Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: New shoot on December 24, 2013, 08:05
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This is a new thread for anyone growing onions from seed this year.
There are a few of us planning to get going very soon - see here - http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=111443.0 We can post to say when we sowed our seed, first appearance of seedlings and then compare progress together to harvest.
Its a long term crop, but very rewarding, so why not grab a pack of seeds and join in :)
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Packet of "The Kelsae" at the ready, Ma'am!
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I'm planning to get the trays of compost inside today. They need to warm up ready for Boxing Day :D
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I'll be sowing Red Baron and ailsa Craig between Christmas and new year. Inside in heated propagator until they can go on the window chill.
Adri
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My heated propagator is the usual plastic bag!
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But then you probably have a warm kitchen....take it from me those onions are going to feel the benefit of a heated propagator in our kitchen.
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Kitchen? No chance. These will be closely monitored on my bedside table!
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Anyone tried Bedfordshire Champion? I got a packet with a magazine recently, and thought I'd give them a go.
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I looked at those in the seed sales, but it said sow February at the earliest on the pack.
Having said that, if they were free and you can supply cool, but frost free growing conditions until they are ready to go out, I can't see why they shouldn't work on an early sowing :)
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I've never grown main crop onions before (sets or seeds), but my spring onions have done well, so having read the earlier thread managed to smuggle into the house a pkt of Red Baron to get an early sowing 'fix'! Will follow experts on this thread ;)
I've got either a compost/clay-soil area at home, or manured silt down the plot for planting seedlings out later -what would be best? Both sunny.
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I've been in the greenhouse this morning sorting out propagator and setting it up ready to sow some Kelsae onion
seeds, I've never done this before so it should be interesting ;)
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I've got either a compost/clay-soil area at home, or manured silt down the plot for planting seedlings out later -what would be best? Both sunny.
Mine grew on sunny clay soil/home made compost area on plot last year and were happy :)
One of my windowsills is now primed with mini seed trays full of gently warming compost, extra seed labels to hold the plastic bags up off the compost surface and some sand to top the trays off and anchor the seed in place (optional, but it works for me ;))
OH has rolled his eyes a bit, but knows better than to comment :lol:
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Soils already in the pots for sowing my karmen on boxing day :lol: my first time growing from seed .
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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?
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Kitchen? No chance. These will be closely monitored on my bedside table!
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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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 :)
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I've just been out and sown my Kelsea onion seeds ;) ;)
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I've just been out and sown my Kelsea onion seeds ;) ;)
I declare a false start, back in your blockss until boxing day :D
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 :)
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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!
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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..
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New to GYO? - please, whatever you do, don't copy.
We like to think that Gavin knows what he's doing.
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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.
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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 :lol:
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Got to go visiting this morning, but the seeds are coming out this afternoon ;)
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First 20 karmen seeds sown, :)the rest will have to wait until the weekend :(
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New to GYO? - please, whatever you do, don't copy.
We like to think that Gavin knows what he's doing.
:lol: :lol:
Now now DD!! :D
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! :unsure:
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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..
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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.
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"The Kelsae" seeds duly sown and installed in bedroom.
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"The Kelsae" seeds duly sown and installed in bedroom.
Why bedroom ??? :unsure:
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DD was putting his seeds on the bedside table as it was all the better for keeping a close eye on them ::)
For anyone not planning to mount a vigil over their onion seeds, anywhere warm will do until they show themselves ;)
I, for instance, have been far more restrained and put mine on the dining room windowsill :lol:
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Windowsills are no good in my house as I have cats! ::)
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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.
Ok DD i see where you are coming from :D Yes I do agree it does take some getting used to and keeping them going in the cool is important.. I believe it would be better to start them in Feb
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Windowsills are no good in my house as I have cats! ::)
Obviously not well trained. I've got 5 and manage!
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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.
Ok DD i see where you are coming from :D Yes I do agree it does take some getting used to and keeping them going in the cool is important.. I believe it would be better to start them in Feb
Am I reading and understanding of these two comments clearly and correctly?
If you are a newcomer to the early sowing procedure? Don't bother to sow until at least February. Whereas if you have any experience of the early sowing procedure? Sow as of today (Boxing Day) if you so wish. Confusing or what!
I've no previous experience of the early sowing procedure. I've always planted onion sets. But, today I've sown both Bedfordshire Champion and Bristol F1 onion seeds. Both varieties being started-off within my electric propagator.
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"The Kelsae" seeds duly sown and installed in bedroom.
Why bedroom ??? :unsure:
They're where I'll see them and not forget to check on them and it's warmer than the kitchen window sill.
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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.
Ok DD i see where you are coming from :D Yes I do agree it does take some getting used to and keeping them going in the cool is important.. I believe it would be better to start them in Feb
Am I reading and understanding of these two comments clearly and correctly?
If you are a newcomer to the early sowing procedure? Don't bother to sow until at least February. Whereas if you have any experience of the early sowing procedure? Sow as of today (Boxing Day) if you so wish. Confusing or what!
I've no previous experience of the early sowing procedure. I've always planted onion sets. But, today I've sown both Bedfordshire Champion and Bristol F1 onion seeds. Both varieties being started-off within my electric propagator.
No. You are not reading it correctly. I specifically referred to the quantity that Gavin is sowing. Everyone has to start somewhere, but if you're new to growing, I wouldn't advise trying as much at your first attempt.
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Hmm, I actually sowed Ailsa Craig and Long Red Florence back in October! In November when they were about 6 inches tall, I transplanted them in rows 6" apart, 8" wide outside. They are now growing nicely, about 10" tall. A few did not survive, but as I had spare, I simply transplanted over those. So far they have survived a couple of frost, very wet and windy weather. Fingers crossed. I am hoping to get a harvest in June/July. On New Year's Day, I will sow another batch of Ailsa Craig and Long Red Florence for August/September harvest. ;)
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Going to have a 1st go from seed this year. Modules filled with compost, warming up in the kitchen and a packet of Ailsa Craig at the ready.
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Windowsills are no good in my house as I have cats! ::)
Obviously not well trained. I've got 5 and manage!
They rule the roost in this house!! :D
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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.
Ok DD i see where you are coming from :D Yes I do agree it does take some getting used to and keeping them going in the cool is important.. I believe it would be better to start them in Feb
Am I reading and understanding of these two comments clearly and correctly?
If you are a newcomer to the early sowing procedure? Don't bother to sow until at least February. Whereas if you have any experience of the early sowing procedure? Sow as of today (Boxing Day) if you so wish. Confusing or what!
I've no previous experience of the early sowing procedure. I've always planted onion sets. But, today I've sown both Bedfordshire Champion and Bristol F1 onion seeds. Both varieties being started-off within my electric propagator.
No. You are not reading it correctly. I specifically referred to the quantity that Gavin is sowing. Everyone has to start somewhere, but if you're new to growing, I wouldn't advise trying as much at your first attempt.
So, if the sower is a newcomer of the early sowing procedure; only sow a maximum of what one maybe two varieties of onion seed during late December through to end of January? But of course if the sower is experienced of the early sowing procedure; then sow as many varieties as you so wish as of late December?
I really don't understand why it is necessary to advise a newcomer to the early sowing procedure of how many varieties of onion to sow at an early stage of the growing season? Surely, "trial and error" of an early sowing of four, five, six varieties of onion for a newcomer is a great and positive method of gaining the necessary experience for the product of an abundant onion crop for future seasons.
If the mentor still insists a newcomer of the early sowing procedure should only sow one or maybe two varieties of onion at an early stage of the growing season? It would be interested to note at what point of sowing experience is it advisable to progress and advance to sow at an early sowing stage four, five six varieties of onions?
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Give us a break - we're all only trying to help! That's what this thread is for - not to discuss whether you agree with the advice or not!
You can always just say how you do it - but it's not polite to openly disagree with someone.
Of course you can sow what you want, and as much as you want........... but, if you get it wrong because you don't know what to expect, then you've wasted seeds, that's all we're trying to avoid.
Now.............Back on topic please ;)
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Mine are all now sat in the dormer windows in the loft. Temperature is more like 10-15C, will this be ok? Or should I move them somewhere warmer for starters? Two trays of Rjinburger and three of Karmel in modules with 3 or 4 seeds per module. It's nice to have something on the go already, although I'm sure they'd do equally well from a later sowing.
Good luck everybody ;)
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Mine are all set for tomorrow I have just found some leek seed as well so I will give them a go to.
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I have just done mine.
One tray of Bedfordshire champs and one of F1 Santero.
Going to wait a bit to so the shallots (Zebrune) and (Figaro)
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Got down the plot today and sowed 4, 40 cell modules of onion seed.
They were Bedfordshire Champion, Ramata Di Milano, Ailsa Craig and Rouge de Florence.
Covered and placed in a mini greenhouse in the polytunnel. ;)
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Ok we're off........managed to get a medium plastic tray sown with some red baron in the kitchen, whilst pretending to cook a Gorgonzola pasta bake 8)
Now under a clear lid on (sunnyish) lounge windowsill....
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Just a quick question from a newbie allotment holder.
I have an electric propagator which I use for my tomato seeds in March although it's a pretty basic one. It doesn't have a thermostat, just a simple dial with high - low settings.
Would it be OK to put in some onion seeds (in small cells) then once they have germinated, let them fend for themselves in the cold greenhouse. I don't think I fancy the idea of a propagator going for 2-3 months just for some onions, when I could just buy sets in the spring and bung those in without any heat at all.
