Onions Stop Watering ?

Just planted my Onion sets. I had a quick browse and find this nice compact "when to " calendar . It advise to stop watering onions from a few weeks before harvesting . As usual I have been doing the exact opposite ! is it advisable to stop watering ?

QUICK CALENDAR FOR GROWING ONION SETS
Plant onion sets - the first week of April 2015 (average for UK).

Protect from birds - the first week of April to the second week of May 2015 (average for UK)..

Water if conditions are very dry - the last week of May 2015 onwards

Stop watering onions - the third week of July 2015

Harvest onions from sets (depends on weather) - the last week of July 2015

 

I think that they are less likely to rot in storage if they are fairly dry when lifting.

 

Well, yes, you dont water them once they are full grown, I did read once that after the longest day they have more or less the maximum number of leaves they are likely to grow.
The more leaves formed during growing means bigger bulbs.

But they need to ripen off at the end of the growing season in order to store well.
They sometimes say you should half lift them with a fork,to break some of the roots, to hasten ripening, in a wet year.


I grow from seed myself, and rarely water them anyway, only once or twice, depending on the weather of course.

 

I just place my fork under the bulb's when I think they are about ready for lifting and just lift to gently break the roots,them leave them till the tops bend over.Then when ready lift and hang some where sheltered to dry.