[sunshineband]

When they are 4 ins or so tall, they get planted out in a clump, about 15ins apart in each direction, in early April

(I'll be interested to see what Aunt Sally says as my info comes from 'Grow it!' mag from this month)

[AndyRVTR]

I'm following Medwyn Williams method having never grown large (exhibition size) onions from seed before. I sowed mine on Boxing Day into polystyrene boxes used for transporting leeks, then about 10 days ago I potted them on into 50 module trays using JI no.2.
As soon as they show 3 leaves they will be potted on into some 3" square pots that I have and in March they will be potted on again into 5" pots using JI no.2 and soil from the plot.
I agree that it's a bit of a faff on but if it works for Mr Williams it's good enough for me....

[gobs]

I've never potted them on either. they just go out into ground from seed tray. End off.

[gavinjconway]

Before I started playing with sets I used to plant all onions from seed. I scattered a packet of seed in a long growing tub, watered and left them in the conservatory or bedroom window to germinate and start growing and then in greenhouse or to grow.. when they were ready for planting they were at least 3-4mm thick and just pulled them up and planted out. Sow seeds in winter and sow in spring. No need for modules or thinning out at all. Simples..   

[Salmo]

The spacing works like this.

If you would normally plant at 4 inch spacing you get 30 in a 10 foot row.

If you have 3 to a module and plant 1 foot apart you get 30 in a 10 ft row.

One big advantage of planting like this is that you can hoe between the clumps until the plants are quite big.

I actually put a pinch of seeds in each module so that there are 5/6 onions in each. I plant them out like this and then take out the weakest plants as spring onions as they grow.

[sunshineband]

That is the logic of it Salmo, but if you wanted exhibition sized bulbs it is not going to give them.

As I see it, I want bulbs we can use in the kitchen, and donlt want to hoe round individual bulbs if there is a way to avoid it and still get decent onions.

So I am glad this has worked for you (Mine are germnating now -- all their little knuckles are showing above ground  )

[JayG]

Last year was my first ever attempt at onions from seeds.

Painstakingly sowed 40 seeds individually into modules, and pretty much 100% germinated. A month later only 10 survived, probably damping off due to a combination of too cold in the greenhouse (not my fault) and compost too wet (my fault!) 

This year I've sown about the same number but all in the same 6" deep supermarket meat tray, carefully spaced to avoid any need for thinning. Only just through now in the kitchen, but will move to the greenhouse in a few weeks time, and water sparingly from underneath!

I expect to be able to just turf them all out of the box in a couple of months and plant directly outside - basically this is the same method which seems to work well for leeks (but earlier.)

Time will tell, but hopefully I will avoid the problems I had last year, although the 10 survivors did actually produce pretty good bulbs eventually. 

[sunshineband]

Now I am glad I watered mine from underneath yesterday 

[AlistairMcLennan]

JayG - Have you got a heated Greenhouse?  I am thinking of doing onions from seed but waiting on my Propane bottle coming from Calor as the local stockists only have butane on stock.

If heated, what Temp do you set it to?

cheers

AL

[Aunt Sally]

They don't need much heat. 

I have mine in an electric propergator but I'm not certain they really need it.

[Nobbie]

First attempt at growing onion from seed these are a red variety called Karman. Wish i'd read this post before i sowed them  could have saved myself some work, spent all of 99p on them bargain got the seeds pot's and compost, can't wait for them to come up, how sad am i ??

I've just got some of those as I'm sick of the red sets always bolting I'll try the 4 seeds in each module and we can compare results later in the season

[DD.]

Did mine in a plastic bag indoors.

Went into the frost free greenhouse as soon as they showed and are doing fine.

[JayG]

JayG - Have you got a heated Greenhouse?  I am thinking of doing onions from seed but waiting on my Propane bottle coming from Calor as the local stockists only have butane on stock.

No heat Alistair - I'll keep an eye on night-time temperatures when they go out into the greenhouse, but the way I see it they'll almost certainly have to face some frosts after they get planted out in early April so they might as well get used to it sooner rather than later!