I was told sets are more prone to bolting, hence my idea of growing from seeds.
I'm not interested in getting 'show size' onions, but being my first allotment year, I wouldn't mind having a decent crop. I'll be growing Red Baron and Ailsa Craig.
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Honestly I'd start them in early Feb on the propagator then about 2 weeks after germination into the cool sun porch if you have one or window sill then into the gh in march'ish then into the bed. They dont want to be heated when growing but slowly adapted to the cold greenhouse.
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Ok. After reading this site for a few days I've got off my seasonally fattened butt and dusted off the electric propogator. Installed in spare bedroom bay window where it should get plenty of light. Warmed up for a couple of hours and have now sown a packet of Kelsae, a packet of Rose de Roscoff, and half a leftover packet of ramrod spring onions as there was a bit of space left. 15 deg should hopefully be suitable for them all. Expecting some to be poking through in about two weeks.
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I have put a tray of conpost to soak and will sow the seeds tomorrow. I think I will put them in the mini greenhouse inside the proper green house rather than in the propagator, I am in no hurry. I can always bring them into the house if things are looking slow.
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hello,just sown 2 moduel trays of fi hytech onion seeds 104 cells each tray,1 tray of bedfordshire champs,1 tray of red baron , i put them in these thermostaticly propogators in my bedroom between 15-20c ill leave them like that just until i see them coming through then off it goes ,i shall then move them into mini greenhouses in the polytunnel with eltex parrafin/diesel heater for 2 weeks then turn it off leave lids on greenhouse and hope for the best :unsure:,then come spring ill plant loads of bought onion sets ;) you can never have enough onions can you :D ill start picking them as green spring onions. darren
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I'm just going to stick some seed (when I buy them this weekend) in some seed compost and hope for the best!!! :D
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I've got my onions from seed already coming up, and unfurling - alisa craig. They have been in a month now inside my greenhouse - north facing, temps up during the day to 15 C', and shallots also from seeds, alongside winter lettuce, Bulgarian giant leeks in a mini blow-away albeit inside the G-House too. Its mild for a winter, only down to 0.7 and one frost so far! :D
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Not to be relied on every year!
It's two years now since Mrs Digger accidentally disconnected the electricity supply to my greenhouse and all the seeds trays froze solid.
We've still a long way to go before we're out of winter and I certainly wouldn't risk seeds in an unheated greenhouse.
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Could I just add to the theme of this thread if that's ok. Having sown my kelsae and rose de roscoff, I would like to sow a couple more varieties but preferably very good keepers. Is anyone sowing a particular one for it's keeping qualities? Thanks. Steve
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I'm just going to stick some seed (when I buy them this weekend) in some seed compost and hope for the best!!! :D
Snap! :D
Could I just add to the theme of this thread if that's ok. Having sown my kelsae and rose de roscoff, I would like to sow a couple more varieties but preferably very good keepers. Is anyone sowing a particular one for it's keeping qualities? Thanks. Steve
Red Baron often get mentioned when referring to good keepers, which is why I'm giving them a go.
I've never grown onions from seed before so this should be fun ;)
Jim
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Could I just add to the theme of this thread if that's ok. Having sown my kelsae and rose de roscoff, I would like to sow a couple more varieties but preferably very good keepers. Is anyone sowing a particular one for it's keeping qualities? Thanks. Steve
hello steve these fi hytech i just planted says excellent long term storage ability,maybe worth a try.darren
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I'm just going to stick some seed (when I buy them this weekend) in some seed compost and hope for the best!!! :D
Snap! :D
I've never grown onions from seed before so this should be fun ;)
Jim
I bought 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds - they state "long storing" ;) ;)
Have fun Jim!!
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My seeds are in! I'm leaving them in the greenhouse , but I will keep an eye on them for frosts and bring them in if need be
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kfYu7hIB9VQ/Ur8MZevg_6I/AAAAAAAAJAs/NkcKG5-l0ok/w730-h548-no/IMG_2020.JPG)
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Thanks all. I will be picking up some bedfordshire champ and f1 hytech if in stock at my garden centre. Would love to grow some reds but they don't like my cold wet soil and always seem prone to rotting.
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I have trouble getting red onions going too :unsure:
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I have been looking at
Long Red Florence (http://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Vegetable+Seeds/All+Vegetable+Seeds/Onion+Seeds+-+Long+Red+of+Florence_172916.htm#172916)
something different but working it out I haven't got the room now.
Edited long and broken link - still won't link - when you get to this page look for Long Red Florence!
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Alias Craig seeds sown this morning ;)
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The Ailsea I sowed are up and flying under the LED lights.... I'll get some pics.
Totty
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The Ailsea I sowed are up and flying under the LED lights.... I'll get some pics.
Totty
What led lights have you got totty?
I am thinking of getting some but some of them seem a rip off.
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Ailsa Craig and Sturton in modules yesterday
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Grew these last year. A great tasting onion (banana shallot) to cook with and they're storing beautifully.
Figaro (http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/onion-and-leek-seeds/shallot-figaro/376TM)
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Oooohhhh that's good to hear :D I've got T&M banana shallots as one of my 50p seed sale bargains :D
Did you start them early DD? I was hanging fire on them and the red onions for a while, unless you know they work sown earlier ;)
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27th February in a frost free greenhouse and I see no reason to change that this year!
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I shall curb my enthusiasm then :lol: 'Bout then for the red onions as well do you think ?
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I'm only starting off my Kelsae onions early. The rest I shall bide my time with until late Feb/early March, they worked out OK this year and it less to worry about early on.
As an aside, the only other thing I may start soon is a few caulis. They've worked out OK in the past, apart from the year when Mrs Digger disconnected the electrickery!
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Yes, I'm going to try early caulies again (sigh ::)), plus an early sowing of spring greens designed for the purpose and might get the sweet peas going.
That will be my lot, so will also be biding my time. No point wasting seeds ;)
I'm not doing celeriac or celery this year, as I reckon onions are a safer bet. I would rather give more windowsill room over to them.
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The Ailsea I sowed are up and flying under the LED lights.... I'll get some pics.
Totty
What led lights have you got totty?
I am thinking of getting some but some of them seem a rip off.
The reason most of them seem to be a rip off is basically because they are!
If you google Advanced LED growlights you will see an american site that sell there own diamond series lights, full spectrum, for around 300 dollars each. They really are very good.
But like you, thought very pricey, so did a bit of research and it turns out, you can buy direct from the manufacturer in china for around half the prices so I made a leap of faith and went with it. I needn't of worried. I'll post some pics of the lights too.
Totty
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Well I have a small mountain of Bedfordshire Champion seeds from gardening magazines (I wish they would vary their seeds) - so started 2 trays off in a heated propagator on the windowsill today. After transplanting with 3 leaves they will go into an unheated polytunnel but inside a structure made with bubble wrap. I'll look out for some other varieties in the cheap seeds and set them off early too.
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The lights.
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The onions...
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Impressive set-up Totty :) Are these destined for the show bench?
Mine are just showing :D I shall be employing the low tech solution of tin foil reflectors as mine are just for me to gloat over ;)
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Well, only three or five are destined for the bench. The rest, for the kitchen.
Totty
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mmmm Totty.... Looks like an expensive hobby you have there... I'm in this to save money tho and not to have a factory set up :D :D :D
I made mine last night.. It has 2 energy saver bulbs (equiv to 75W in old money) and even has a peep flap on the door. Been on all day and temp staying at 20 deg C - empty and sitting in my garage. I'll fit a computer fan to keep air circulating and to control temp.. and can block or open round vent holes as well. It has 12 holes top and bottom to create it's own draft..
Cost about £20... probably wont work but heck it's worth a try. Then another £20 for fan temp controller etc..
This is just to do a few monster onions for our plotty show.
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Sowed a few alias Craig seeds this afternoon. On windowsill now. I haven't really grown large onions from seed before, so I'm going to be reading this thread non stop for advice. Thanks. Also risked a few winter gem lettuce seeds in unheated greenhouse.can come in if weather turns cold
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Gavin - if they are "normal" bulbs, they will not give out the right spectrum of light in order to stimulate proper growth of the plants. You can't just use any old bulb, (or to use the correct terminology - "lamp").
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The bulbs need to be the cool white type for vegetative growth. The warm white are for flowering. I'm currently setting up something similar to gavins using GU10 LEDs that I had left over from a job. I have 4 x Cool White and 4 x Warm white. My plan is to have an open setup on the window sill so as to get natural light on the plants as well as the lamps.
Think I'll put a sign in the window ...'Onions honest!!!'
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Thanks DD and Adri.. I thought they might be the wrong type :( I'll see what I can find in town to use instead.
I agree Adri I need an "Onion" sign on mine as well cos they it's in direct sight of the road..
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I am going to get one of the t5 systems and I am sure that one or a few of us are going to have a knock on the door by the local boob :)
How embarrassing would that be for him :lol:
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Seeing that the weather is going to be nasty on New Year's Day, I went over the plot today as it was a lovely sunny day. I prepared three trays and sowed Long Red Florence, Ailsa Craig and Giant Autumn Leeks. Just scattered roughly 50 seeds each, gave a good watering and covered with fleece in the polytunnel. They will be unheated, but as they are in the polytunnel and covered in fleece, I think they will be nice and snug! If I can find some spare bubble wrap, I might just wrap the trays for extra insulation. Anyway, that's that for now! 8)
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Thanks DD and Adri.. I thought they might be the wrong type :( I'll see what I can find in town to use instead.
