Growing chamber for show onions

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Mash Mad

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Growing chamber for show onions
« on: December 27, 2010, 20:59 »
 Just for you all to get an idea about growing show onions, I sowed my kelsae onions on Christmas eve in heated propogators which are ticking away nicely. I also brought a growlight and had a go at making a first time growing chamber for them...  8) Its not quite finished yet as it needs supports to raise the light for when the plants get taller.
This is quite amatureish but it should do the job fine :)   

I'll be putting them in the growing box, still with bottom heat, as soon as they've germinated, fingers crossed  :)
and they'll be having 16 hours of light 


 



 
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Jamie Butterworth

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2010, 23:06 »
That looks brill :D :D :D
If you want to be happy for a short time - get drunk.

If you want to be happy for a long time - fall in love.

If you want to be happy forever - take up gardening!

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Salmo

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2010, 09:57 »
Please keep us posted on the progress of your onions.

Light appears to be the secret to success with onions. With no light I leave mine until early February before sowing.

Do you need the heat once they are growing?

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yorky

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2010, 21:06 »

Do you need the heat once they are growing?

I keep mine at 55 degrees untill early march then move them onto the greenhouse staging,which is just kept frost free.
Grown at that temperature, and with the low light levels of Jan and feb, its best to use a growlight to stop them becoming leggy.
I know that us gardeners usually say that things will catch up, but I think that large onions are an exception to that rule. Get the cultivation right and a Christmas sowing will allways outgrow one made a few months later.
Sets a low standard and fails to achieve it.

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Mash Mad

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2010, 20:46 »
Aslong as you give them a bit of bottom heat until condtions are warm enough for them and keep them under the growing lights until there is more sufficent daylight they should be fine  :)  Im new to all of this so ive said only what i think is right....

I might have to make a bigger growing chamber or make it taller so i can house the plants till condtions are right..  :)

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Mash Mad

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2010, 20:54 »
Still waiting for the seeds to pop up through the soil, its been a week so far, I just have to wait and see.......  :)

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Jamie Butterworth

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2011, 23:58 »
Ive sown mine today under a lamp, how mcuh light do they want each day?

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Mash Mad

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2011, 13:09 »
Ive sown mine today under a lamp, how mcuh light do they want each day?

Now ive read off the NVS (National Vegetable Society ) website in medwyns aritcles that he has his lights on for 16 hours eachday until about the end of february which is what im having a go at, also do you mean a growing lamp or just an ordinary house lamp?

beacuse you most certenly need a growing light/lamp because the tube/bulb imitates natural daylight  :)

heres a link to the site and aritcles and one that ive selected  :).... its well worth a look loads of info on there  :)

http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/medwyn-williams-vegetable-grow-show-21.html 

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Jamie Butterworth

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2011, 13:26 »
Thanks for the advice :D

Its just a normal house lamp i am using until i can afford an grow light :(

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DD.

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2011, 13:46 »
You really need a growlight Jamie, as Mad Cat says the light spectrum given out by an ordinary bulb is all wrong. It' s way too far to the yellow end of the spectrum. I don't think you'll have a lot of success with a household one.
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?

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Jamie Butterworth

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2011, 13:53 »
Do you think itd be best if i just leave them natural sunlight and turn off the lamp?

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DD.

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2011, 14:00 »
They shouldn't need full light until they germinate.

If you can I'd be inclined to find a well lit window sill & put the good old aluminium foil behind the seedlings to reflect the light. This can nearly double the amount of light, but of course it  doesn't lengthen the day!

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Jamie Butterworth

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2011, 14:04 »
I have currently got them under 2 skylights wrapped in foil, will that be enough do you think?

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DD.

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2011, 14:10 »
I don't think so Jamie, think this has been discussed before. They really need to be in full light in a window to stand a chance.

It may seem bright to you,  but your eyes adapt.

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Mash Mad

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Re: Growing chamber for show onions
« Reply #14 on: January 03, 2011, 17:31 »
Jamie, have a look at these if you dont want to spend too much on a light... :) i got the £22 one and post and packing was about £5  :) heres the links.....

http://www.growell.co.uk/p/5065/T5HO-Sunblaster-Propagation-Lights.html

or this one.... which i might get for next year if its a success this year 

http://www.growell.co.uk/p/8865/CFL-Hobby-Reflector-including-complete-kits-.html

or this one...

http://www.growell.co.uk/p/5876/Sun-Mate-Grow-CFL-Reflector-including-complete-kits-.html



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