[Benandbill]

They're looking pretty decrepid though aren't they in these cells.  What about transplanting them into bigger pots shokkyy and covering them up a bit more?  I can't see them going anywhere leaves wise where they are?

[shokkyy]

It kind of depends how many you've got really. I started off with mine in very small modules (60 per tray). I hadn't intended to move them on but in the end I did because they were just kind of laying on the surface, as though they were too shallow. So I moved them to slightly bigger modules (40 per tray) and they stayed in there until they'd all developed 2 leaves and some had 3 leaves, at which point I planted them out in the bed. They didn't really all stand up straight until they were in the bigger modules and I started leaving them outside and hardening them off, so I think they're probably happier outside than in.

To give you an idea of how long this all took, I sowed the seeds on 12th Feb, moved them into the bigger modules on 13th Mar and planted them out on 9th April. Even now they still look very skinny but they're all standing up straight and all have 2 or 3 leaves. It's the first time I've done onions from seed and they are probably the slowest developing seedlings I've ever grown.

[mumofstig]

It's the first time I've done onions from seed and they are probably the slowest developing seedlings I've ever grown.

I'd certainly agree with that comment 

[JayG]

It's the first time I've done onions from seed and they are probably the slowest developing seedlings I've ever grown.

I'd certainly agree with that comment 

Me too!  Half of mine are dead, most of the rest look like Benandbill's, and there are probably 3 worth planting out (which I shall do just so the experiment hasn't been a complete waste of time!)

I always try and learn the appropriate lessons when things go wrong but apart from being very unsure what I actually have done wrong, I'm not sure it's worth trying again to grow something which is not only cheap to buy in supermarkets but for which there is a probably more reliable alternative way of growing them. 

[shokkyy]

I always try and learn the appropriate lessons when things go wrong but apart from being very unsure what I actually have done wrong, I'm not sure it's worth trying again to grow something which is not only cheap to buy in supermarkets but for which there is a probably more reliable alternative way of growing them. 

My motivation for trying them was that I never seem to get very big onions from sets, regardless of variety, and a few people seemed to be saying they got bigger onions when growing from seed. And it's always good to try something out, cos you never know when you might discover something that's the best thing since sliced bread.

[mumofstig]

sliced bread is good..............................  

[JayG]

sliced bread is good..............................  

............agreed (and contains a lot more nourishment than my onion crop will!) 

[mumofstig]

Perhaps my comment needed a question mark rather than just the  smiley ?

Then it means what I really wanted it to

sliced bread is good ?..............................  

  

[shokkyy]

Yes, I know what you mean. Since I bought a bread making machine I've never bought another sliced loaf

[Benandbill]

Well after reading all that I suppose I can be encouraged by the fact they're supposed to be slow.  I've just come in from my plot now and some kindly allotmenteer's given me some of their leftover sets as well so I'm all onioned out    ... oh, and I've fed some F,B&B to my seedlings too.

[Benandbill]

I actually now think they've had it!!  I think it might be a combination of having them in my back garden with a cloche that doesn't go right into the ground so maybe they're still a bit cold at night and over-feeding