Is it normal for Shallot seedlings to "fall over" ?

[RaptorUK]

I have 5 seed trays each with 40 cells in them, I have Leeks - Toledo, Onion - Sweet White Spanish and Shallot - Zebrune.

The Leeks and the Spanish White onions are upright and look good and are just showing their third leaf, the Zebrune shallots have their 2nd leaf and just started their third but they are hell bent on lying down, they are not floppy as if they are wilting they just seem to want to have a falling over habbit . . . is this normal/usual ? they are all in the same JI seed compost and have been watered in a similar way.

[chris]

Could be damping off - do they look feeble / weak?

[Kristen]

Any chance of a photo?

[Alison]

I'm assuming you're growing from seed not sets?!? Agree with Kristen, photos would help please.


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum

[RaptorUK]

Could be damping off - do they look feeble / weak?

Nope, they look OK, and when I straighten them up they are not soft and floppy . . . if you know what I mean, as a wilted leaf would be. Will get some pictures in a mo.

[RaptorUK]

I'm assuming you're growing from seed not sets?!? Agree with Kristen, photos would help please.

Yep, from seed not sets.

[RaptorUK]

Pictures as promised . . . .

Shallot Zebrune
http://www.gniadkowski.com/gallery/a...4-Zebrune1.JPG

Closer view
http://www.gniadkowski.com/gallery/a...4-Zebrune2.JPG

in comparison, Sweet White Spanish onions in the tray behind . . .
http://www.gniadkowski.com/gallery/a...4-Spanish1.JPG

and the Leeks
http://www.gniadkowski.com/gallery/a...2014-Leeks.JPG

[lottie dolly]

They look fine to me,looks like you been watering from the top,hence the green,

[RaptorUK]

They look fine to me,looks like you been watering from the top,hence the green,

Yes I had been . . . but have now switched to watering from below

[Kristen]

Look fine to me too. Compost looks to have compacted - hence the green muck on the surface (top-watering will have encouraged that too). I doubt Onions will mind, but I lighten the MPC I use (10% Perlite by volume) which fixes that (for me, and with the MPC brand that I use ... Your Mileage May Vary )

Are they going to want to be in the ground soon? and thus need hardening off shortly?

(Maybe they are outside already, but hard to see from the photos )

[RaptorUK]

Look fine to me too. Compost looks to have compacted - hence the green muck on the surface (top-watering will have encouraged that too). I doubt Onions will mind, but I lighten the MPC I use (10% Perlite by volume) which fixes that (for me, and with the MPC brand that I use ... Your Mileage May Vary )

Are they going to want to be in the ground soon? and thus need hardening off shortly?

(Maybe they are outside already, but hard to see from the photos )

They are currently in an unheated Greenhouse, I have been wondering when I should plant them out to the Allotment, perhaps when the 3rd leaf is bigger, so maybe a week or so ?

The compost is JI seed compost with nothing added . . . maybe some Perlite will help next time, thanks

[Bigmallly]

Looking good Raptor, maybe a wire hoop just to support them till they are ready to go out. Check out AP's onion thread for the hoops. Check out post #250.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s-seed-32.html

[Kristen]

They are currently in an unheated Greenhouse, I have been wondering when I should plant them out to the Allotment, perhaps when the 3rd leaf is bigger, so maybe a week or so ?

In that case probably ought to start hardening off - out during the day, back in at night time

The compost is JI seed compost with nothing added . . . maybe some Perlite will help next time, thanks

Personally I would leave well alone if they are JI Seed. It should be sandy enough. I expect you have been feeding them, for them to be that green. There won't be much/any feed in Seed Compost.

I sow mine in a seed tray (in JI Seed Compost), and when I prick out to modules they get MPC with 10% Perlite mixed in.

But that's not a recommendation, per se, just the way I do it. Loads of options, and whatever works well for you is a good thing to stick with

[Aberdeenplotter]

They look absolutely fine to me as well and that includes the colour. They are supposed to be vibrant green. Just as an aside, I always water my onions and leeks from the top.

As another aside, imho, these plants would have benefited from being potted on into a stronger mix. I use half in half general purpose compost and John innes3 (with some vermic added to keep the compost open) and also a scattering of slow release fertiliser granules.

Frequent potting on also helps stop the compost compacting which is one of the main reasons for algae growth on the surface

[RaptorUK]

Looking good Raptor, maybe a wire hoop just to support them till they are ready to go out. Check out AP's onion thread for the hoops. Check out post #250.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...s-seed-32.html

Yep, I've read the thread and did think about hoops, will try the GC for some suitable wire tomorrow