[1st time veg grower]

Thanks for being the brave one and stickin yer hand up. They had me sitting here scratching me head too!

Glad I'm not the only one! Though like I said, once you're told, often it becomes obvious what they stand for, but sometimes you need someone to tell you or you spend ages trying to work it out! It's the abreviations for family members that confuse me most because people use so many different ones and often they aren't as obvious.

The site policies do ask posters to avoid using text speak.

This is an example of why.

Sorry, I had not thought of them as Text Speak (shows how stupid I am).  I shall desist

No worries! I'm sure people who use forums like these all the time are used to them and take it for granted that people get it, but apart from the odd google search, pretty much the only forum I come on is this one. I use texts quite a lot but people I know don't use these abreviations, I've only ever seen them on the internet. And for people like my mum, who's dyslexic, they can be a nightmare so I do think avoiding using them is a good rule.

Back to the onions now... 

[DD.]

I've seen worse, Kristen, but it does confuse some members - me included.

A bit off topic, but as we've touched on it, as for the family ones, I'm not a fan of those either. I think it's DS = darling or dear son, DH is the husband version etc.. The one that always gets to me though is obviously DD for darling daughter!

[Kristen]

The one that always gets to me though is obviously DD for darling daughter!

It is? Blimey Dear Dad ... but if you insist ... I promise to only call you Darling Daughter in future

[Henwoman]

Thanks for all the info - really interesting to get replies from so many people.

[Stevens706]

Last year was the first year growing from seed, I sowed on 17th Jan 2 small pots of Kamal Red and 4 small pots of Bedfordshire Champion. They were planted on 8th May and were the best onion crop I have ever grown, only 1 went to seed and very little white rot. 

Same again this year but more red ones, plus I am trying shallots from seed..

[mumofstig]

what happens to all the onion seedlings once they are germinated?

Do they go out into a coldframe, cold or frost-free greenhouse, or stay on windowledges 

I think some next stage info is required for all the first time onion seed sowers 

[DD.]

I've gone for frost free greenhouse.