Onions from seed - 2018

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Onions from seed - 2018
« on: December 23, 2017, 09:07 »
Its that time again  :D  Last year was a disappointingly small crop, but a new year beckons and nothing starts it better than sowing some early onions.  I really should get out more  :lol:

Anyway, if you have the time, the inclination and a cool, bright, frost-free place to nurture some seedlings, here we go again.  I will be sowing on Boxing Day, but it doesn't have to be done that early.  I've gone back to Globo as I have a new shed which offers much better storage facilities and because they always seem to grow huge, whatever the weather throws at them.

Warning - onion seedlings are slow growing, wispy little things for ages.  This is a pastime for those seedaholics out there who really can't leave the seed box alone until spring.  The upside is you (usually) grow bigger, better onions that those from sets and get much more choice of types to grow.

Now I need to get a seed tray of compost onto the kitchen windowsill to warm up  ;)

The thread from last year is here for reference.

Onions from seed - 2017 in Grow Your Own - Page 1 of 5

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Plot 1 Problems

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2017, 15:48 »
I've got Ailsa Craig and Red Baron to sow next month. I just can't wait till Spring to start opening the seed packets, I need my fix now!

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AlaninCarlisle

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2017, 16:00 »
My Ailsa Craig were sown in propagator this morning. I'll do like last year and bring them on in about six weeks in mini-pots and then transplant into a bed in polytunnel in late March/early April. They grew to exhibition size using this method last year

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sunshineband

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2017, 19:03 »
Globo at the ready, compost in to warm it up coir ready to hydrate ... Good to Go for Boxing Day!!!
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Mr Dog

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2017, 19:49 »
I've already got some Peter Glazebrook Giant on the go - Exhibition, Bedfordshire Champion and Red Baron at the ready..... Zebrune  and Red Florence for later.

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LILLILEAF

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2017, 20:43 »
I did ailsa craig last year they turned out huge and plenty of them,i started them at the end of jan in the green house,they turned out much bigger than the onion sets,i shall be doing them again.
I would recommend this onion to anyone so easy to grow and they store very well,they have a lovely taste,great to cook with,not to many tears when you are peeling them.
A nice mild taste for those who don't want a strong onion.

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #6 on: December 24, 2017, 11:23 »
I've already got some Peter Glazebrook Giant on the go

Just seen them in your diary.  Looking good  8)

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sunshineband

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2017, 15:05 »
Globo are duly sown, in a nice deep tray, around 30 seeds, well spaced. Used a mix of mpc, coir and perlite as it drains well but holds enough water too.

Now I have to wait....and wait.... and wait

I hope to see some little green elbows before too long  :mellow:

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2017, 20:14 »
Sowed mine as well this morning before work.  I got a Grow Light Garden from Santa, so they have luxury treatment this year.

One of these.  I'm interested to see how they do  :)

https://www.organiccatalogue.com/sowing-growing/sowing/propagation/micro-grow-light-garden-1-x-11w-light.htm

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sunshineband

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2017, 13:02 »
Sowed mine as well this morning before work.  I got a Grow Light Garden from Santa, so they have luxury treatment this year.

One of these.  I'm interested to see how they do  :)

https://www.organiccatalogue.com/sowing-growing/sowing/propagation/micro-grow-light-garden-1-x-11w-light.htm


Oooh, now there's posh!  I look forward to seeing their progress over the next month or so, New Shoot. Mine are just in the frost free greenhouse as usual, so might be the poor relations  :( :(

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New shoot

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2017, 14:18 »
I have a tray of cress next to them as a control.  Its germinating already so it can test the set-up for me, before the onions get going  :)

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Mr Dog

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2017, 14:45 »
Sowed mine as well this morning before work.  I got a Grow Light Garden from Santa, so they have luxury treatment this year.

One of these.  I'm interested to see how they do  :)

https://www.organiccatalogue.com/sowing-growing/sowing/propagation/micro-grow-light-garden-1-x-11w-light.htm

My 'lights' are essentially a larger version of yours although I wish mine had as sophisticated a height adjustment mechanism in place of rubber bands! Through experimenting with lettuce growing I found that surrounding 3 sides of the unit with reflective material (white paper taped to cardboard, one end open for air flow) dramatically improved growth.

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New shoot

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2017, 15:21 »
Through experimenting with lettuce growing I found that surrounding 3 sides of the unit with reflective material (white paper taped to cardboard, one end open for air flow) dramatically improved growth.

Oh now that is useful to know.  Thank you  :)

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mumofstig

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2017, 15:52 »
In previous years I've brought old mirrors, cheaply, from the many junk sorry charity shops we have in town - and prop them up around seedlings growing in front of the window.
The cat just seemed to trash tin foil but she really doesn't like the mirrors. Result  :D

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sunshineband

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Re: Onions from seed - 2018
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2017, 18:58 »
I use foil taped to cardboard, but the mirrors are an excellent idea and they won't sag as the days go by either. Thank you  :D :D



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