Starting leeks, onions etc. in cells/trays

[bitShifter_]

Hello!

A very beginner-y question here: Is it possible to start of leeks from seed in little pots or cells and then re-pot and eventually plant them out later? It's too cold to plant much out yet in north-central Scotland (I think).

I've potted on other plants into larger containers before, once they get root bound they form quite a sturdy cube of root that you can just lift out and put into a larger pot with compost. Is this the same thing that will happen with onions, leeks, garlic etc. or am I barking up the wrong tree starting them off in cells then pots like this?

Especially with onions I'm picturing trying to pull out the root ball (to move it on) and it all just kind of crumbles or something because it doesn't work like that!

Thank you

[Bren In Pots]

bitShifter have a read at this thread from last week it discusses different ways to sow/grow leeks:-

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ion_83914.html

[Kristen]

Hello!

Is it possible to start of leeks from seed in little pots or cells and then re-pot and eventually plant them out later?

For Leeks I would grow in a larger container say 4" deep as they will be there for quite a while before planting out (so that they get to something like pencil-thickness before planting out).

Onions will be fine in 1" cell modules - need to "uncoil" the roots and arrange them vertically when planting out.

[Shadylane]

My onions sets are rammed into seed trays at the mo. I just carefully tease and shake the roots free before planting them out. Leeks are in a plastic tub. The leeks will go in the ground in a block when big enough so they can get closer to pencil thinckness, before being planted in final positions. Garlic is totally hardy and should be planted straight out either in autumn or late winter/early spring. I planted in Feb once and they turned out ok.

I grow onions from seed in modules, but because I sow a pinch of seed per module they do indeed form a good rootball making it easier to plant out. The onions will push themselves apart as they grow. You'll get a few big uns and a few smaller ones.