First time growing onions - are the stems supposed to look like this?

[drewskimac]

It is my first time growing onions. Upon planting, I researched how to plant and followed instructions to plant them hust barely under the soil, with the tops sticking out. (I planted both sets and bulbs - 1 row of each)
As the greens are getting larger and taller, they are starting to bend over and break. I know that this is normal, but what do I do about it? Should I trim the greens where they are bent over? Also, some of the onions themselves are leaning over in the soil due to how shallow they are planted and are pretty much only being held up by the roots. Do I need to pack soil around these tomsupport them, or just leave them be? I am hesitant to add soil for support because I know that in order for the bulb to get large and form the onion bulb, there needs to be little resistance around it for growth. I should mention that I am growing these for onion BULBS, not green onions.

 

[drewskimac]

 

[scayne62]

I am not master gardener but they look fine to me, the same as mine have looked in the past. I would not trim them or disturb them they will grow just fine as is.

 

[IamRainey]

Yeah, they'll be floppy. Just keep the soil evenly moist and they'll be fine!

 

[lazy gardener]

I grew onions from seed, just transplanted some into the garden today, I did plant mine a bit deeper. I planted them up to where the stem divides into individual leaves. Mine look pretty poor as well. We'll see... I've always direct seeded scallions in garden or bought onion sets in past.

 

[Morrigan]

They look normal to me.

 

[drewskimac]

Thanks everybody. When should the bulbs start to grow in size? Does that happen gradually throughout the season or does it happen suddenly once the greens die back in late summer/fall?

 

[lazy gardener]

It happens slowly through the season. When the tops die back, the onions are done growing. They need to be kept weed free, fertilized well, and water them if the soil is dry.

FYI, there are long day, short day, and day neutral varieties. You should choose your variety according to your location. Short day = down south. Long day = North. Day neutral = pretty much anywhere.

 

[oregonkat]

I grow lots and lots of garlic every year, great, big fat bulbs. I cannot get my onions to bulb up to save myself. I have planted them from every conceivable method. Sets, seeds, starts and they do not bulb. I will get nice tops but no bulb. What is my soil missing? I amend with huge amounts of compost, till in alfalfa for extra nitrogen and fertilize with an organic fertilizer. Any ideas welcome. Everything else in my garden thrives, including the chives!!

 

[lazy gardener]

Have you done a soil test?