Growing winter onions from seed

[Fleurisa]

I am thinking about trying to grow some Senshyu onions from seed this year. I have read that they should be started off mid August. I found this link about it Onion 'Senshyu Yellow Globe' Seeds are there any experts out there who can advise me please?
I will probably grow some from sets as well as a back up

[RaptorUK]

I am thinking about trying to grow some Senshyu onions from seed this year. I have read that they should be started off mid August. I found this link about it Onion 'Senshyu Yellow Globe' Seeds are there any experts out there who can advise me please?
I will probably grow some from sets as well as a back up

Yep, mid August is what it says here too: Vegetable Seeds : Seed for Overwintering Cold-Hardy Onions

[Fleurisa]

They have just copied the same bit of writing!

[Martin H]

I have a follow-up question.

I tried overwintering onions from seed last year, sowing my seed direct in mid-August.

But the weeds grew faster than any onions, the picture below was taken in November and when I forked over the plot in spring I couldn't find any baby onions at all.

So my question is, is it possible to start the onions in modules and plant them out later? If so, when to plant out?

[RaptorUK]

I have a follow-up question.

I tried overwintering onions from seed last year, sowing my seed direct in mid-August.

But the weeds grew faster than any onions, . . .

So my question is, is it possible to start the onions in modules and plant them out later? If so, when to plant out?

I assume it is possible, but not sure if it's the best method.

Instead I would do the following:

• prepare the bed well by removing all weeds thoroughly in July and mid August
• sow the Onion seed in marked rows, mark the start and end of the row with a white plastic label
• if it's dry for a couple of days water with tap water (reduce the risk of damping off)
• keep the bed weed free

[Fleurisa]

The link I posted said to start them in seed trays mid August for planting out in October

[Snadger]

I tried them one year from seed with very poor results. First of all there wasn't many seeds in the packet making it not very cost effective and not a lot of these germinated. Far easier with sets methinks as I've had a wonderful crop this year with my autumn planted sets, far surpassing the spring planted ones.

By all means try something new, but as you say, buy spme sets 'Just in case'!

[Martin H]

The link I posted said to start them in seed trays mid August for planting out in October

So it does

Thank you Fleurisa.

[RaptorUK]

The link I posted said to start them in seed trays mid August for planting out in October

Not sure why . . . I can see the point in spring, warm is needed for germination and the ground is too cold so sowing in trays indoors or in the greenhouse makes sense. In August the ground is warm so germination shouldn't be an issue as long as watering is taken care of . . . I'm going to try some so we will see

[Martin H]

By all means try something new, but as you say, buy some sets 'Just in case'!

I certainly will, "T&M First Early" did really well for me this year.

[Tripmeup]

I grow Hi-Ball onions from seed (dobies) most years..sow them in August, transplant into pots when big enough and then plant out later on....Never get onions as big as ones from sets, but they are a good size....usually....

[lottie dolly]

Oh goody,2 days ago i sowed some self saved ones,and await the next step,thanks for raising this one,sets are also a very good backup,and a comparison,

[Thelma Sanders]

spam reported