[Robster]

I stalked this thread last year and was duly motivated by the challenge of growing from seed.  I've only grown from sets before and been reasonably happy.  So I have a packet of Bedfordshire Champion and I'm ready to go.

[New shoot]

Well welcome to the onion club Robster   

[tosca100]

Can I join in please? I know I am not at 'home' and don't have access to fancy modules and stuff, and wouldn't normally grow from seed, especially when the unknown sets in the market are only a quid a kilo. But I accidentally ordered some 'Tosca' seed from Real Seeds when they had their sale on at 25p a pack, drawn to the name for some reason.

They are a long variety, rather like a large shallot, supposed to be good keepers. We have the space, might as well give them a go.

[mumofstig]

I accidentally ordered some 'Tosca' seed

    

Love it, as an excuse!

[Bing]

I will sow onion seeds for the first time this year too.

[New shoot]

The more the merrier in my book, so welcome Tosca and Bing 

Some of us will start early in modules, as we get itchy fingers to play with seeds again, but the club is open to all, whenever and however you sow 

[tosca100]

I will start everything early as we have an earlier spring....usually. After the year we have just had I hope we deserve a bit of a break.

[dave43]

red baron sets bolted last season so decided to collect the seed and have a go at sowing seed.
    results of seed sowing over last few years have been a disaster. never got to eat any seed sown onions. had to rely on sets for our crop.
have been forced into into an early start as seeds were starting to split ! and send out a root so put them in seed moduls and left to get on with it.
so have i started too early to join in
dave

[BabbyAnn]

I'd really like to try growing Kelsae - a first for me - so just bought some seed (and a packet of Arthur F1 seeds fell in the basket too  )  Never done a Boxing Day sow so this should be interesting 

[Snoop]

Can I join in too?

Last year I grew shallots from sets and seeds. This year I'll be growing solely from seeds in those flimsy modules Kristen hates, four to a module so the roots hold them together pretty well, and I won't be potting them on. I won't be growing them indoors but in cold frames. I'll be growing Zeebrune, Matador and Rouge de Niort, plus some Paris silverskin. The RdeN seeds came from Lidl - a bargain in comparison with shallot seeds from usual suppliers.

[Kristen]

I'll be growing solely from seeds in those flimsy modules Kristen hates

 

In fairness they have worked well for me with Onions, as I have had to uncoil the roots anyway when panting, so that I can plant them "vertical" rather than just pop the plug plants into a planting hole, so root disturbance haven't mattered.

My real hatred with the flimsy modules is for things that I then pot-up as there is so much root disturbance when trying to get the seedlings out that I think it slows the plant down at a time when I want it to crack on

[JayG]

red baron sets bolted last season so decided to collect the seed and have a go at sowing seed.
    results of seed sowing over last few years have been a disaster. never got to eat any seed sown onions. had to rely on sets for our crop.
have been forced into into an early start as seeds were starting to split ! and send out a root so put them in seed moduls and left to get on with it.
so have i started too early to join in
dave

There's no competitive element to this thread (well, not officially!  ) so anyone growing onions from seed is welcome to join in.

Of course, anyone posting pics of giant onions by next May could find themselves a little less popular than they were before! 

[New shoot]

anyone growing onions from seed is welcome to join in.

Absolutely    We are a relaxed bunch and its close enough to 2015 to allow an early start, so you're in as well dave43 

[theothermarg]

and me too please  I have always grown onions from seed because I feel besides more choice they bolt less then sets and I usually use root trainers, the ones that open out which are I confess getting a bit ropy after years of use.
marge

[New shoot]

Welcome aboard Marge