Overwintering onion seeds

[Alison]

Tried over wintering onions from seed for the first time last year and they all died in the snow but think I planted them out rather too late. This year I promised myself I'd be more organised but have still not sowed any. Can't sow them direct as there are some turnips in the way which will come up over the next week or two. Am concerned I might be too late to sow now, so really asking if you've all already sown and if so do you sow direct or in pots?

[Shadylane]

I sowed some normal seed ie not the Japanese variety in modules, 3 or 4 to a cell about a month ago. I'm going to put these in the poly and placcie greenhouse. I have just sown some Senshyu aswell - only yesterday which I'll leave outside. I believe it was Zazen who gave me the idea of using non overwintering ones and simply cloching or putting in a greenhouse. The three/four to a module trick works well too. I did this with mine this year and while a lot aren't very big (need to start earlier) some are pretty decent. And they do push each other apart. They look beaut growing in threes too

[Keith2202]

I'm going to sow some tomorrow, starting off in pots then transplanting. I sowed quite a bit later than this last year.

[gojiberry]

I think now is about the time for onion seed. I have tried them before but with no success so tend to stick with the sets, which will be going in about mid Oct along with the garlic.

Ian

[Alison]

Sowed some last night and have left them in the back garden to germinate so will have to see how it goes. Had meant to sow mid August so suppose it's not that much later.

[Lazgaot]

I've planted 3 x 2m rows of Senshyu into the lottie last week. Nothing showing yet. I may experiment with some in modules then plant them out later.

[Snadger]

I've grown Senshyu from seed for the last two years running and have come to the conclusion that I will stick to autumn planted sets in the future.
Each packet only contains about 50 seeds. About half germinate and half of these don't make it through the winter. The ones that do make it mature early but only make very small onions.

For the same price I can buy 100 sets which have a 90% success rate and make bigger onions.

[vicky]

The ones that do make it mature early but only make very small onions.

For the same price I can buy 100 sets which have a 90% success rate and make bigger onions.

I was under the impression that onions from seeds grew bigger than those from sets?

[nomis]

When my tomatoes finish (end of september-ish?), will that be a good time to replace their space in the pollyhouse with over winter crops like onions which could benefit from being frost proofed in the pollyhouse?

Ideally I want the space back for peppers and tomatoes etc next sprint though....?

[Snadger]

I was under the impression that onions from seeds grew bigger than those from sets?

Mine didn't and I did everything by the book! (Gave me some good pickling onions though)

[Snadger]

When my tomatoes finish (end of september-ish?), will that be a good time to replace their space in the pollyhouse with over winter crops like onions which could benefit from being frost proofed in the pollyhouse?

Ideally I want the space back for peppers and tomatoes etc next sprint though....?

The only way you can do this is by growing in deep pots. I usually re use the pots (and compost) my toms were growing in!

[nomis]

Some of my toms are in the ground at the far end of the polywotsit, the rest are in growbags. Can I re-use the tom / pepper growbags?

[Alison]

Each packet only contains about 50 seeds. About half germinate and half of these don't make it through the winter.

Interesting, according to my packet, they cost just over a pound last year and there were over 100 seeds. Germination not a problem (pretty much 100%) but then they never got any further than that due to the bad weather. Will have to see how they go this year but might bet some sets too.