Onions Rottened?

Question

My husband planted onions and they are rotting in the ground and some have what look like maggots on them. What is this?

Answer 1

from your question i am guessing your plants have been attacked by the onion fly

this fly lands at the base of the onion and lays her eggs, these when hatched burrow into the plants and drain the sap out of the plant. this will be evident by the sudden wilting of the plants regardless of the weather.

there is nothing you can do once this has happened apart from rip them out and burn the plants.

for future reference you could always try what they refer to as companion planting which means planting them along side a plant that gives of a scent that will mask the smell of the onion, the best one to use is any of the marigold family (tagatees is best)

it gives the added bonus of making the veg patch look better

sorry to be the bearer of bad news