Question
This onion plant is 12 years old and has various baby's growing at the base of the stalk, top side of bulb. At what location do I recover a starter piece from this plant?

Answer
Michelle     Were you able to divide the onion plant??

There are numerous types of species in the Allium Genus which are considered wild onion plants  and also some hybridized varieties...It would help if I had a picture of the plant and the top of the bulb...Also it helps to know in what area you live (USA-State, Country, Etc.)...It will determine what time of the year to propagate new plants by separating the babies from the parent plant...I am in southern NJ-USA...A 12 year old plant SHOULD HAVE NUMEROUS SMALL BULBS ATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL BULB...Separate the smaller bulbs where they are attached to the bigger older bulb...Without a picture I would assume that the propagation method would be the same as for most Allium bulbs...

Here is what you need to do and how Alliums are propagated using the division method...

Each year the bulbs will produce new bulblets from the parent plant...1st year bulblets normally will only produce foliage...These will usually produce flowers the year after the new bulblets are formed...After flowering the foliage on the plant fades and starts to look not so nice...That is the time to divide the bulbs...Take the bulb out of the ground and separate the bulblets...Plant the bulblets pointed side up and about 4-6 " deep in another area or about 8-12" away from the original bulb...
Hope this answers your question...

Rick in southern NJ