[New shoot]

I was under the impression that a lot of people sow in their greenhouses and basically just leave the seedlings there until it's time to hoof them out -- however they will presumably be very cold from time to time in these conditions.  Would this be OK?

I was hoping to sow them into spent compost (seedlings won't need a rich medium, right?) in my "shed" (actually a single layer brick outhousey thing), then move them to the blowaway greenhouse.  Should they stay indoors for the duration of winter, to keep them from getting too cold?

Happy Christmas    and the answers to your questions............

The seeds need to be at 15-20 degrees C to germinate, so most people sow them indoors.  They then need to stay cool but frost free until planting out.  I move mine to a cooler room, then put them in the cold greenhouse once they have got going a bit.  I give them added cold protection with fleece or similar for the first few weeks.

The seedlings are in the modules or pots for a fair while, so fresh compost is best and I feed mine as well to keep them growing 

[MrsPea]

I've just been out and sown my Kelsea  onion seeds 

[Nobbie]

I've just been out and sown my Kelsea  onion seeds 

I declare a false start, back in your blockss until boxing day

Got my F1 Karmat red onion seed and some. Rijnsburger ready to go here upstairs in the unheated loft conversion on a dormer windowsill. I'm growing the reds as my sets always seem to bolt, and the whites to store well as apparently this variety is known for this. First time growing from seed, so should be interesting

[Annen]

Anyone tried Bedfordshire Champion? I got a packet with a magazine recently, and thought I'd give them a go.

I grew Bedfordshire Champion last year and they all germinated and grew beautifully.  They haven't kept well in storage though, but I think that is more to do with growing and storing conditions rather than the variety.  I've still got seed left so I am going to try again this year.
I'm going to sow them in a seed tray, leave them in the greenhouse (cold) and prick them into modules later.  I thought I had sown too many last year as I ended up with 4 trays to find space for (64 modules) but I have used them nearly all already!

[gavinjconway]

Ok ... So we have Christmas dinner tomorrow on Boxing day, so today I sowed the following into half trays and fired up my propagators..

Onions - for show + biggies  Kelsae / Ailsae / Russian Giant
Onions - for eating  Bedford Champion / Rijnsburger / Ailsa Craig

Leeks Elephant / Russian / Mammoth Blanch / Pot / Mammoth Pot / Blue Solaise / Giant Winter

Once germinated and growing strongly I'll switch them to open shelves in the conservetory (sort of un-heated but has residual warmth from house) for a few weeks then into the greenhouse till they reach planting out size.. Hopefully by Mid to end March.. 

[DD.]

New to GYO?  - please, whatever you do, don't copy.

We like to think that Gavin knows what he's doing.

[sowitgrowit]

I was under the impression that a lot of people sow in their greenhouses and basically just leave the seedlings there until it's time to hoof them out -- however they will presumably be very cold from time to time in these conditions.  Would this be OK?

I was hoping to sow them into spent compost (seedlings won't need a rich medium, right?) in my "shed" (actually a single layer brick outhousey thing), then move them to the blowaway greenhouse.  Should they stay indoors for the duration of winter, to keep them from getting too cold?

Happy Christmas    and the answers to your questions............

The seeds need to be at 15-20 degrees C to germinate, so most people sow them indoors.  They then need to stay cool but frost free until planting out.  I move mine to a cooler room, then put them in the cold greenhouse once they have got going a bit.  I give them added cold protection with fleece or similar for the first few weeks.

The seedlings are in the modules or pots for a fair while, so fresh compost is best and I feed mine as well to keep them growing 

Many thanks New Shoot.  I will sow mine into cat litter trays and get some cheap staging/racking for the south-facing windowof my shed. When they germinate they can live there, which will get cold but won't freeze.

Might even have a crack at some early 'Hannibal' leeks in a few weeks too.

[pigguns]

I've just been out and sown my Kelsea  onion seeds 

Hehehehe Christmas day lunchtime, now that's commitment!  Going for it today, whilst the family are distracted with shiny new things 

[New shoot]

Got to go visiting this morning, but the seeds are coming out this afternoon 

[blackberryjam]

First 20 karmen seeds sown, :)the rest will have to wait until the weekend

[devonbarmygardener]

New to GYO?  - please, whatever you do, don't copy.

We like to think that Gavin knows what he's doing.

Now now DD!!

I don't possess a heated propagator - I think it would be too tempting to grow things too early.
It won't be warm enough for the seedlings when they come out if it -  not with some more tender plants anyway.
Dunno about onions - thought they were pretty hardy anyway!

[gavinjconway]

New to GYO?  - please, whatever you do, don't copy.

We like to think that Gavin knows what he's doing.

So DD - Please tell me what is wrong with what I have done??   Seemed to work ok for me last year..

[DD.]

I think you're mis-reading it.

You've got some experience, Gavin and know what to do with early sowings. I wouldn't encourage newcomers to growing to take this much on so early. As with most things, you need to walk before you can run.

[DD.]

"The Kelsae" seeds duly sown and installed in bedroom.

[MrsPea]

"The Kelsae" seeds duly sown and installed in bedroom.

Why bedroom