I agree Adri I need an "Onion" sign on mine as well cos they it's in direct sight of the road..
Basically for vegetative growth, and ideal would be a blue colour wavelength (sometimes called cool white) of 4200k, and for flowering and fruit development the red wavelength of 2700k is ideal.
Most lights, including the LEDs Adri mentioned, will contain a portion of these wavelengths, but generally use a high percentage of green light which is next to useless for growing plants.
Your cabinet looks excellent, and I reckon the best bet for you would be a 2ft, 4 tube T5 fluorescent tube. You could pick one up off eBay for about 70 quid.
To be honest, my lights are the only "expensive" things I have ever bought for gardening, and seeing as though it's both a hobby and job, I see a couple of hundred quid as peanuts compared to the money spent on other peoples hobbies. A lot of people would probably spend as much on going to the pub, going to watch the footie, or just generally going out shopping, as I did on some lights.
Treat yourself sometimes! And let the onions reap the benefits! ;)
Got some extra special leek plants to collect in a week or so, hope they like it artificial for a while.
Happy new year, to you all.
Totty
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Will you post some pics of the resulting onions Totty :) Would be really interesting to see the end results of the early start under artificial lighting compared to what the rest of us achieve without them :)
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I sowed half a packet of "Bedfordshire Champion" in a seed tray in a heated propagator 2 days ago. The other half packet ! will try in a frost proofed greenhouse in a few weeks time.
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Will you post some pics of the resulting onions Totty :) Would be really interesting to see the end results of the early start under artificial lighting compared to what the rest of us achieve without them :)
Hopefully everyone will post pics of their onions on here!
Fingers crossed they don't all bolt in 6 months time!
Totty
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Hopefully everyone will post pics of their onions on here!
Fingers crossed they don't all bolt in 6 months time!
Totty
Agreed :D on both counts ;)
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Quite a few (probably more than I have room for) 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds sown.
If they bolt, I'm going to blame you guys for making me sow seed rather than sets!! :tongue2: :D :D :D :D
Only joking!! I like a challenge! ;)
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Thanks Totty, DD et al, . I have got some other (cheapo) grow lamps from fleabay coming so will give them a go. re-done my wiring and switchgear today and included a temp controller (coming soon) and pc fan to pump cool air in to control temp.. all looks good now..
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Thanks Totty, DD et al, . I have got some other (cheapo) grow lamps from fleabay coming so will give them a go. re-done my wiring and switchgear today and included a temp controller (coming soon) and pc fan to pump cool air in to control temp.. all looks good now..
What sort have you gone for? I'm tempted to buy a couple of LED growbulbs for about a tenner each. I missed an opportunity a while back when a friend told me she had to chuck a load of kit out when she bought a house that had been used as a canabis farm. Doh!
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After just 4 days my first onion seedling popped it's head through this morning.
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Thanks Totty, DD et al, . I have got some other (cheapo) grow lamps from fleabay coming so will give them a go. re-done my wiring and switchgear today and included a temp controller (coming soon) and pc fan to pump cool air in to control temp.. all looks good now..
What sort have you gone for? I'm tempted to buy a couple of LED growbulbs for about a tenner each. I missed an opportunity a while back when a friend told me she had to chuck a load of kit out when she bought a house that had been used as a canabis farm. Doh!
(http://www.smiliegenerator.de/smiliegenerator/smilies/signs1/7242c7501d0d73056203c33aab0ea8e3.png)
If you want to discuss growlights please start another thread - this one is for onions ::)
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I sowed my onion seeds this afternoon.
Have one module tray with single seeds of Bedfordshire Champion and one multi-sown one too, plus one multi-sown with Kamal.
They are in the heated greenhouse, with bubble plastic across their trays to make a little tent
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My Red Baron in the spare room are through :lol:
I tried an experiment after reading they like dark to germinate, some on the surface, some lightly covered with soil and put the whole tray/clear lid inside a (clean!) dark doggy poo bag. The ones sown on the top of the soil look a bit larger. Photo tomorrow when I've got daylight as my camera is a bit rubbish.
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My first ever attempt at onions was this autumn with over wintering seeds, I had no idea it was a subject so fraught with anxiety. Perhaps ignorance is bliss! They're looking pretty good now and actually on a par with the red sets I bought on a whim from the allotment shop a couple of weeks after.
Have some seeds en route and will get then in in the next few weeks.
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My Ailsa Craig and Sturton are through after 7 days, just need to sweet talk the Wife into giving me windowsill space now :)
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My kelsae are just coming through after a week but no sign of rose de roscoff (keravel), which were useless last year as only three germinated. This is a new packet so I'm hoping that I have more success. It says to sow at 10 to 12 deg which is a lot lower than others. Has anyone been successful with these? If so, what is the secret?
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The Kelsae also through. (Not sown any others).
Now resident in the kitchen window sill with aluminium foil deployed.
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The Kelsae also through. (Not sown any others).
Now resident in the kitchen window sill with aluminium foil deployed.
We know the new season has truly arrived when the tinfoil goes up ;)
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That's it for a while, though. Not going to rush anything else!
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Sowing 3 sorts this afternoon. Yellow Rynsburger, Zebrune shallot plus the remainder of an old packet of Rouge Pale de Niort I found when sorting out the seed box.
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That's it for a while, though. Not going to rush anything else!
You're a sensible lad DD :D
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Have grown the Zebrune shallots for a couple of seasons, the better ones have come from the normal spring sowings. Although I'm sure the packet advises sowing from jan-May, I'm not sure there is any benefit in sowing them early.
Totty
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Bit the bullet and planted mine today.
80 x Arthurs and 40 x Red Barons into propagators wrapped with fleece.
Fingers crossed. :)
Cudders
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Bit the bullet and planted mine today.
80 x Arthurs and 40 x Red Barons into propagators wrapped with fleece.
Fingers crossed.
Have you planted sets or sown seeds?
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My Bedfordshire Champion and Alisa Craig (in a heated propagator) are showing - but very patchy. I used Levington F2+S and was wondering if the compost had become a bit too compact for the seeds to push through. Early days yet and patience is a virtue. Something that I lack though!!
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Bit the bullet and planted mine today.
80 x Arthurs and 40 x Red Barons into propagators wrapped with fleece.
Fingers crossed.
Have you planted sets or sown seeds?
Seeds. Guess I should have said 'sown'. :blush:
Cudders
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Second leaves through now...
Totty
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going to start my seeds of this week in a covered seed tray on my downstairs bathroom window sill have to keep an eye on them as it can get a bit warm in there
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Sowed 60 Ailsa Craig yesterday
2 half trays 30 in each ( fingers crossed )
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All my Autumn planted onion sets and shallots have spent a week on the floor the blowaway having blown away in the winds. Re-planted but expect they will bolt but they have a great root system.
On windowsill I have sown 220 Globo, 100 Vision and 150 Santoro seeds. Looks quite a lot but they are seeds coming to the end of their sow by date so I do not expect all of them to germinate. Keeping the other two packets of seeds to sow at the end of Feb.
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I have just been to check and my Befordshire Champion seedlings have just emerged after 7 days.
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I've also checked my Kelsea onion seeds and one has just emerged mine were planted at Christmas time 12 days ago :D
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Better get mine in !
I saved several thousand Red Baron seed in 2010 and have been using them every year since. I will plant out 20 or so good bulbs from last years crop and let go to seed to refresh my stash.
Going to sow some more Sturon aswell. I have a couple of dozen bunches of multisown Sturon(sown in September) planted out in the tunnel to see what will happen.
Nick
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My hytech f1s are through and bedfordshire champs in bathroom and my bedroom :D
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My Globo and Ailsa Craig have moved to the kitchen windowsill this morning, as there is no central heating in there. My project later will be to make tin foil reflectors for them ;)
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Project???? :lol:
I just stick it under the trays and bend it upwards!
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Yes project :lol:
I like to make cardboard reflectors and then tape tinfoil to them, so they are more durable and last me through the spring.
This may seem a simple task to those with any level of manual dexterity, but me and sellotape never seem to get on that well ;)
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Have you tried stapling it to the cardboard?
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Hmmmm - might try that. May well end up with a stapled finger, but would avoid the 'taped to everything' syndrome ;) :lol:
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My Bedfordshire champ onions are just poking through - bang on 7 days from sowing. :D
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My Bedfordshire champ onions are just poking through - bang on 7 days from sowing. :D
By that reckoning mine still have three days to go. :unsure:
With the tinfoil I find it gets very crumpled if I don't support it with card or something, as somehow it seems to get caught by someone turning the taps on and off at the sink. I wonder who??? (Not me)
I use pritstick
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With the tinfoil I find it gets very crumpled if I don't support it with card or something, as somehow it seems to get caught by someone turning the taps on and off at the sink. I wonder who??? (Not me)
I use pritstick
The phantom tinfoil crumpler visits you as well then ;)
I have pritstick :) Even I should be safe with that :)
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He must run from one house to another, dark cloak swishing about his shoulders like the phantom raspberry blower of old :lol: :lol:
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Mine are coming up now after being sown on boxing day :) Just got my grow lights delivered, so it's time to get busy with the wiring and some tinfoil :D I'll post up a piccy once it's complete. If it works ok, I'll use the same kit for tomatoes and chillies.
