Spring Onions In Modules..never again for me..!

[braders]

Hi All

Thought I would transfer my Spring Onions from their modules to the ground...What a frustrating job, took me so long and also wasted quite a few. Is there a knack to doing this..?..dont think I will bother with the module idea again.

Cheers
braders...

[Geo]

check out P.W. blog >>>Here<<<

I am trying his method this year...

Geo..

[FionaH]

Me too. I just planted mine out in the clumps they were in the modules.

[Jameslovell]

I had the same problem, but I didn't use modules.
I read somewhere that you can sow 5 or 6 together in a clump and sow into modules, then plant out as a clump. As you pull one up, it goves the others time to grow some more. I was supposed to use modules, but just used a tray. I didn't have much luck getting them out so just planted them out in blocks. Will see what happens. They seem happy enough at the moment.

[Phreddy]

I recon with those things, you treat them as chives. Broadcast in a small area and pick to thin.
Modules, line with a strip of polythene and yank them out in a lump, plant complete.

Just my opinion. I am also wondering about planting a few late in the year to crop early the next year. We plant onion like this with 'sets' maybe the seed will do the same.

[Flummery]

I let mine get bigger than that before I plant out. The plants in the picture are still at the 'crook' stage - bent over. Let them stand up and they will do much better and be easier to transfer.

[selfraising]

I had the same problem but think next year I will sow them in peat or other biodegradeable pots so that I don't have to scoop them out.

[Two_Sheds]

You shouldn't have to scoop them out. You wait until the roots have filled out the module, then they pop out easy as anything.

[coreopsis]

They are still too small to be transplanted,it won't do them any harm to leave them in modules a while longer.As TS said,when the roots fill out the module it's easier to get the whole thing out.If you still struggling at this stage get a fork(cutlery one,not gardening one),stick it into the module as deep as you can and lift it up.

[Flummery]

I just push them up from the bottom of the module. They pop up with the roots all intertwined. They do need to be older than yours though, with the shoots standing tall.

[bluemoon]

I'd never grow spring onions in a module, far too much hassle and expense for something that is cheap to buy, grows so easily direct sown and gives you thinnings to use like chives.

[Eyren]

I would agree - those are way too small to be planting out. I sowed some in modules back in early February, when there was too much snow around for direct sowing, and only planted them out about a fortnight ago. They hadn't quite filled the module, but I just scooped the whole lot out with two fingers and popped it in a hole.

The rest of the year I'll be direct sowing, though, as it's a lot easier!

[braders]

I just push them up from the bottom of the module. They pop up with the roots all intertwined. They do need to be older than yours though, with the shoots standing tall.

Thanks for all the replies people...I have been to eager I guess, no way were the roots intertwined...my fault......thanks again for the replies.

Cheers
braders...

[Demeter]

I second the sow-direct vote - far too fiddly to plant spring onions out, it's not as if you get much food out of a spring onion plant so they wouldn't be grown here if there was any faff involved. I always sow direct. I do grow them in buckets rather than the ground, but as I now have a lovely new carrots-and-leeks-and-things bed at the lottie thanks to my parents helping me out today (yay!) I will sow some direct there in the next couple of days

[golden14]

scattered

All of mine died last year, they did great indoors but as soon as I put them outside they died in 5-6 days, this years I've used the scatter and thin method in two tubs on my patio and they are touch wood looking good, the mild rain has certainly helped stop them drying out, as I have the problem that I can be away from home for 12-14 hours a lot of days, and they get toasted by the sun, if anyone has any clever watering tips given my time schedule I'd be much appreciated. My auto watering system would just do the opposite and drown them.