a quick question about onion sets in modules...

[salome2001]

bought sets today.... it's obviously a bit early to start them outdoors so i was going to put them in modules in compost until March or so...

My quick question is: are the 3cm x 3cm x 4cm module trays big enough? Such as in the "windowsill propagator" type?

And mutipurpose compost?

Thanks all

salome

[rustylady]

Multipurpose compost is fine. Sorry, not very good at metric. The modules I use are quite small though, so I imagine they would be fine. They don't need cosseting, just need to get them rooting.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Just keep an eye on them and if needs be, move them into bigger pots until it's safe to plant them out

[salome2001]

rustylady, I'm not good at imperial but I imagine they are about 1.5 inch x 1.5inch

I hope they'll do. I just don't want a repeat of my attempt at autumn sowings, where I left them in the net and about 1/3 were mouldy when I went to plant them

[Potstubsdustbins]

My onion sets are at this time spread out on a tray somewhere light but cool and there they will stay until the backend of Feb when they will go out under fleece.

Colin

[The Large One]

Don't know what the actual dimensions are but I use 20 cell full size seed tray inserts when I do mine

[zazen999]

They don't even need to go into modules - you can get a normal sized seed tray, and put them shoulder to shoulder on top of compost, water them in and leave them be for 2 months. The roots grow and when you plant them out, they should have roots 4-8 inches long.

[salome2001]

sorry zazen if this is a newbie stupid question, but if the roots get that long, do they tangle up if they are planted that close? Would modules have less root disturbance?

[gardenpassion]

If they have big roots before being planted out, does that mean they will be bigger onions? Sorry, its a newbie question too.

[zazen999]

sorry zazen if this is a newbie stupid question, but if the roots get that long, do they tangle up if they are planted that close? Would modules have less root disturbance?

No - you just pull them apart and plant.

Alliums do not mind having their roots pulled apart. It seems to spur them on. Honest.

[zazen999]

If they have big roots before being planted out, does that mean they will be bigger onions? Sorry, its a newbie question too.

Depends on so many other things, to be honest.

[salome2001]

thanks. I feel on top of it all now

[bazzaboy]

I always start onion sets off in the smallest modules (c. 1 cm cubed) which keeps roots separate but makes for easy planting.

But a chance to repeat (coz I'm always repeating this tale) my favourite onion "fact" as GardenPassion asks about size... Eventual onion size depends significantly on amount of leaf growth up to (in the N hemisphere) the end of June. After the longest day (22 June) onions sense (apparently! ) daylight shortening and so start storing food (the "onion") to get them through the lean months! The more leaf they have the better they will be at storing.... So super intelligent are onions..... Very frustrating in the early stages if growing from seed with their skimpy bent blade of grass and hopeless at protecting themselves from being over-shadowed by weeds though the Spring and Summer but if you help them through those stages they really get going as Autumn approaches.

[zazen999]

And variety, and weather, and soil, and watering, feeding and weeding.....I agree they are day length dependent and super intelligent though. Brilliant veg.

[Two_Sheds]

... and hormones. They're very moody, onions. Mine just sit in the ground sulking for months & months, not doing anything.