Trimming back Onions ?

Few questions here.

Been growing onions for years, and always just let them grow.
Seen a couple of comments & videos that you should cut stems back so there is no chance of them folding over … this forces energy into the bulb, producing much larger bulbs.

I planted over-winter onions in Oct, they now have 10-12” stems, so should I be cutting these back to about 6"

I also planted shallots and various garlics, all from Allium family does this mean I should trim these as well ?

 

Never heard of it.

 

Here are typical videos...
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jXOk4BWMlHY

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pZ5Xhsq6U4g

 

I haven’t the foggiest and doesn’t sound right as the process of photosynthesis will sure be reduced? However, a cousin of mine grows various vegetables commercially and she certainly “ knows her onions” so will ask her.

 

An interesting concept. While its certainly true that wheat responds well to light grazing by sheep, in promoting tillering,ie multiple seed heads, I have never heard of this. Clearly the proponent is in different continent/growing conditions so this must be taken into account also.
I would suggest growing onions in more open aspect would also enhance their performance as they do not like shade, or companion planting. All reports welcomed...

 

Certainly not something I have done previoulsy : aI SAYS TEH FOLLLOWING:
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AI Overview
Yes, you should trim the tops of onion plants, especially when they are young seedlings, to promote a stronger bulb
. Trimming helps the plant focus energy on bulb and root development rather than top growth, results in sturdier plants, and can make them easier to separate and transplant. It's best to cut about 40% of the top, leaving 2 to 3 inches of growth, and avoid trimming right before transplanting.

Why you should trim onion tops

• Encourages bulb growth: Trimming forces the plant to send energy to the bulb instead of growing taller leaves.
• Increases plant strength: It helps the plants become sturdier and stand more upright.
• Easier to handle: Trimming makes the plants less floppy and easier to separate and plant without tangling.
• Saves energy: Without trimming, the plant uses energy to regrow the trimmed stalks, which could otherwise be used for bulb and root growth.

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However most of this is contenet form Reddit

 

@Sargan I know that with leeks when planting them, it can help to trim the roots and tops to make them more handleble when planting.
I've never trimmed onions and have never heard of it being done. Please note the you tube video is posted by an American and was taken some time I would say around late spring, they will have a different climate and different onion varieties.
The other year, thanks to a wet spring, slugs trimmed mine back and it did them no favours at all.
As said above by Hailbopp if you reduce the leaf area you reduce photosynthesis; so there will be less energy all round.
I was taught that with onions etc you wanted as much leaf as possible and that in spring planted onions the bulb really develops after mid summer as it prepares for winter and stores away everything from the leaves.
You could always try it with half of your onions and then report back, even better get AI to drop round and do it.

This makes little sense.

 

Onions continue to grow new leaves whether you cut the tops off or not,up until they start to bulb up, which is usually determined by the time of year and growing conditions.

She appears to be doing it in mid summer, so not overwintering onions.

Not tried it but to me personally it doesn't make much sense unless you want them to bulb up earlier, in which case I think they could well be smaller.

 

I agree with Nigel, this sounds like a contradiction to me.

 

Well had a reply from my cousin. The polite version was don’t bother. What she actually replied had something to do with male cows and manure.
She had an occasion when neighbouring sheep broke through a fence and “ topped” a field of onions. The onions were not very good and the sheep not very well as onion leaves are not a suitable feed for sheep evidently.

 

My grandfather used to just break and bend the green stems over at right angles.