Onions from seed.

[Aberdeenplotter]

When Mel Ednie beat the world record for the heaviest onion back in nineteen oatcake, the seed came from an opened packet he found in an old jacket that had been hanging in his shed for a few years. Of course we all know that seed becomes less viable as the years go on but onion is more resilient than some.

Seed compost is low in fertiliser to start with so it wouln't suffer too much from the goodness leaching out of it.

I'm pleased for you that you had a good season with your onions but and there is always a but,

there is no need to take un-necessary risks especially with a crop you only really get one chance with- if your sowing fails for any reason, your next effort may well be too late to be able to expect a good result at the end of the season.

So new seed and fresh compost every time guys and girls

[Roysy]

I was not suggesting old seed and old compost but the concept of raising some seeds in a bag in the airing cupboard. Seed packets commonly supply more seeds than needed and I propose to plant out the seeds as normal but any remaining ones I will bag and if I have a failed set of seedlings I may have a backup.

This year my cauliflower and broccoli seeds started off okay and then died, do not know why and I had no crop as was too late to start again.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Interesting but of no relevance to growing onions from seed then which is what this thread is about.

[lottie dolly]

I sowed a few kelsae onions in a pot on the 14.11.2015 evening time.
looked at them yesterday 21.11.2015 to see 3 just starting to pop up
then today 22nd,several are up,they are not in a propagator,but a used plasic container a cake comes in,the lid was left loose for air flow,and sat on a table near a radiator,with no night heating,so don't be put off from trying to grow,i do not own a propagator.
these are merely a little experiment for big ones next year,yes i hope so,will be sowing more of the same and other varieties shortly for general use

[Aberdeenplotter]

Hi Lot tie,

Onions will germinate as low as 35f or as high as 95f with the optimum around 80f. If you haven't got a heated propagator, pop them in the airing cupboard but get them out into the light as soon as you see signs of them coming through.

If you try to get them going at the lower end, you are likely to get a lower success rate.

Great to see you having a go though so good luck and let's see some pics as you go.

[lottie dolly]

No airing cupboard,i have no bother germinating them,
This is where,and how i done them,plus 1 of the little dears themselves,it only took 1 week for them to start showing,so this pic is only after 8 days,i will look to find the next stage,and make some little wire holders for them,and so pleased thus far,all thanks to your postings about onions,so thank you.

[bramble]

No airing cupboard,i have no bother germinating them,
This is where,and how i done them,plus 1 of the little dears themselves,it only took 1 week for them to start showing,so this pic is only after 8 days,i will look to find the next stage,and make some little wire holders for them,and so pleased thus far,all thanks to your postings about onions,so thank you.

Lotty, dont know if you meant to post a pic, but there is none on here.

[Lisasbolt]

From a distance it still looks like a chocolate cake in there, much to some disappointment

No-one took me up on my offer of free seeds so i might just give a few Kelsae seeds a go.

[veggiechicken]

Your leftover seeds will always find a home in the VSP, Lisa. I can do you a swap too

[Aberdeenplotter]

Kelsae seeds in really short supply this year too.

[lottie dolly]

I have just finished reading this thread from the start,took good notice,and made some notes,i will have to sort out some pots now,i got loads of them,

[bramble]

Looking good Lottie Dolly, I will post a pic of mine tomorrow.

[Lisasbolt]

Your leftover seeds will always find a home in the VSP, Lisa. I can do you a swap too

Think i will send them to you, i just can't ask for any as i cannot get stamps. Unless you are very kind and let me put some pennies in there instead

[Lisasbolt]

Ok i have put a couple of pinches of seeds onto some damp kitchen roll. Lets see how it goes.

[bramble]

From a distance it still looks like a chocolate cake in there, much to some disappointment

No-one took me up on my offer of free seeds so i might just give a few Kelsae seeds a go.

Lisa, I would love the Kelsae onion seeds but like you I am excluded because I am not in the Uk.
cant seem to find Kelsae seeds here.