I expect that most of these were knocked over by the wind, but once that happens and there is already decent bulbing up (which for the most part there is) normally one expects to see the stems start to wilt. Knocking over the uprights is a commercial trick of long standing to schedule harvest.

When I dig them I will leave the stems attached to dry off on the bulb. I intend to also braid the smaller ones and hold them for planting back as sets next spring. For the braiding I want the stems to still have a bit of green and not be totally dry. In my experience the braided bulbs finish curing in the braid just fine, if it is not done too quickly. So it pays to match the sizes when braiding; so the stems are quite similar.

I plan to braid my multipliers, too, both types, when they finally come ready for harvest.

I live in Western Oregon. June was the driest and hottest month on record. We had several days in the last two weeks in triple digits. A few days ago all my Copras went down. They were looking good... all had bulbed. Most were in the 2-3 inch range. I tried to keep them evenly watered. Was it the hot weather that took them down? I was disappointed as I thought I had a great crop going. Any thoughts about this...anyone?

Onions are daylength sensitive and extremely high temps may speed up the process. 2 to 3 inch is a good cooking size. I would say that you actually got a decent crop considering the year. Copra keeps real well at room temperature, once cured, like I said above I intend to sort off the smallest of my crop and plant it back next spring to size up. I have not had a bolting problem doing that with this variety (knock on wood).

I brought in the Copra today, also the VietNamese Red Garlic. The multipliers are also starting to go down. The yellow potato onions are small but have a real nice increase. The Green Mountain whites are very large but have not multiplied much. I am guessing that some of the Green Mountains this year will be the biggest multipliers I have ever grown. A number will be over three inches in diameter. Frieda's feral garlic is getting close, but Music and Siberian still have a ways to go.

In other garden news I have some very nice banana peppers hanging but it is the tomatoes that are the real story. All the plants are heavily set with fruit, including the open pollinated ones that are normally shy setters. There is even a volunteer that is just now coming into bloom, and looks like one of those long trussed cherry types. If I can keep the squirrels at bay, this looks like a Tomato year, with a capital T. There can't have been many blossoms that failed to set a fruit on any of the plants!

I've grown Cabernet for three years, and this year it came in two weeks early and a little small. At 37 degrees latitude, I'm about ready to go to all overwintering varieties.

Overwintering works here for garlics, potato onions, tree onions, etc. but not generally for bulb onions, most of them are not hardy enough and I have an expectation that fall planting would increase spring bolting. I have had pretty good luck with spring planted Copra plants, one bundle is enough for me, since I live alone. In years past I have also had a good response with onion sets, very few bolters. My mother says the secret to them is plant at the surface, very shallow. The real key to good onions is to feed them as they grow; so they put on a uniform growth to maximum top size. Top size tends to determine eventual bulb size.