[littlemisssunshine]

As many of you know this is my first growing season at my plot. I am now thinking about seeds and when to plant.

I have ordered a collection of seeds and the spring onions should be sown outside "late winter/early spring as soon as soil is workable".  Does this mean I can do it now?

If there is somewhere on the site that covers the bleeding obvious, please just point me in the right direction and I'll wander off to find the answer!

First season nerves, me thinks  

[gobs]

Not here to disappoint, but personally, I've given up on spring onions all together. Not to despair though, if your seed is fresh and you got nice crumbly richish soil for them. End of winter in my book would be March and spring there after.

[DD.]

I have ordered a collection of seeds and the spring onions should be sown outside "late winter/early spring as soon as soil is workable".  Does this mean I can do it now?

No not yet, the soil is far too wet & cold. As gobs mentioned, March at the earliest. I don't sow until at least early April, when it has warmed up and the soil dried out a bit.

Never had a problem with spring onions, but you have to be patient with the germination, and annual weed seedling can quite easily hide them.

[splodger]

spring onions - although you'd think they would be simple - can be really temperamental

germination being a real problem for many - but if you don't sow - you won't know  

for early sowings in the ground (jan - mar) i like to warm up the soil - either covered in carpet, plastic etc - or by using cloches

in my experience - there is nothing better than learning by trial and error - learn by mistakes - etc - rather than 100 different opinions - at the end of the day the seeds cost you less than a quid - will take up hardly any space - and can be in and out before most things get going - so suck it and see - if they don't germinate - do them later next year - etc etc etc

[littlemisssunshine]

Wow you guys are quick, I only posted a moment ago.  Cheers for advice, will hang on until March time.  I am so eager, I cannot wait!!

[DD.]

at the end of the day the seeds cost you less than a quid

I spent £1.90 with Moles seeds for a 50g packet. They arrived today - about 15,000 seed!! Guess what Mrs. D. found this evening whilst tidying the pantry - an unopened packet from last year.

Lettuce with your spring onions anyone?

[littlemisssunshine]

[sweet nasturtium]

Gobs, out of interest, why did you give up on spring onions?

It concerns me when you say this because you seem to be such a confident gardener and know what you're doing!

[Annie]

I cann`t grow them either!There is a v.old thread on this somewhere and I am not alone. :cry:

[gobs]

Gobs, out of interest, why did you give up on spring onions?

It concerns me when you say this because you seem to be such a confident gardener and know what you're doing!

I just don't seem to have any meaningful success with them, Sweet. Bad germination rate and then they take a life time to grow(I personally tend to think all of them nowadays are a cross with leeks) as I remember when I was a child they were as fast as radish  four weeks or so, no chance, now. So I'm just quite happy not to bother and harvest young onions for salads, thank you.

As onion seeds grow much more of a treat and all spring onion supposed to be is a young onion, I only grow onion seed.    And harvest as required.

[DD.]

Gobs, out of interest, why did you give up on spring onions?

It concerns me when you say this because you seem to be such a confident gardener and know what you're doing!

I just don't seem to have any meaningful success with them, Sweet. Bad germination rate and then they take a life time to grow(I personally tend to think all of them nowadays are a cross with leeks) as I remember when I was a child they were as fast as radish  four weeks or so, no chance, now. So I'm just quite happy not to bother and harvest young onions for salads, thank you.

As onion seeds grow much more of a treat and all spring onion supposed to be is a young onion, I only grow onion seed.    And harvest as required.

I think you are looking at childhood spring onions through rose coloured glasses, gobs!  I've been growing them nearly as long as tomatoes (43 years now) & they've never able to keep up with radish!

A spring onion is not just a young onion, it a variety in it's own right.

[gobs]

Gobs, out of interest, why did you give up on spring onions?

It concerns me when you say this because you seem to be such a confident gardener and know what you're doing!

I just don't seem to have any meaningful success with them, Sweet. Bad germination rate and then they take a life time to grow(I personally tend to think all of them nowadays are a cross with leeks) as I remember when I was a child they were as fast as radish  four weeks or so, no chance, now. So I'm just quite happy not to bother and harvest young onions for salads, thank you.

As onion seeds grow much more of a treat and all spring onion supposed to be is a young onion, I only grow onion seed.    And harvest as required.

I think you are looking at childhood spring onions through rose coloured glasses, gobs!  I've been growing them nearly as long as tomatoes (43 years now) & they've never able to keep up with radish!

A spring onion is not just a young onion, it a variety in it's own right.

Yes, I'm exaggerating there a little, but I'm happy to use young onions instead.

What would be it's separate Latin name , please?

[DD.]

What would be it's separate Latin name , please?

Allium thingymebob.

[wildeone]

at the end of the day the seeds cost you less than a quid

I spent £1.90 with Moles seeds for a 50g packet. They arrived today - about 15,000 seed!! Guess what Mrs. D. found this evening whilst tidying the pantry - an unopened packet from last year.

Lettuce with your spring onions anyone?

can you grow them in pots?

[Boothy]

I grew mine in pots (well small trough style pots) last year