onion seed experiment

[SelkirkAlex]

just to satisfy my secret masochistic side I have started an onion experiment.

I had some oldish kelsae seeds left and some ailsa craig seeds. I have decided to sow the seed now and in a month or so will transplant into individual 4" pots to overwinter in cold polytunnel.

I never had much joy with onion seeds in the traditional december january sowings.

the thinking is that these are cold loving plants and should be big enough to handle cold by then. also some references say onions can be sown outdoors in august september.

all I have to lose are some old seeds and some self confidence.

any comments? side bets?

[Jonnyt]

Will they bolt next year?

[Snadger]

Worth a try if the seed is old anyway! Good luck, I can understand your logic.

[Cadalot]

I'm doing an over wintering spring onion experiment see Alans Allotment: SF60 Onions

[Potstubsdustbins]

The sticky above 'onions from seed. may be of interest.

[SelkirkAlex]

Will they bolt next year?

I honestly don't know, my thinking is that onions are biennial, only setting seed their second year ie from sets, it will be interesting to see if a cold spell will count as a year in the plants year or not.

I could have hit upon a wonderful new plan, or I could just have given nature another chance to slap me down, I know which outcome I am expecting but it is worth a try,

every day is a learning day.

[Martin H]

I've had success with sowing "normal" onion seed at this time of year, as well as with the special overwintering types. It worked last year with "Globo", gave me some lovely big bulbs in June.

This year I'm trying "Sturon" the same way: sowed in modules, hoping to plant out individually in late October. Of course the winters down here are a bit milder than yours...

[veggiechicken]

Go for it, Alex
On my scale of nutty experiments, this one is quite normal.
There are overwintering "spring" onions grown from seed so why not normal onions?

[vixylix]

Don't you get autumn sowing and spring sowing onion sets? Its practically the same thing - fingers crossed it works for you

[happyhumph]

Reminded me I need to sow some spring onions this weekend. Also have some leftover sets which havn't started growing, so may try in modules in gh and plant out next year.....

[Dalrimple]

Why not ! iv'e some ailsa craig seeds left over and I need sow some springies so i'm on it in the morn.
atb Dal.