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The Ailsea are coming out from under the LEDs tonight and going on the heat mat in greenhouse. Have about a hundred too many so lots of thinning out to do.
Totty
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1st ailsa c through - 12 days since sowing
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My reflector is up and the compost has been warming inside in cat litter trays (a la DD's advice last year).
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdO0BL6IgAA-3Ax.jpg)
This is just inside a south facing window - a cool room, but should be plenty of light. I hope to sow 'Mammoth Improved' onions at 1" each-way spacing, and some old favourites, Ailsa Craig, tonight or tomorrow.
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I sowed some white overwintering jobs last Octoberish, outside in the garden bed and they're well up. I think I was supposed to have moved them to their final positions by now. Where to put them though :wacko: Everywhere I look I have onions or garlic poking through :nowink:
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Sowed 5 trays of Red Baron today. 3 in heated prop. in cool conservatory, 2 on top of freezer in kitchen.
I will be interested to see what the germination rate is like with the seed being 4 years old now.
Nick
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Onion sets from £1land 300 wow got oh to get me some, wanted 6 packs only 1 left, got them,they only got their stock in this morning,they said come back tomoz new delivery :D
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Bedfordshire champs coming through. Also Musselburgh leeks. Both sown on the 4th.
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Yellow Rynsburgers through this morning. Waiting for the Zebrune shallots and Rouge Pale de Niort onions.
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Bedfordshire Champion sown 28th Dec are showing now. I left them in the greenhouse at first but I weakened :nowink: and put them on the spare room windowsill.
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Mine are looking canny leggy - does anyone trim their seedlings??
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Personally no I don't trim onion seedlings. Could they be getting too warm or maybe not quite enough light :unsure:
Mine are on a windowsill in the kitchen, which has no central heating, with tinfoil reflectors behind them. They are at the waif like weedy stage, but as soon as they bulk up a bit, they will be transplanted into modules and moved to the greenhouse :)
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I think mine are about to be introduced to the greenhouse, from the kitchen.
I'll give them a few days to get used to the slightly lower temps, then transplant into modules.
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The old Santero (Suttons) seed which had a sow by date of July as showing a little thicket of green sprouts, Globo (Suttons) are showing well but no show as yet from the Vision (Grosure) which are also sow by 2013
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Hello,the bedfordshire champs i sowed in december says to be sow by nov 2010,unopened packet (Mr fothergills )and nearly all have come up so far :D 108 sown. I also sown 108 red baron (Unwins) opened packet says to be sown by dec 2011 nearly all came through. ;) .And sowed 108 f1 hytech dated sow by 2014 most have come through so far :(.iI didnt think the older ones would have grown but hey ho :D
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Is this mice? put the seedlings into the unheated summer room to harden them off and today I have this.
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Are there any signs of mouse droppings anywhere? It certainly looks suspicious..
...... unless you have let a blackbird in. They are devils for turning over the top of compost in the garden
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Unless a bird can get through the dog flap.... :D there is so much junk out there and with the bikes being dragged in through the mud I would not be able to spot any droppings but I think I will have to make a trip to get a trap, going to be a softie though and get one that traps them live as I do not want to hurt it.
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Set it carefully as otherwise the mouse can sneak in and out again - a small piece of bread with peanut butter on it, right at the far end of the trap, should entice it in :)
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my onion from seed are getting long..im about to put then in 3in pots...should i cut them down a bit...and how deep to plant them ty
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my onion from seed are getting long..im about to put then in 3in pots...should i cut them down a bit...and how deep to plant them ty
Me too! What to do now....
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Plant to the same depth as they are now. If they are all floppy, support them once potted up.
Totty
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I put mine in the greenhouse up the lotty the other day and the next day we had a really hard frost :(
Checked on them today they are still alive but look a lot paler than before, going to put them into modules tomorrow and see how they go.
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thanx totty
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Started growing onions from seed a few years ago, been converted ever since. I grow for the kitchen mainly, but at the back of my mind is a thought to try some for show one year. Seed quality I have found is always a bit hit and miss and have tried most of the popular varieties, Kelsae, Ailsa Craig, Red Baron, Bedford Champion, Sturon etc. with hit and miss success. The white onion 'Takmark' F1 has been excellent never bolted and very uniform, the red onion 'Kamal' F1 is the coloured choice, my other half harvested the last of them last week, wet but firm now stored in the conservatory. The 'Long Red Onion of Florence' is the other consistent performer, tried five seeds to a module last year planted out as a group, did okay not as big as the singles. Have found to be more confident with seed and relaxed about early planting, having said that I feel the twitch - they are going in tomorrow.
:)
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I moduled them up this pm. Oh my that was a fiddly job, even in the sun inside the greenhouse, they are back indoors in the spare room now :nowink:. On the other hand the leeks are up :D
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Mine are now coming through. :D
I sowed mine in modules rather than trays. Saves transferring them later. I'm lazy. ::)
Cudders
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Sowed my onions last weekend (18th):
60 Red Barron
60 Dorato di Parma and
80 Bedfordshire Champion.
All in modules (20 per half seed tray) and on the windowsill with cling film propagators.
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mine are germinating slowly - better late than never :D
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Pricked mine out into modules today
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(Phew) just finished pricking out 104 bedfordshire champs from modules to a deep tray just got another 312 red baron,golden bear tomorrow they are all at crook stage
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Some success! :)
Bedfordshire Champion up and running
Ramata, Long red Florence and Ailsa Craig patchy at the mo.
Still, I expected that, as they have grown without any heat apart from any coming into the polytunnel from the sun.
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Pricked mine out into modules today
Do yours have more than 1 leaf when you transfer to modules? Mine seem stuck with first leaf - seem to be standing still at the moment and there's been no real change for a good 7 days. At least they haven't died thought :D
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Mine all have one leaf and im transplanting now.
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Me too. Mine never grow beyond one leaf in seed compost.
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my bed champs are all going well excatlly 7 days after planting going to get my spring onion pods going soon ( a loo roll cut in half filled with compost 5 seeds to a roll )
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Just finished transplanting 150 onions into deeper trays,mum bought me 20 packets of 300grm onions :ohmy: 250 growing at home in loo rolls .loads in greenhouses and polytunnel i must have around 3000 by the end of harvest spread around 3 lotties( wow) probably 200 hundred garlic growing and still more to buy and plant soon ,at this rate i wont have any room for other veggies :lol:
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Me too. Mine never grow beyond one leaf in seed compost.
Ta - light bulb moment for me - I've used Levington F2+S. Maybe the compost is exhausted. Will transplant asap.
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Hi can someone please tell me if I have to move onions from moduals to larger pots or leave and go straight into the ground and at what stage can I move to a cold greenhouse my onions are about 20mm tall many thanks
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I've just pricked my onions out into 3" pots 'Kelsea Onion Seeds' all looking good ;)
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Mine will just go into modules, I find that sufficient. 3" pots is a lot of compost! :lol:
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Hi can someone please tell me if I have to move onions from moduals to larger pots or leave and go straight into the ground and at what stage can I move to a cold greenhouse my onions are about 20mm tall many thanks
That depends on what size modules you have seeded them into?
I use '12 holes to a seed tray' size modules and leave the onions there til they're planted out. They do need feeding towards planting time, in this size.
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Thanks I guess I ve got to move them my onions are in small moduals 49 per tray
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Mine will just go into modules, I find that sufficient. 3" pots is a lot of compost! :lol:
There is 3 in a pot or is that still too much ??
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Three in pot's not so bad. I got the impression each had got its individual home!
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Pricked mine out into 24 modules the F1 look good but the bed champs don't look so good mind you they are in a cold greenhouse and that is where they will stay.
Also put some Pound shop sets in modules they are the same ones another plot holder grew last year and they were great.
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i prick mine into mini peat pots fiddly at the seedling stage but really easy when planting out
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I sowed my onions last week in large pots in general propose compost and they are just starting to come through! I sowed four varieties F1 called Sprinter, Vertus de paille, and a Spanish onion as well as red onion forget name. With regard to thinning seedlings brought on this way there is no need! I have sown seed say 80 to 100 in a 8 inch pot and grown them on until the were planted out and got the best onions I have ever had just a bit of liquid feed when watering. Then when planting out the onions roots are soaked in water and the compost washed away then planted with a dibber to maintain root length below soil and the depth of planting just about a half in below the surface. The were an F1 variety name escapes me just now but the onions were magnificent! :)
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Sounds good Jambop. About to sow some more so might try that method. I've got into the habit of sowing in seed compost then pricking out into better stuff. I can't think why they can't be sown into the better stuff thinly thus eliminating the pricking out stage and the checking that goes with it. Going to do this today so would appreciate others opinions too.
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Steve I got the idea from buying seedlings form the local GC which were grown the same way. The pot is quite deep so the roots do develop well then after the are well developed and I do mean well developed they are planted out after washing the compost out of the roots trying to keep damage to a minimum and plant out into well watered ground. The first time I tried this method I thought well here goes nothing... the results were amazing really fantastic big onions that kept very well. This is a good method for F1's the uniformity of the onions was great!
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Sorry to cut in but why do you wash the compost off before planting? Complete novice here :)
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Hayley you don't need to I found they got damaged less this way than tearing them from the compost to transplant them. You could just give them a really good soaking to loosen them off completely the gently tease them apart. I have to stress that these plants are really quite well grown on they are about the thickness of an artist type paint brush 3-4 mm diameter and need a good watering in period after transplanting, I stay in SW France right enough so it is a lot hotter here in March / April we can easily get high twenties some days, the soil gets very hot then it may not be so crucial at home in the UK.
