hey guys I will be starting onion seeds by next weekend. I've never done this before. I've never been so nervous for something as I'm scared it will be a failure. Any tips? What should a start them in? 6 pack cells? My last frost date is may 15th so I was thinking of plating outside around april15th? Thanks guys
I have never started onions from seed...Odif on here is your man for this because he has done it I believe. Why not PM him? Good luck mate.
onions put out seeds every other year and so on the year that they do put out seeds the plant makes smaller onions as it puts some energy into making seeds. so you want to start from seed, every time. what type of onions are you doing @Brian1985
I'll be planting my onion seeds over the next week. We generally plant seeds just after Christmas but we're late this time. We put the seeds in a tray of compost with a lid and then put them on a windowsill. I'm planting Kelsae https://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Vegetable-Plants-1/ONION-The-Kelsae-Plants.html
Adam I'm using a hybrid called Patterson from johnnys. Just a seed starting tray? Do you use bottom heat to get them to germinate?
@Brian1985 this is the sort of tray I use. Unheated. I put the tray on the Window sill in the utility room which is generally warm. https://www.selections.com/large-se...mtwQt0U33hdpa7wQVXpXaOnkwLiEVVqBoCV6YQAvD_BwE
Kazzawazza sorry for all the questions. Do you use the lid with the tray? I was watching a pretty well known youtuber here in the states and he basically said those domes are junk. He said if you use a lid all you are asking for is fungus and mold. What are your thoughts? Thanks
I use a dome most all of the time. I started onions for the first time last year and learned they needed to be started earlier than I thought. Sterile potting mix sterile trays or containers and warm. Whether you use a heat mat or on top of a fridge is up to you but they need to be warm to germinate. As soon as they germinate remove the dome and give them plenty of sunlight. If not sun at least somekind of light. Led or florescents for 12 hours a day or more.
Thanks for all your help Carolyn. I was told on Facebook I needed to start between January 15-31 for my zone. I was going to start them next weekend but based on your expierence maybe I better get them started this week or weekend. I will be putting them under grow lights.
In the UK some people plant onion seeds over Christmas/early new year. Keep us posted on how you get on
Could I start them in a regular 1020 tray? Will that be deep enough? I feel like I should get them started this weekend and it's all i have on hand. To late to order something and get it here in time.
yah, a 1020 is okay. if you have a deep one thats better. sprinkle lightly with seeds. you dont want it too thick with plants it's hard to separate and transplant without tearing them all up. A 1020 tray is a 10x20 tray that holds the sheet of plastic black inserts you buy the seedlings or transplants in when its time to plant in the garden.
I started some on Monday. Very late for me but I kept changing my mind about whether I was going to grow them about 5 times before finally saying, well, why not? I use one of these to make soil blocks then put them in one of these and if they germinate and start to grow well, they move onto something bigger.
