[puffinstuff]

i planted some onion seeds several weeks ago and they are now starting to sprout.  I have them in a planter on the windowsill.  I'm not too sure what to do with them now.  should i plant them in the allotment and when would be the best time to do this.  #Any suggestions would be appreciated.

puffinstuff  

[gobs]

A wee bit too eager for me, I'm going to sow mine in a couple of weeks time, but they should be OK, though.

You hang onto them a lot longer, until they grow to a few inch, make sure they get as much light as can and are kept as hard as can in your coolest place (do this gradually if they are spoilt). Plant out earliest opportunity,when fully hardy and has strong roots and foliage and ground not frozen.

[WG.]

They are outside right?

[puffinstuff]

no they are inside on the windowsill.

puffinstuff

[DD.]

They are outside right?

I have them in a planter on the windowsill.  

puffinstuff  

Windowsill to me means inside, window ledge, outside. Could be wrong (again).

[WG.]

Bit "in-between" for me - I have outdoor ones sown around September (I think), and will be sowing some indoor ones at end of January.

As gobs suggests - give yours as much light and as little temperature as they will stand.

[splodger]

my over-wintering ones went in in sept - in a seed bed - i shall transplant them in spring - to my onion bed

my kelsae are going to be sown in trays - very soon

the others in mid to late jan i expect


i suspect that your indoor - window box ones will need a good bit of (gentle) hardening off before you can plant them out - they might not make the switch

[Gwiz]

Bit "in-between" for me - I have outdoor ones sown around September (I think), and will be sowing some indoor ones at end of January.

As gobs suggests - give yours as much light and as little temperature as they will stand.

Do you sow yours in a warm propagator, or directly into a seed tray? I have't ever grown any from seed before. :?

[seadart]

A/G January 5th Says plant them out in late March  

[DD.]

Bit "in-between" for me - I have outdoor ones sown around September (I think), and will be sowing some indoor ones at end of January.

As gobs suggests - give yours as much light and as little temperature as they will stand.

Do you sow yours in a warm propagator, or directly into a seed tray? I have't ever grown any from seed before. :?

Tried it one year. I'm using sets again. 'Nuff said. Probably werk for you, didn't werk for me.

[Gwiz]

Bit "in-between" for me - I have outdoor ones sown around September (I think), and will be sowing some indoor ones at end of January.

As gobs suggests - give yours as much light and as little temperature as they will stand.

Do you sow yours in a warm propagator, or directly into a seed tray? I have't ever grown any from seed before. :?

Tried it one year. I'm using sets again. 'Nuff said. Probably werk for you, didn't werk for me.

Fair comment, I've got some sets in, I'll stick in a few more later, methinks.  

[DD.]

Fair comment, I've got some sets in, I'll stick in a few more later, methinks.  

Got the winter ones in, have been since October. My summer maturing ones won't see the ground until March at the earliest.

[Salkeela]

I did onions from seed for the first time last year.  Sowed early Jan in pots on window sill.  Transplanted to trays at around 5cm high & put in cold green house.  Planted out at Easter.  Pleasing results.

Detail on my beds:  Made previous autumn with cardboard + compost on lawn grass. In spring I covered compost with newspaper + layer of sand and punched holes in paper with a pencil & planted onion seedlings through this into the compost.  Did mighty well for an experiment & I harvested onions that kept our family of 6 self sufficient in onions until end Nov or so.  Bed is now waiting for spring, but cardboard and newspaper mostly rotted away.

[WG.]

Tried it one year. I'm using sets again.

I would agree.  Onion sets are much easier and more reliable.

There are, IMHO, two passable reasons for growing from seed: (a) variety, it is hard to find really strong flavoured varieties in sets and, (b) challenge, it is something I feel I should be able to do.

Last year was the first year I've had any onions from seed and it was very satisfying since it was such an horrible year.

[ditchdigger]

a lot less chance of onion fly with sets,but sets do bolt, having said that we grow from seed.