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Thanks Jambop - I'm gonna try that. Just spent a good 2 hours transplanting mine into individual pots. I broke a fair few and it wasn't the most interesting 2 hours of my like that I've ever spent !!!
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Sowed my onions last weekend (18th):
60 Red Barron
60 Dorato di Parma and
80 Bedfordshire Champion.
All in modules (20 per half seed tray) and on the windowsill with cling film propagators.
These are all up now - at least all that are going to come up are up. The wife transplanted some of the multiples to the few modules that were empty.
My intension was to sow two seeds per module so I have no idea how four have germinated in some modules and none have germinated in others!! :wacko:
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Mine are going to be pricked out into modules later. I have been feeding them in their seed trays, but they need their own space now.
Then out to the 4 tier mini greenhouse, which is set up in the main greenhouse, to start getting used to the big wide world out there. They can graduate to the greenhouse benching, then the cold frame, before going out to the plot ;)
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I think the sunny windowsill was too much, they look flopped over and spindly and lethargic. Soil is damp. Getting bored now, so bunged em in the mini 2 tier inside the greenhouse to see if they like it cooler. On the other hand my leeks, Romseco and aubergines are looking gooooooddd :D
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Sounds like the best move to make Pigguns :) They don't want too much heat once they are up and growing. Mine looked a bit sad after transplanting, but have perked up now. They are slow starters and will look pathetic for a while yet.
These were last years when they first made it out into the mini greenhouse inside the main greenhouse. They are at the back of the top shelf. Chive-like and spindly or what ::)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/suec_02/Plot%20pictures/IMG_0462_zps70a409d5.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/suec_02/media/Plot%20pictures/IMG_0462_zps70a409d5.jpg.html)
and they turned into these beauties :D
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/suec_02/Plot%20pictures/IMG_0836_zpsf9ffe825.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/suec_02/media/Plot%20pictures/IMG_0836_zpsf9ffe825.jpg.html)
This year I've filled a shelf and a half of the mini greenhouse full of onion seedlings ;)
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Mine are up in their modules, and looking fairly OK. Got a couple where nothing has appeared, but like New Shoot, I have sown more this year after last season's success :D
Soon be time for them to go into the plastic tomato house, so they don't get too 'soft'. I'll give them a feed in a week or two.
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:nowink: mine don't look anywhere near that good (1st photo!) and in addition I'd put them in the 4 tier which forms the front removable wall of the 'pop bottle lean-to' aka my 'greenhouse' and it blew over for the first time in 4 years :( I'm not destined to be an onion grower. Did save them but it's not looking good.
On the bright side I'd taken a couple of coriander pots indoors to use some, so not that much was lost.
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Can I join in?
I started 30 Red Baron and 30 Yellow Rybsburger on a warm windowsill this Sunday (2nd Feb). In modules, 4 x 15 modules to a tray, two seeds in each and I'll thin to one. The plan is to leave them in there until time to plant out so I've used a mix of seed and general purpose compost. When they're up I'll move them to a cold windowsill (unheated room), then the blowaway, then finally plant out in April - weather permitting.
I'm doing a bit of a square foot experiment so the plan is to plant out 25 of each in two squares: one at 4" and one at 3" spacing. I'll also try some sown direct.
I'm totally new to this so please don't take the above as instructions! :tongue2:
Could I move them straight to the blowaway once they germinate or is it likely to be too cold for them?
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You certainly can join in - the more the merrier :)
I'd move them to the cold windowsill for a couple of weeks at least. Mine were at the two leaf stage on going out to the greenhouse :)
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Mine have been in the polytunnel for a couple of weeks now. The kelsae are still sulking but the beds champs look happy enough. The leeks have hardly checked at all. Anyway I gave them all a weak feed today so maybe they will have cheered up by tomorrow. Same happened last year with the kelsae and I got some lovely big ones come September so not too concerned at the moment.
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Just catching up with this as I hasn't clocked the sticky - I've just sown the first kelsae and Bedfordshire on 2 Feb. A bit later than I'd hoped, but it's a start. Fingers crossed for another good onion year :D
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I think the sunny windowsill was too much, they look flopped over and spindly and lethargic. Soil is damp. Getting bored now, so bunged em in the mini 2 tier inside the greenhouse to see if they like it cooler. On the other hand my leeks, Romseco and aubergines are looking gooooooddd :D
I got bored as well (and the onions got a bit dry :blush:) so I've chucked them out in the greenhouse to take their chances. I don't think sowing early suits me as I can't be bothered to water them as they're not very exciting. Hopefully I won't get bored with the tomatoes.
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They won't be bothered to grow if you can't be bothered with them - nothing will :nowink:
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Bored with your onion seedlings :ohmy: :nowink:
They are keeping me going in the dreadful weather. Sooooo nice to have something in the greenhouse growing while the gales howl outside :D
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Bored with your onion seedlings :ohmy: :nowink:
They are keeping me going in the dreadful weather. Sooooo nice to have something in the greenhouse growing while the gales howl outside :D
Ooooh yes :D They are fresh and green and smile back at me every day
Makes me feel good when the hailstones are hammering against the glass as they were again yesterday :D
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Glad I'm not the only one being a bit 'my precious' over them :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Mine are still under lights, had to give them some support.
Surprised by some of you, "getting bored" with them. By having them kept indoors in the warm by a sunny windowsill, then "getting bored" and putting them straight outside in a cold greenhouse, the shock will cause most of them to bolt later in the year. Better off chucking them away and taking your chances with sets if looking after a few onion seedlings is too boring.
Totty
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I usually grow a few onions from seed but find shallots more productive for the space they take up and wasn't going to bother this year, but I didn't want to be left out ::) so I've sown a couple of dozen Ailsa Craig (only 2 days ago so not bored yet, not that seeing seeds germinate ever gets boring as far as I'm concerned. ;))
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I'm very pleased with the germination my onion seed have made, just growing in the polytunnel. Today I will thin them out and sow a few more for "just in case"
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Surprised by some of you, "getting bored" with them.
Totty
Lol what I mean is in the grand scheme of things a few bits of straggly looking grass is boring compared to my beautiful Aubergine seedling leaves, or all the lovely green leaves of coriander, pak choi, mizuna, lettuce and parsley in the greenhouse. Even the leeks look nicer! Will stick with them but they do not look impressed- maybe they know I they're not my favorites!
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My straggly bits of grass have been catted! ::)
Walked on, nibbled, p*ked up - scrap that idea this year - I'll get some sets! :nowink:
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Surprised by some of you, "getting bored" with them.
Totty
Lol what I mean is in the grand scheme of things a few bits of straggly looking grass is boring compared to my beautiful Aubergine seedling leaves, or all the lovely green leaves of coriander, pak choi, mizuna, lettuce and parsley in the greenhouse. Even the leeks look nicer! Will stick with them but they do not look impressed- maybe they know I they're not my favorites!
None of them are as impressive as some big onions come harvest time though! ;)
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My straggly bits of grass have been catted! ::)
Walked on, nibbled, p*ked up - scrap that idea this year - I'll get some sets! :nowink:
That is a bummer!
One of the garden cats has taken to sleeping on the big heat mat in the greenhouse, squatting half a tray full of my 'normal' onions.
Still have loads of the Ailsea spare though ;)
Totty
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Finally got round to pricking out my onion seedlings! ;)
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You and me both!
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Sowed some Yellow Rynsburger onion seeds, two to a module, about 10 days ago. They have just germinated so have put tin foil around the module tray and put them on a sunny window ledge. Although my house is on the cool side, they managed to germinate without artificial heat.
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:mad: all my onions from seed seem to be wilting over maybe need more water?
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What are their growing conditions?
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Hi dd they are out in the light hallway around 12-15c :(
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mine were going ok but i think there hiding from the weather :(
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Hi dd they are out in the light hallway around 12-15c :(
I suspect they may not be getting enough light and have gone "leggy". The human eye can adjust and what seems bright to you may not be to a plant. They need good all round light.
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Went to survey the storm damage, I lost the PVc roof to the bottle greenhouse and the blow away 4 tier must have taken a rocking as although I'd anchored the base with a couple of full compost bags it jettisoned some plants onto the path; saved some parsely and coriander, the onion seedlings looked like gonners, but I salavaged 5 bits of grass which are tucked up into a new pot of potting compost and back in ICU the safe spare room. I'm not destined to be an onion grower :lol:
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When should the seedlings be planted out and what sort of size should they ideally be?
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Light is an issue for me too. My seedlings are up and I've moved them to a cold west-facing windowsill, but they're definitely getting drawn.
I'm considering the tinfoil approach but I know that hydroponic growers actually use white sheeting to reflect maximum light, so I'm thinking about using some bright white card instead. Has anyone else tried this?
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some people do say that white works better, I've always used foil though ;)
Why don't you try it and let us know :D
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When should the seedlings be planted out and what sort of size should they ideally be?
We need to be past the worst of the weather before they go out. If they get sudden low temperatures or frosts, it often promotes bolting later on. Mine didn't go out until 5th May last year and produced a great crop, so better to wait than rush it, if we have a cold spring.
If you are growing them in cool, but frost free conditions, they should bulk up a bit by the time they go out. Mine were just about pencil thickness, but some were skinnier and again, produced a worthwhile onion in the end :)
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some people do say that white works better, I've always used foil though ;)
Why don't you try it and let us know :D
I will do! It's on my lunchtime shopping list.
