How easy is it to grow onions from seed ?

[wbmkk]

I was about to order my seed potatoes as well as some onion sets, but was talking to a friend who said it's far better to grow the onions from seed .. And cheaper too.

I vaguely remember folk sowing onion seeds on Christmas Day, but surely it would need heat to get the seeds to sprout so early in the season. I do have an electric propagator, but it's a pretty basic one, just a dial from 1 to 9 and certainly no thermostat so it is pretty hard to control. I don't want to roast the seeds.

Are seeds easy enough

Thanks

[Margit]

When I start onions from seeds, I start them indoors and place the tray on an electric grow mat. I use a spray bottle to keep them moist. I plant them at least 2" apart so I can plant them with their soil around them. I try not to disturb their roots. They take longer to mature of course, but they grow well and easily.

[andy_j]

I think the main reason for getting onion seed in so early is for exhibition purposes. I shall get mine in this weekend and put them on a heat mat until germinated. I intend to show mine in September.

[Bigmallly]

An extensive thread was done about this exact topic:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eed_69067.html

[chilli_grower]

I am also sowing onions this weekend. Kelsaes - My first attempt....

[Two_Sheds]

surely it would need heat to get the seeds to sprout

It's usually light, not heat, that makes things germinate (not in every case, but a lot)

... and some seeds can germinate at surprisingly low temps: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...res_15025.html

[Aberdeenplotter]

The optimum temperature for germination of onions is 18C/65F. At lower temperatures, they will germinate but at a lower percentage of seed sown. If your propagator is adjustable, check the temperature at the various settings before sowing and then use the appropriate setting when you do start them off.

[bearded bloke]

It has to be said ....... AP (^^) knows his onions ..

[chilli_grower]

2 dozen kelsae seeds now in the grow cupboard!

[johnjohn]

I think the main reason for getting onion seed in so early is for exhibition purposes. I shall get mine in this weekend and put them on a heat mat until germinated. I intend to show mine in September.

That's right, onions for eating can be sown now but can be sown in Feb/March. If space is a problem they can be sown as clumps in a module tray, 8 seeds to a module aiming to get 4 or 5 onions in each clump. They don't grow as large as individual ones but you get a large crop of medium sized onions.

[BUFFS]

I grew kelsae from seed last year and after the long winter/spring the results were very mixed, some were a bumper size while others were very small, but I will be sowing a fresh lot and putting them into the heated propagator tomorrow, its too dark and damp out there today..

[lottie dolly]

This year i had a much better result from seed,am going to try growing a single seed in a plug plant tray,with the idea being,i can get more into the propergator,UNLESS AB advices they to small,if not,in the 60 or 40 cell trays,a few at a time and remove from the prop,when germinated,my idea is,not to have to prick out,but all ready to plant out when time is right,the main thing is to label each tray,so i KNOW what i got,it takes the guess work out of it,

[Aberdeenplotter]

oooh, I'm getting capital lettersso I'd better respond. Sowing in plug trays will be fine. Just don't leave them too long there.

[lottie dolly]

Thank you AB,as BB says,ur no ur uniuns,it's your thread last year that inspired me to give things yet another go,so now i HAVE to acheive it,plus i have that lovely big propergator i had given,aprox 2x3ft.and a good height,

[chilli_grower]

kelsaes

here are mine so far.