25 to 50 percent of its tops have wilted and the onion bulbs have grown a paperesque skin.

[PLUMPUDDING]

Sounds like a control freak who has nothing better to do. Onions grow perfectly well without any messing about.

[Geoff]

It seems a bizarre idea and I have never tried it. Last year my Onions made immense tops and refused to start dying down. I rather more than loosened them in the end but had difficulty drying them. I wonder if letting more light and air to the bulbs this way would help.