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  • #1

    Sowing onions in Seed Tray Inserts

    I am about to try to grow my first crop of onions from seed (variety Santero F1)

    I want to sow them in those wee modules, or to give them their proper name, seed tray inserts.

    I have an electric propagator, but this will only take two 'normal size' seed trays, so of course I am limited in the number of seeds I can sow. I have a couple of questions ...

    Which size insert is better, 6 x 4, or the smaller sized 8 x 5 ?

    I want to keep the onions in the cells until planting out time.

    Once the seeds are germinated, I'll remove them from the propagator and leave them in an unheated / frost free conservatory. I could then start more off in the propagator.

    My second question ... I saw somewhere, although I don't know where, folk sowing 4 seeds per cell, then planting out 'quartets' of onions. Does this work, or are the onions too small to use. Would I be better with just the one healthy seedling per cell ?

    thank you
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  • #2
    I sow my onions is a small (1/4 size) seed tray, and put that in the propagator - thus that doesn't take up much space. Then i prick them out into modules (just as the "loops" on Onions leaves start to straighten / unhook). I use small modules - they are about 1" square.

    I sow the seeds about 1/2" apart (yes, I do sow them individually on a grid ) as I think it makes pricking out easier. I use a pencil to make shallow indentations - no more than 1/4" - for my grid, as it makes it easier to drop each seed into a "hole", otherwise they roll about and you wind up with some close together when pricking out. I get about 60 - 70 seeds in a 1/4 seed tray. Most germinate.
    K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Kristen View Post
      I sow my onions is a small (1/4 size) seed tray, and put that in the propagator - thus that doesn't take up much space. Then i prick them out into modules (just as the "loops" on Onions leaves start to straighten / unhook). I use small modules - they are about 1" square.

      I sow the seeds about 1/2" apart (yes, I do sow them individually on a grid ) as I think it makes pricking out easier. I use a pencil to make shallow indentations - no more than 1/4" - for my grid, as it makes it easier to drop each seed into a "hole", otherwise they roll about and you wind up with some close together when pricking out. I get about 60 - 70 seeds in a 1/4 seed tray. Most germinate.
      Thank you for the quick reply

      I thought about sowing and transplanting, as I do with tomatoes every year, but was wondering if onions suffer any set back with the moving. I know the tomatoes don't mind at all, but for some reason I assumed onions would be better left in cells.

      I'll sow leeks too, but will do those in pots. I last grew these 30 years ago, but know that they are simply popped into a dibber made hole, when planted. Their roots don't seem to get damaged, if a pot or tray of seedlings are put in water before separation.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by wbmkk View Post
        I saw somewhere,... folk sowing 4 seeds per cell, then planting out 'quartets' of onions.
        Yes, I do it now after being persuaded of the benefits (mostly time & space saving) by Zazen. Look up her old onion threads, it'll be worth your while

        Originally posted by wbmkk View Post

        was wondering if onions suffer any set back with the moving.
        Not at all, in fact they seem to like it.
        I've had much better results from sowing in modules than direct in the ground
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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        • #5
          When I prick my Onions out they only have a single straight root. Can't say I've had a problem with them, but I grow thousands of plants from seed each year, so the fact that I'm an old hand at it might help ...

          Later on, when I plant out the Onions, their roots are like a coiled spring in the module, I straighten them out (carefully ) and arrange them vertically in the planting hole.

          I sow my Leeks, on a 1" grid, in a polystyrene fish box (containing compost about 4" deep I guess). They stay in the box until time to plant them out in Early Summer. Its the only way I have found to get "Pencil thickness" as every other method I have used has only given me "Brio refill" thickness!
          K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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          • #6
            I have sown all my onions in one of those 'plastic planters', that is around 18 inches long and 5 inches deep. (Currently on bathroom windowsill).

            The plan is, they will stay in there until planting out time.

            Then I will literally empty the entire container onto the floor (at the allotment), and separate each plant carefully by hand - Then plant into ground.

            I have seen this method on youtube, and looks simple enough.....

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            • #7
              Yep, as everyone says, they don't mind a bit of moving around if you don't...can be a bit of a pain when you have lots of them to do....

              I often plant out in groups too and let them push apart from each other as they grow.... Often do the same with my spring onions too...
              I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives....


              ...utterly nutterly
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