Onions are a total staple in any backyard veggie patch. For the most part, growing these tasty bulbs is pretty straightforward, but just like with any garden favorite, there are plenty of old wives’ tales floating around. One of the biggest debates? Whether or not you should bend over the onion tops.
Bending the leaves: Does it actually help?
You’ve probably seen it before—gardeners bending or stomping down the green tops a few days before harvest to “speed up” the ripening process. While it’s a common practice, science has actually debunked this old-school method. In reality, forcing the foliage down messes with the ripening process right when the plant needs those final days the most.
When you “intervene” like this, the bulb isn’t actually finished growing yet. By snapping the greens, you’re cutting off the nutrient supply, forcing the onion into an emergency ripening state. The result? Your onions won’t store nearly as well over the winter. Take it from me: it’s time to ditch this old habit and just practice a little patience!
What you should actually do before harvest
The weeks leading up to harvest are definitely important, but it’s all about knowing what to look for. You’ll know your onions are ready when the greens start to yellow and wither on their own. For summer onions, this usually happens around August. The plant is basically packing all its energy into the bulb to prepare for winter, which naturally causes the neck to weaken and the tops to fall over. Once about two-thirds of your onion tops have flopped over naturally, you’re good to go.
A quick tip: keep an eye out for flower stalks. If an onion bolts (starts to flower), it won’t store well, so you’ll want to snip those off right away—unless, of course, you’re planning to save your own seeds for next year. Also, stop watering your onion bed a few weeks before you plan to pull them. Onions finish ripening best in dry soil.
Bending onion tops: The bottom line
- Bending the foliage by hand is a common old-school trick, but it’s actually outdated advice.
- From a scientific standpoint, forcing the tops down is counterproductive to the bulb’s growth.
- It can seriously hurt how long your onions stay fresh in storage.
- Be patient! Wait for the greens to wither and fall over on their own.
- Once two-thirds of the crop has “flopped,” it’s harvest time.
- Always trim off flower stalks unless you’re specifically harvesting seeds.