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The best matt white paint reflectivity is on a par with the shiny side of aluminium foil, although gloss white and the dull side of foil aren't far behind.
Probably just a question of convenience - I doubt you'd notice the difference in practice, although you would if you used neither!
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http://supernovacondensate.net/2013/01/06/white-rooftops/
Matt white = 80%
Dull side of foil = 85%
Shiny foil = 95%
I dare say white sheeting is less initial expense that shiny aluminium. so there's a initial outlay/performance trade off there.
As far as I'm concerned, in the amateur environment, it matters not a jot if I splash some water on foil. White card is not going to be so tolerant.
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I cracked and sowed some red onions yesterday. Felt so nice to be messing round with compost and modules. At this rate, I shall be awash with them later on :lol:
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I cracked and sowed some red onions yesterday. Felt so nice to be messing round with compost and modules. At this rate, I shall be awash with them later on :lol:
At least you know you will eat them all :lol:
You can always sow some pinches of spring onion seed in modules to give your fingers a treat of things to come :nowink:
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Now don't go encouraging me :nowink: My seed sowing fingers are so itchy, I honestly don't need it :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Now don't go encouraging me :nowink: My seed sowing fingers are so itchy, I honestly don't need it :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol:
I do have a few early bits in now :)
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On reflectivity of materials...
I have some mirrored perspex. Would that be about the same as the shiny side of foil?
Adri
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I'm using the car windscreen foldy up silver reflective sunshine thing :) Hubby won't miss it (hopefully)
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Hi I'v sown sown my Kelsia 3 weeks ago and no show ,this is worse than last year when I got 50% germination.This seems to be a common thing with this onion as a friend has sown 2 packets with no germination,we have sown these before in the past with a lot better results .I will try againbut my Bedfordshire are 95% at germination, is any one else having this problem.Cheers :unsure:
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Where/how are you sowing them? They're not usually a problem.
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old seed?
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Hi I'v sown sown my Kelsia 3 weeks ago and no show ,this is worse than last year when I got 50% germination.This seems to be a common thing with this onion as a friend has sown 2 packets with no germination,we have sown these before in the past with a lot better results .I will try againbut my Bedfordshire are 95% at germination, is any one else having this problem.Cheers :unsure:
A friend of mine had zero germination this year with a variety (can't remember its name, but it is the kind that the french onion man sells) from France. He told the distributors and apparently they have had quite a lot of failures this year from last year's seed.
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Me too Annen. The variety I had was Rose of Roscoff. Not one germinated. Even worse than last year when I had just five I think. Shan't be bothering with them next year. Makes you wonder if they treat them with something to stop germination. No.....the French wouldn't do that ! 😉
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A few update pics of the large onions and leeks, "normal" onions, all have had light, and me shallots.
Totty
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And the leek...
Totty
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And the leek...
Totty
The leek, indeed :lol:
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My 'large' onions look like your normal ones :lol: The benefits of grow lights proved there ;)
The leek is a bit of bruiser isn't it :lol:
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Yep, the grow light is making a huge difference. Am putting all the micro greens under it for a couple of days after germination and they are growing very evenly.
Totty
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Hi in answer to mum's queryI sowed the seed in seed compost put in conservatory .I have not had a problem before although I didn't check the date on the seed packet they could be old ,I'll give them one more try and check the date next time. :)
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Totty, how old are the onions now? How long under the lights?
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My Ailsa Craig on the kitchen windowsill took 12 days before the first one showed, and nearly a week later they are still coming through slowly one at a time.
It's too early to know what the % germination will turn out to be but I don't remember them being this reluctant last year when the seed was 'fresh'........... :unsure:
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Totty, how old are the onions now? How long under the lights?
Sown middle of December time, and have been under lights since. It's on from 6-6 so is mainly supplementary lighting now, and as soon as we start getting twelve hours of daylight they will go off.
Totty
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Thanks for that... Mine are a bit smaller but they were sown a bit after yours..
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Just seeing the white hooped tops of the Rossa di Toscana red onions I sowed on 18th Feb breaking through the compost.
They are sown in pinches in modules, as I want clumps of smaller onions, and it looks like a decent germination rate :)
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Finished the final potting on of the big uns yesterday. Have thinned them from 45 to 20 and they are in 1.5 litre pots, 1 part riddled soil from onion bed, 1 part Levington m3, 1 part Levington m2 and one part fine vermiculite.
Leeks to follow next week.
Totty
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At what stage in development should I start hardening off onion seedlings. Mine are about three inches high and are sprouting their second set of leaves. They were started in the second week of February.
Additionally, I have three to a module at the moment. At what point should I thin them out and re-pot them?
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LrbzMcg1LN4/Ux2WDeqgFGI/AAAAAAAAP-Q/KjlXWh0jrkE/w320-h239-p-no/IMG_2086.JPG)
My seedlings have got to the 3 leaf stage. Will they be okay in these cells until ready to plant out? I can't face the thought of potting on 40 odd plants into 3" pots, quite apart from the space taken up.
If I fed them will they be okay where they are for a bit longer?
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I have left them in similar sized trays until planting time in previous years and had a good crop.
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You can put the modules on top of a tray of nice fine compost. Let them root into that. The finer the compost is, the easier it will be to retrieve as much root as possible when you plant them out.
Totty
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Thanks Totty, that sounds like a good plan!
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When can onions started from seed be transplanted outside? I started in early Feb. Should I wait till next month and see what the weather is like? what kinda temps will they tolerate?
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You need to wait until the temps are more stable. They won't die if planted out before the last frost, but they will bolt.
Totty
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hmmm ok. When is the weather ever stable in this country though lol.
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They want at least 3 leaves before planting out. They will happily sit there for a week or two. Mid April onwards is when mine usually go out. If the weather is nasty they are better in their modules.
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Quick update from me.
At the beginning of January I started off Alisa Craig (AC) and Bedfordshire Champion (BS) in trays - in a propagator on a windowsill. They did "ok" and were transplanted into individual modules on 20th January. On 8th Feb these went into an unheated polytunnel in an internal section with bubble wrap protection. How I hated transplanting though!
On 28 January I started off - maybe 25-30 AC and BS seeds in an 8 inch pot. Again, with heat, in a propagator. These went into the unheated polytunnel (treated the same as the individual cell grown plants) on 15/2.
The best plants by far are those that were sown in the 8" pots and were not transplanted. They are thicker, greener and have more leaves. Of course, I don't yet know how any of the plants will fare in the open ground, but so far, those planted together in the pots are well ahead. In terms of effort, these were so much easier too. When it comes to transplanting - after hardening off, I plan to was the soil off the roots to untangle them - so I don't envisage that separating the plants will be a problem.
I'll take some pics at the weekend to show you the difference but in the meantime thought it would be worthwhile sharing my experiences so far.
How's everyone else's plants coming along?
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Great update CDave. Mine have been under lights up until this week. They are now planted out in the final positions along with some leeks. So long as they don't all bolt, I should have some beauty's by mid august.
Totty
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Great update CDave. Mine have been under lights up until this week. They are now planted out in the final positions along with some leeks. So long as they don't all bolt, I should have some beauty's by mid august.
Totty
Hi Totty - a couple of questions if I may (that should help me) - How many leaves do yours have and, did you harden them off outside? Here's wishing you a bumper crop! Dave
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There was no need to harden them as they are planted in the border of the heated greenhouse they have been growing in. They have been in five inch pots for a while but the roots were wrapping around the bottom of the pots so needed potting on.
I think, without looking they have seven or eight leaves, some well over two foot long.
For the storing onions, they are in a cold greenhouse at the moment, they have about three maybe four leaves and will get hardened off around the middle of April to be planted out around the end of the month.
Totty
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My onion seedlings have started to yellow at the tips, any ideas why they would do that? the 2nd leaves have started yellowing as well. They have had 2 or 3 dilute feeds with a liquid seaweed and apart from that just watered when they need it (maybe over watered?). Also they were on a windowsill and the window has been slightly open for a few days. Maybe the cold got to them? Hopefully they will bounce back!
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My onion seedlings have started to yellow at the tips, any ideas why they would do that? the 2nd leaves have started yellowing as well. They have had 2 or 3 dilute feeds with a liquid seaweed and apart from that just watered when they need it (maybe over watered?). Also they were on a windowsill and the window has been slightly open for a few days. Maybe the cold got to them? Hopefully they will bounce back!
They could yellow from over-watering.
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Totty's things just do look embarrisingly impressive.
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I take it your talking about me onions. :D
I've not updated the pics for a while. I'll get some next week
Totty
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Of course. Those chives of yours!
My leeks are that size on harvest.
I only grow a very few big varieties of anything but it's good to look at.
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These are my show onions started first week in January... they have had light for 24 hours a day and kept at about 17-21 Deg C.. and now have out-grown the light box so into the conservatory they have gone.
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Just wait, when they out-grow the conservatory! :lol:
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:D :D :D
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Looking very nice!
Totty
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Thanks Totty... It's the first time with a light box that I made up myself.
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Well it certainly works! I've not used lights for onions before, but to be honest I'm astounded at how much difference if makes.
Totty
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Quick update from me.
