Onions From Seed

[broadway]

Hi Folks,

I'm growing onions from seed and need some advice. The seed are currently in a tray and are about 1inch high. Can anyone advise on when I should move them to the bed?

Thanks as always

[Demeter]

Oh, good question, I want to know too!
My first sowing is abot 3" high but they all just look like baby blades of grass so I'm scared to put them out in the big wide world by themselves. I'm doing a second sowing as soon as I get around to it AND I've got sets on order. Belt and braces or what?!

Hm, also, I haven't finished digging where they will go and its SOOOO wet I don't know when I will ever be able to do it. I went today but it's just rained so heavily lately the plot would turn to slurry if I tried to walk around on it, never mind dig. So anyway, with a bit of luck the answer will be - oh don't plant them out for AGES yet...

[lynda66]

judging by the size of mine (planted beginning june) now, they are just starting to bulb up (bulb about 3/4 cm across) i'd say you have ages yet before it's absolutely necessary, i've block planted all mine since the first lot, as they really do seem to take ages to grow, and this way it saves space.

[Skotch]

Are the seeds Japanese or overwintering types? I thought these needed to get started in June/July? If they aren't overwintering, then I assume you are keeping them in modules somewhere frost free? I always thought that onion seeds were sown at the end of the year and kept under glass until March time before planting out which is why I haven't sown any yet - should I be doing something differently?

Last/this year I planted Ailsa Craig seeds on New Years day in individual modules based on an article I read that was written by Medwyn Williams, the show veg king, and I had a cracking crop which I harvested in August

[Demeter]

Skotch I've never grown onions from seed (or at all actually) before so I don't know! Which is why I've got sets coming too, just in case the seeds all go kaput.

I am growing the overwintering type (Hi-Keeper and North Holland Bloodred Redmate). The advice on the packet was to sow in September, the advice on here was you can start them off in August or even July so I started some off last month and plan to sow another lot soonish.

Beyond that I'm feeling my way a bit! Although I am pretty sure they go out in the ground this year rather than staying on modules until spring?

All the lovely experts must have gone to bed lol, let's wait until tomorrow and see what they say

[zazen999]

Hi Broadway.

If I were you, I'd stick them outside somewhere for 4-6 weeks or so, to thicken up and get used to the elements. Once they are about 4 inches high, I'd put them into well prepared ground, which means nicely cultivated and having added coffee grounds or root veg fertiliser. Don't use a fertiliser with too much nitrogen or you'll get lovely leaves and no bulb. Make sure they are at the same level as they are in the tray; which is why waiting until they are a few inches helps as the roots can get good grip sooner and they stand up and grow quicker.

To make it easier, you can transplant in bunches rather than individually, they push each other apart as they grow.

[broadway]

Cheers zazen99,

They are currently under plastic on the patio, should I lift them out or leave as is for now?

[zazen999]

Just take the plastic off and leave them to the elements. Don't let them drown in water but don't let them dry out. They don't need protection and you will get bigger onions if they harden up now.

what type are they?

[glenita]

Onions grown for winter storage will begin to form bulbs as summer days get longer, usually in July. Onions grow best in fertile soil that drains well. It require ample nitrogen until mid-July. Apply organic material over the soil approximately 1 1/2 inches deep. Onion seed should be planted as soon as the soil can be worked, depending on spring weather.
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Glenita


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[gojiberry]

Onion seed sown at this time of the year should not be under glass as they will be dealing with the elements during the winter so should not me mollycoddled. as soon as they are of a reasonable size get them out in their growing position. Watch out for slugs and snails as they can decimate crops overnight. I am trying high keeper this year and they are starting to form bulbs already, they are not a large onion but should give bulbs of about4oz in early May/June time.
Seeds sown around Xmas will need protection before planting out in March and are next years main crop to be harvested Aug/Sept.

Ian

[burnie]

Are the seeds Japanese or overwintering types? I thought these needed to get started in June/July? If they aren't overwintering, then I assume you are keeping them in modules somewhere frost free? I always thought that onion seeds were sown at the end of the year and kept under glass until March time before planting out which is why I haven't sown any yet - should I be doing something differently?

Last/this year I planted Ailsa Craig seeds on New Years day in individual modules based on an article I read that was written by Medwyn Williams, the show veg king, and I had a cracking crop which I harvested in August

That's how I grow my "mammoths",plant on boxing day for summer crop.I always thought you produced sets my starting them in the summer and then stop them,store them and then re-start following spring,will be interested to know how you all get on.

[bluemoon]

Over-wintering types should be sown in summer and planted out in Autumn. The mammoth types go in on Boxing Day and are planted out in Spring, the 'normal' types are also sown late winter/early spring. Over wintering ones are supposed to produce a few weeks earlier than the Spring planted. Onions are daylight sensitive, that is, they grow all or most of their greenery as the days lengthen up until June 21st, then take the energy from the leaves to be stored in the bulb as the days shorten. Autumn planted varieties make a small amount of leaf in the early stages, but are well rooted to take quick advantage of the longer days and warmer weather come Spring.

[Demeter]

Thanks all, very informative.

My first sowing are still very small so I'll leave them on the patio for a few weeks and put them out maybe in early October.

I've done a second sowing today, which I've parked in the plastic greenhouse but will move onto the patio for a few weeks once they're up.

Happy to hear that my Hi Keeper will give me some onions by around the end of May / early June - having them out by mid-June will give masses of time for something else to go in afterwards and grow away all summer

[Megans-mum]

I have put my onions out in the ground. Im not sure it was a good idea though. Before i put them in the ground, the little green stems were standing upright, but since ive planted them out,, what with all the rain their stems are lying down. Does anyone know if these are ok or not. Should i dig them up and start again or not. I purchased them from the garden center . All advice welcome.

[burnie]

M-mum as you've planted them,I'd leave them and see what happens,one thing for sure if you dig them up they won't grow!