[madcat]

How long does it take onion seed to germinate?  I know that I got impatient last year but they seem to be taking forever.   

[penance]

They can take quite a long time.
I sowed 120 onion seeds about 5 weeks ago, most were up in around 2 - 3 weeks, some only showed there heads last week.

[madcat]

So perhaps I need another patience pill ....   

[Snoop]

Crumbs. This is useful info. I've got some shallot seed I'm hoping to sow. Packet says sow March to May. Better not leave it till May - they won't have finished growing before the frosts come.

[Salmo]

All depends on temperature. If on a warm window they are usually up in 10 days. Sown in open ground in cold soil they may take a month. They will not usually rot even if the ground is cold and wet.

[babycakes]

hey mine were up within 2 weeks and seem to be doin well (i think) its just my tomato seems that  are taking forever to germinate 

[Dan78]

i planted some onion seeds a few weeks ago and have a few in pots now..

Are they supposed to be really long and trying to escape ? they are in my conservatory right now but they are getting very cold at night!!

[madcat]

They are really long and they can flop over  -  without it being a damping off situation.  They should be fine so long as they are above zero and not too wet - I lost a whole tray last year to damping off, but it was my fault, they weren't draining properly.

[madcat]

You were all right!  There are little green loops showing today.  I just needed more patience!   

[Salmo]

If they get too long I give them a haircut with scissors at about 8cm, which is usually at the crook, and they do not fall over any more.

Some will no doubt cringe at this but I am sure it does no harm.

[peapod]

Mine have taken about 3 weeks (mammoth and ordinary)

The leeks are taking much longer

[Dan78]

If they get too long I give them a haircut with scissors at about 8cm, which is usually at the crook, and they do not fall over any more.

Some will no doubt cringe at this but I am sure it does no harm.

ahh that explains it a little better then! One of my larger seedlings had flopped over and then snapped.. Its still growing fine a few days later when I expected it to be dead!