At the beginning of January I started off Alisa Craig (AC) and Bedfordshire Champion (BS) in trays - in a propagator on a windowsill. They did "ok" and were transplanted into individual modules on 20th January. On 8th Feb these went into an unheated polytunnel in an internal section with bubble wrap protection. How I hated transplanting though!
On 28 January I started off - maybe 25-30 AC and BS seeds in an 8 inch pot. Again, with heat, in a propagator. These went into the unheated polytunnel (treated the same as the individual cell grown plants) on 15/2.
The best plants by far are those that were sown in the 8" pots and were not transplanted. They are thicker, greener and have more leaves. Of course, I don't yet know how any of the plants will fare in the open ground, but so far, those planted together in the pots are well ahead. In terms of effort, these were so much easier too. When it comes to transplanting - after hardening off, I plan to was the soil off the roots to untangle them - so I don't envisage that separating the plants will be a problem.
I'll take some pics at the weekend to show you the difference but in the meantime thought it would be worthwhile sharing my experiences so far.
How's everyone else's plants coming along?
As promised - some pics. You can see that the plants in the pot are so much stronger than those planted earlier and transplanted. Both groups of seeds were started in a propagator - Those in the modules ere started earlier and transplanted. Those in the pot were sown in the plot and haven't been touched. Both groups of plants have been in an unheated poly tunnel since 15 Feb. Of course I don't know what the final results will be - but for now - the group in the pot that haven't been transplanted are winning hands down.
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Yes, but the ones in the pot will receive a bigger shock when they get split for planting out..... all may end up the same :D
Let us know.
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Yes, but the ones in the pot will receive a bigger shock when they get split for planting out..... all may end up the same :D
Let us know.
Well they will both have a received one shock each - one later than the other!!!
I'll be splitting the onion pot really carefully and washing the compost off the roots so hopefully, there will be minimal disturbance. I've just remembered that I've always sowed leeks in the same way - and not had any problems - admittedly they are different plants though. Only time will tell - but I'll post an update when I plant them out (with some pics) and maybe a couple of other updates as the year progresses. Dave.
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I stick all my reject show onions and leeks in pots like this. The plants have a deep root run compared to the modules, so not really a surprise that they get off to a flyer. So long as you can keep them going until they get stuck outside, they will probably do just as well if not better than the others. They won't mind root disturbance too much.
Totty
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When do we plant our show onions out side ?? I haven't hardened them of yet they are still in the green house but getting bigger each day. :)
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Start hardening them off on decent days now. Could be outside in a few weeks.
Totty
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Sowed some F1 Kamal last week in modules within unheated greenhouse and they are just beginning to show.
Becoming a bit milder up here but still quite cool so pleased they are already popping up.
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Sowed some F1 Kamal last week in modules within unheated greenhouse and they are just beginning to show.
Becoming a bit milder up here but still quite cool so pleased they are already popping up.
Thank you Totty, how far apart do they have to be ??
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Planted out half of mine today. :D
Rest are hardening off and will go in this week. Think I have about 80 from around 100 seeds so happy with that.
Cudders
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Both onions and leeks are flying now, after planting out a fortnight ago.
Totty
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Both onions and leeks are flying now, after planting out a fortnight ago.
Totty
Totty were do you get your onion ties from ???
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Medwyns of Anglesea. A few quid for a hundred. Work a treat!
Totty
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My onion seedlings moved from the unheated greenhouse to the seedling cloche about a week ago. A bit more gradual hardening off and to the plot they will go :)
They have had a liquid feed to keep then going in their modules and I will probably give them a couple more before they go out.
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How about a few piccies, pretty please. Mine look very sad - dunno if that's par for the course right now :unsure:
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I'll grab a piccie this afternoon, but mine are fairly puny looking as well ;) Totty's turbo charged plants will make them look particularly pathetic :lol:
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As promised, New shoot's onion seedling forest. I think I may have overdone things here and not all of them may get planted out :unsure: :lol:
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/suec_02/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1078_zps503008d4.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/suec_02/media/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1078_zps503008d4.jpg.html)
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Mine are looking a bit disorganised since I transplanted them into bigger modules, but they seem to be getting their act together. Nowhere near as big as Totty's, of course, but mine are not show onions.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cguIjWZe87I/U0bomulV07I/AAAAAAAAQaI/Ieg3D1YVilk/w730-h548-no/IMG_2172.JPG)
They are having a few hours in the sunshine.
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Thanks Newshoot :)
Mine are laying down like yours Annen - despite not being transplanted ::)
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Thanks Newshoot :)
Mine are laying down like yours Annen - despite not being transplanted ::)
I am so glad it's not just mine that have taken to lying down. Mine look very similar. Feeling reassured.
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Mine are out pics to follow if they survive :)
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So, what is the general consensus regards planting the onion seedlings into the prepared soil? Is it dibbing an appropriate size hole at regular intervals across the garden/allotment and placing a single onion seedling into each and then gentle filling the hole with soil? Or is it making several drills across the garden/allotment and placing a single onion seedling at regular intervals within the drills before gentle back-filling the individual drills? Thanks. My first season with onion seedlings. Previous seasons I've always planted onion sets.
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I plant mine out about an inch deep in holes made with my handy finger-dibber, and then just firm lightly around them - don't think it matters what technique you use as long as you don't bury them too deeply.
++++++++++++
As far as my seedlings are concerned, it's been hard work this year - only 25% of the year-old Ailsa Craig seed sowed neatly at 1" intervals germinated, and only a few of the rest of the packet I threw in rather impatiently, so I now have about 10 biro-refill Ailsa Craig seedlings, and plenty of Roja de Niort (25p emergency buy from Lidl - germinated well but probably fair to say they haven't got enough bulk to topple over even if they wanted to at this stage! :lol:)
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Plant them out at same level they are in the compost.
Totty
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So, what is the general consensus regards planting the onion seedlings into the prepared soil? Is it dibbing an appropriate size hole at regular intervals across the garden/allotment and placing a single onion seedling into each and then gentle filling the hole with soil? Or is it making several drills across the garden/allotment and placing a single onion seedling at regular intervals within the drills before gentle back-filling the individual drills? Thanks. My first season with onion seedlings. Previous seasons I've always planted onion sets.
I am dibbing, however so they say it compacts the soil for the roots to penetrate. I just ignore this piece of advice as I can't be asked to drill on my clay.
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Just found this thread. I planted Santeros back in February I think, my diary may be more accurate. I planted 58 tidddly onions out yesterday at my big Lottie. I sowed Red Baron seeds at the beginning of this month and have just potted on those seedlings into a modular tray this afternoon - well it is raining. I have 24 of those. These will join the the others when they are big enough. Currently resisting in the open cold frame. I have not grown Red Baron or any other big red onion from seed before only the red spring onion.
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Lulu, Red Baron grew well for me last year, so I hope yours do you proud.
First lot of my seedlings are out, but under fleece as I was worried about the hailstones forecast... the singly sown ones. I hope to plant the multiple sown ones out this week coming. I kept them under cover in the garden today so they didn't get bashed to pieces, thank goodness.
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Planted my rather poor specimens out today, 100 Bedford Champs. Fleeced and netted as next door has four cats and they seem to like my garden. ::) Hopefully something will come of them, it's my first attempt from seed.
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Here's an update from me - you will see in previous posts in this thread that I'd sown 2 lost of seeds. One in modules and transplanted to bigger modules, the other in a large plot and left to grow (not transplanted). My seeds grown in the pot are by far the best. Those transplanted are smaller and I hated transplanting them!!
Today I planted those sown in the pots into the allotment. I removed the onions from the pot (the root ball was very healthy and well established) and stood the rootball/soil in water before teasing apart the plants. Here are some pics of the results. Overall I'm really pleased. The plants in the single pot were bigger, easier to handle and hardly any roots were broken as I teased the plants apart.
Obviously, over the longer term, those in the modules might do better - and I'll let you know how I get on. But so far, onion seeds sown in 1 big pot are the way to go from now on!!
Tomorrow, I'm planting out the seeds grown in modules and transplanted. I'll try to throw up some photos.
Dave
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I didn't know about the hailstone warning and my poor Red Barons have taken a battering. Flattened at the moment - but will leave them to pick themselves up. We had a real proper thunderstorm - I have never seen rain come down like it.
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As promised, New shoot's onion seedling forest. I think I may have overdone things here and not all of them may get planted out :unsure: :lol:
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/suec_02/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1078_zps503008d4.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/suec_02/media/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1078_zps503008d4.jpg.html)
Would it be ok to trim the tops down a few inch if I am planning to plant out in a couple of weeks?
Thanks for the use of your pic, mine are at exactly the same stage.
RF
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Trimming seems to keep them more upright and sturdy.
Totty
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Tha'ts the problem I have got, they seem to be starting to fall over. I trimmed some in the early days of sowing and they look far sturdier and stronger. Is it too late to trim now?
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Depends on how far developed they are I reckon. If they are still quite spindly, therefore not supporting themselves either, you could probably give a trim.
Totty
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Mine went out yesterday :D
Piccy in my diary if you want to see :)
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=101081.msg1308633#msg1308633
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Nice pic New Shoot.
Got 40 each of Ciclope, and Centro, planted undercover. These were ones that I should probably have potted on a month ago, but didn't get round to. I just put the modules on top of a seed tray full of compost, and let them root into that before planting and they have done ok ish.
The ones that I did pot on a little bit look very strong now and I might plant them outside in about a fortnight.
I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.
Totty
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I'll try to get some pics tomorrow.
