On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:43:17 +0100, "michael adams"
wrote:

The reason usually given for bending over the stalks is that if there's
a wet period leading up to the day when the onions stop making any top
growth ( this is determined by a precise day-length according to variety)
then the onions may be induced to produce a flower stalk which may also
produce splits in the bulb, as might a late spurt in top growth of any kind.
As well as diverting energy which should have gone into bulb formation.
Whereas bending over the stalks, without actually breaking or wounding
the leaves, in theory should constrict the passage of sap up into
the leaves.

So everything probably depends on geography i.e day length, the day length
of the variety being used and the temperture and rainfall during the
critical period.

michael adams

So if onions start to flower, as one solitary example in my small veg
patch has decided to do, should the flower bud be removed, left, the
onion ignored etc. ...

JB