On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 17:18:23 +0100, Broadback
wrote:

I also thought birds lifted them, last year I netted the onions, and
garlic, there were still odd ones lifted. I'm wondering if the action
of root growth does it.
Yes, it is partly root growth which pushes the sets up out of the soil
if they are pressed in hard when planting. They then rest on a hard
patch of soil which resists the roots going down.
As regards garlic, you should not get the problem as garlic should be
planted about 2 inches deep, and not on the surface as onions are.

Pam in Bristol