Prepares to feel inadaquate as Totty posts pictures of monster onions again :nowink: :lol:
I checked my diary and I planted out on 5th May last year, so I am a bit early. I was getting backed up with seedlings, so the onions had to go out and take their chances :)
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Remember they are giant onions New Shoot!
The normal onions from seed don't look anything different to yours!
Anyway, here's the 40 I stuck in the greenhouse, the ones I potted on which will go out next week.
And a couple of the bigguns ;)
Totty
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The bigguns
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I was feeling OK until those last 2 pics :ohmy: :lol: The giant ones are something else :)
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Nice set-up Totty. Very nice. I'd hazard a guess that you like onions ;-) ?
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First year growing solely from seed, and first year growing some big ones.
No more sets!
Totty
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Planted my Yellow Rynsburger onions and Zebrune shallots out in their final positions today.
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My last lot went out at the end of last week. They were well hardened off and seem to have stood the couple of very cold nights OK.
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. . . and Zebrune shallots out in their final positions today.
Me too, never grown bulbing onions before only a few Spring onions . . . have some White Spanish onions to plan out later in the week, after a few days of hardening off, they are looking very good, very happy with them :D
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Curses - my Bedfordshire Champions babies were lovingly transplanted (I was flat on my stomach!) last week before I went away for a long weekend. They looked marvellous but dashing up to check them yesterday, not so much. I must have lured the slugs in with the pellets...
I have learnt my lesson!
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Curses! Slugs have had a right old go at my newly planted Yellow Rynsburger onions this weekend. They have eaten right through about 20% of them. They didn't bother with the ones growing from sets, but they are further on and bigger. The Zebrune shallots in a different bed seem OK. I have resorted to the blue pellets.
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I popped over to the small piece of plot to say hello to mine yesterday (I was working on the bigger piece which is a little way down the site).
They are growing well and seem happy enough. No damage and I've got no slug pellets down. Mind you, I looked in one of the compost darleks to see how well it was rotting down and a big fat sleepy slow worm lifted his head to look back at me. He certainly looked content so maybe he was full of slugs :D
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Teeny tiny red barons planted out today -24 of them. My Sentanero are looking ok, noticed had gone and I decapitated one by mistake trying to get some mares tail.
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The onions and leeks that share a bed are motoring now, the lights work.
Totty
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They are looking great 8) What weight do you expect the onions to get to Totty?
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If I got one to say 8 pound I'd be happy!
Totty
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If I got one to say 8 pound I'd be happy!
Totty
I should hope so :lol: I can't wait to see these when they mature :D
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They are impressive looking Totty :D
I have to remind myself that these are not average onions --- as otherwise I might cry :wacko:
Mine have about eight leaves now and are at least standing up and growing straight. More chicken pellets to come this week :D
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Looking good Totty. Do you have to give them a boost of fertiliser about now, or is it already in the preparation? Just wondering if my eating onions could do with something. I've got over wintered ones looking good and seed grown main crop some way behind. I'll take a pic when I swap to my tablet as the ones on this phone never post as too big. The pics, that is, not my onions unfortunately.
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They are looking good Steve. I don't tend to feed onions during the season. I noticed I got a lot more bull necked onions, and a lot of soft bulbs which don't store well, when feeding during growth. If they were really struggling I may give a light feed, but apart from that, all the soil prep is done beforehand. Maybe a foliar feed later in the season, but that's it.
Totty
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Totty just answered a question ive posted about feeding onions ive never fed them before but a lot of people seem to.I also asked what to feed to pot leeks would nettle tea or comfrey tea do them any good or some manure juice. :unsure:
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Totty, what is the black stuff wrapped & tied around your leeks? Would love to get my first ever set of leeks looking lovely.
(sorry, I know this isn't onions, but it's onion family)
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Georget, I've never grown pot leeks before so not sure if they get fed throughout the season, but the blanch leeks I have won't get any additional feed (all being well).
Surbie, the black stuff is damp coarse membrane from the local diy place. It's 12 inches wide so I cut it into strips 18 inches long, then just wrap it round the leek and tie with a bit of string. When they have pulled up through the twelve inch collar you just untie the string and wrap it round the other way which gives you eighteen inches of blanched stem.
Totty
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I've always thrown another handful of onion fertiliser at my onions when they've been in a while. ???
They seem to have done ok previously :unsure:
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Not saying you shouldn't, just saying I don't! :)
Totty
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Well after all this hot weather, I thought they were likely to slow down with it being so hot in the greenhouse. They are still growing well though. Another month growing like they are now and they will end up massive. Leeks looking good in there too.
Totty
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The leek before and after having the 18 inch collar wrapped.
Totty
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Is that a mini bottle like you get on aeroplanes? :D
Much admired!
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Onions are looking very promising for your 8lb minimum target weight there, Totty :D
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I weeded mine today, so took a piccie while they were all pristine and lovely looking :)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/suec_02/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1190_zps6e06242a.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/suec_02/media/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1190_zps6e06242a.jpg.html)
There is a bit of difference in some of the sizes, but I'm happy enough with them so far :)
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They look good. Its okay to have different sizes, sometimes you want small onions, sometimes you want big :nowink:
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Pulled the first of the big ones today with a circ of 20 inches. I'll get some pics tomorrow.
Totty
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A fair few of my Bedfordshire champs have bolted >:(
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All the squat shaped ones are getting pulled at this size. Around 4.5 pound. The taller ones will get left to see if I can get close to 8 pound. Weekly feeds of low nitrogen, and foliar feeding with seaweed is all they get in terms of moisture now.
Totty
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I have tried onions from seed a few times; they seem to germinate ok but then find various ways to die. However, I have had more success this year and I have some superb specimens of Bedfordshire Champion growing on the plot ;). The plants look healthier than the Sturon and Stuttgarter that I have grown from sets.
Trunky
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Great onions Totty , I have some growing down my allotment Kelsae , So far bulbing up very nicely.
The other thing i tried was my own Kelsae sets. Planted late June last year grown on to set size bulbs,
then dried right out . I stored them over the winter in my pantry and they all came through. I planted them in pots mid Feb and planted them out late March. So far they have been superb, Really large bulbs .
I will post some pics over the weekend.
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Well I am converted to onions from seed now. My summer planted sets, Stuttgarter Giant and Red Baron have all finished very early. Several seem to have white rot and a handful had allium leaf miner. Neither of these problems were on the plot before. I think the sets brought the white rot with them, I am not sure if they can bring allium leaf miner?
My Yellow Rynsburger onions and Zebrune shallots are all lovely specimens though and are still going strong. They seem unaffected by these other problems. I shall certainly be growing from seed again, and I am starting on 18th August with some overwintering Early Paris White.
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Most of my big ones are up now. 20in + around.
Totty
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My set planted onions have all finished now -- some ran to seed but most just had their foliage fold over and that was that!!
The seed sown individuals are still growing away, even though I had to cut off a lot of their leaves due to mildew, and some are a reasonable size. Not as large as Totty's of course, but decent enough in my eyes ;)
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Kelsae onions from seed and grow outside
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They look fantastic pudding my onion ignorance but why the string ? ???
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They look fantastic pudding my onion ignorance but why the string ? ???
help keep them growing upright .I put it on a while back.
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I am converted. My OH has always been giving out that our onions were too small, I tried some seed sown onions this year and I have some really lovely sized onions and they are still going strong (the foliage on the sets flopped two weeks ago), I heard mutterings of at long last we have gotten decent sized onions!!!. My one regret is that I only sowed a small amount as a trial.
Our local discount store had cat trays on sale last week for 50c so I bought a couple and I have the seed ordered. I thought my OH was going to choke the other day when I announced that I would be sowing them on New Years Eve :D :D
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Yay :D Well done you on a good harvest :D
Mine are slowly getting there and I have a mix of sizes, but Globbo has performed the best. I picked up another pack in the half price seed sale at Garden Centre Group the other day. They didn't have many and I wasn't sure they would make it to the 50p sale.
I also bought some overwintering onion seeds. I've always done sets before, but going to have a go :)
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I've just taken a picture of my biggest Kelsea onions grown from seed .
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Lovely job :)
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We brought some horse manure from a local farm and spread over our veg patch, the onions that I was so proud of as a first time grower from seed all got swallowed up by the worst weed infestation we have ever had. Not going to do that again!
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They do look impressive I think I will try a few of them next year.
I doubt they keep very long tho do they?
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They do look impressive I think I will try a few of them next year.
I doubt they keep very long tho do they?
I haven't found keeping onions from seed any different from those grown from sets really. They just need to be carefully dried off to make sure the neck is properly cured so they don't rot
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I've been harvesting mine today. Once they have dried out, I'll clean them up, but even straight from the plot and a bit grubby I have been coo-ing and gloating over them :D :D :D
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/suec_02/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1314_zps1669691a.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/user/suec_02/media/Plot%20pictures/IMG_1314_zps1669691a.jpg.html)
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My Red Baron onions did not do well, only got 2 out of the 12 I planted. I need to sow them earlier next year. The Sentana onions grew to various sizes but not massive. I currently have 92 seedling planted in cells getting ready to go in for the winter. Just need it to be dry for a few hours at the weekend.
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When is the best time to start the seeds off and have I missed it?
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When is the best time to start the seeds off and have I missed it?
I am afraid you have missed the boat for overwintered onions. You need to sow mid August to get them at a decent size for planting out around now. For maincrop onions you sow seed in January, but somewhere warm.