Onions

[Alison]

The winter ones just don't seem to survive the winter and can't cope with snow sat on top of them for days on end. They germinate well, are a pain to prick out but no problems then but despite being in decent multipurpose / good soil don't do anything else. Have managed to get main crop to grow OK but do better with sets and they're a lot less bother (although obviously more expensive). They do however grow more than the spring onions I sowed in spring which are still not much fatter than grass . Had the best year ever with onion sets though and the garage wall is full of old tights full of them.

[BUFFS]

Last season I planted some Japanese onion sets about this time but they
proved to be pretty rubbish!

Any offers of advice on what onion seeds I could sow about now in order to get my own sets ready, as I have heard that to grow onions from seed is the better option.

Cheers all.

was the germination or the growth of the onions rubbish?,i found the early fine weather played havoc with my crops ,so many late,some,like carrots never got going,were you growing japanese onions which were hit by the dry hot weather just as they should have been putting on bulk?,i would cross this year out as a failure but there is always next year,so get planning,it now can only get better...

[firefly]

If you are trying to germinate onion seeds, they do need to be at around 18 degrees C. lack of heat is the biggest reason for failure with onions.

I may attempt to grow kelsea onions from seed.

If they need to germinate at 18 C, can I get away with simply placing them in the airing cupboard? I dont own a heated propagator and dont plan on getting one for now.

[Alison]

You really don't need a heated propogator for onion seeds at any time of year, in fact they may well get leggy if you do. If it's too cold outside then just germinate on the window ledge instead.

[firefly]

You really don't need a heated propogator for onion seeds at any time of year, in fact they may well get leggy if you do. If it's too cold outside then just germinate on the window ledge instead.

Thanks Alison. Will the be ok on window sil even in say late december?

[Tripmeup]

Can I kind of hijack this thread pleeease.. It is a related sort of question tho...!!

I sowed Onion and Spring Onion seeds back in late June/early July (dont have exact dates to hand here at work..)
But anyways, they all germinated, grew etc and the Spring Onions are lovely and of a decent size and are being eaten for the last month or so...
However, the Onions are still not really much beyond the growth of the Spring Onions and so, still have fairly small bulb heads on them....

Question is: Is it okay to leave these in the ground over the Winter or so to see if they will fill out more, or even, if they slow down for Winter, so that they then kick on again in Spring..??
thanks

[Two_Sheds]

I sowed Onion ... seeds back in late June/early July ... are still not really much beyond the growth of the Spring Onions and so, still have fairly small bulb heads on them....

What variety were they? As you've seen, non-bulbing onions (spring onions) are pretty quick. Bulbing onions are usually ready for harvesting in July, it's not a usual month for sowing them.

[Aberdeenplotter]

You really don't need a heated propogator for onion seeds at any time of year, in fact they may well get leggy if you do. If it's too cold outside then just germinate on the window ledge instead.

If I know anything, I know about onions. . They germinate best around 18 Degrees C. That is a fact. Giving them heat to allow them to germinate does not make them leggy. If that happens, they are probably bady in need of being pricked out from the seed tray into individual pots into a nice light position

[Aberdeenplotter]

Just to make sure I wasn't talking through the wrong hole in my anatomy, I went to my seedbox to check a couple of packets of onion seed. Both recommend 18degrees C.

[Tripmeup]

My variety were Pompei from Dobies...I sowed the seed on June 26th and whilst they were very slow to establish themselves, they did kick on at some point in terms og healthy looking foliage etc...but they havent filled out very well so far bulb wise as far as I can see..

So, what are my options..can I leave them in the ground over winter and will they start progressing next Spring or am I best leave them and use as fleshy spring onions as and when required..??

[oldie]

Pompei are a spring or pickling onion so they won't get any bigger and you should be using them now.

[Two_Sheds]

My variety were Pompei ...I sowed the seed on June 26th

As Oldie says, they're like a cocktail onion (spring onion but with a more bulbous end). End of June is pushing it really, if the summer is poor (it was here).

[Alison]

Just to make sure I wasn't talking through the wrong hole in my anatomy, I went to my seedbox to check a couple of packets of onion seed. Both recommend 18degrees C.

Not saying that 18 deg is wrong, just that they'll germinate quite happily on a window ledge in winter without the need for a heated propogator before anybody thinks they have to buy one (assuing not already owned). If they need a bit more protection to germinate then a plastic bag over the pot will help but not strictly necessary.

[Two_Sheds]

Not saying that 18 deg is wrong, just that they'll germinate quite happily on a window ledge in winter without the need for a heated propogator

Yep, I found out the minimum germination temp for onions is only 2c

I've rechecked my records, and my onion seed that failed was in a shady spot (still warm enough in theory, but kept in the shade because the sunny pots were drying out too fast). The sunny Senshyu seedlings did much better

[zazen999]

They germinate well, are a pain to prick out but no problems then but despite being in decent multipurpose / good soil don't do anything else.

I never prick out my onions.

I sow them in modules, and plant them out either module by module or wait until they are about 6 inches tall and then separate them and plant them out. I harden them off quick quickly and put them in a good sunny position until they are a decent size.

Try sowing a pinch into modules, and once they are germinated, put them in the greenhouse, keep them watered but not wet and plant them out in late spring.