[New shoot]

I was so impressed with my onions from seed this year.  Sowed 1st January and gave a huge yield from a couple of 50p seed sale packs 

A head first foray into the bargain seeds this summer netted me Ailsa Craig, which I grew this year, and Globo, which is a giant onion I haven't tried before.

Who else is going to have a go? 

[DD.]

Some of the show growers may well have beaten us to it, but my "Kelsae" will be going in on Boxing Day, as usual.

[mumofstig]

Ailsa Craig for me as well........... when I ordered last year I got 2 sealed tinfoil packets and only I used one of them.
Might as well see if the 2nd lot are still viable, as I have an extra few beds to play with this year, I'm hoping they're white rot free 
(One of the OBs is finding his full-size plot a bit 2 much work so gave me the option of using part of it. It would have been rude to say no, wouldn't it! )

[SusieB]

I'm going to have a go, only grown from sets previously.

It sounds like Ailso Craig is recommended for brown onions.  Can I grow red onions from seed in the same way?

What else do I need to know?

[DD.]

These are the guidelines for "The Kelsae", as detailed as you would get anywhere! These are show instructions and are easily adapted for standard onions as the general way to go.

http://www.johnsons-trade.com/uploads/resources/20_wwj11-kelsae-flyer-v2.pdf

[Trillium]

My usual suppliers still don't have their 2014 lists up so I'll be behind in sowing    Think I'll try Ailsa Craigs, since the town is about 2 hours away from me   

[sunshineband]

Bedford Champions and Red Baron fer me this year. Home on our own (bliss  ) on Boxing Day, so in they will go 

[Flowertot]

I have to admit to being a little frightened of growing onions from seed rather than set.  Apart from cost, is there another reason I should perhaps take a deep breath and go for it? 

[sunshineband]

You get a better range to choose from and it is cheaper

You can get bigger onions

The sense of achievement

Others will have different ideas I am sure

[shoozie]

It was a great seed onion year for me and will definitely be doing seeds again - around mid January.  I was a bit wary of trying from seed at first, as I thought it was a 'dark art' 

This will be my third year growing from seed and have tried the stalwarts of Bedfordshire and Ailsa Craig. - great onions.

Tried Kelsae for the first time last season - delighted with size and taste, though have not managed to dry them enough as long keepers.

Also,  shallots - Longor -  produced great bulbs and are still keeping.First time trying shallots from seed and very pleased.

Red baron was ok, so will try again.

Definitely seeds for me again - dare I mention tinfoil tip from DD   

[Potiron]

OK My hand is up. Dare I ask, what is DD's tinfoil tip for onions ?

[DD.]

My tinfoil tip is..........

If growing in a window sill, yes you should use it!

[crh75]

Another reason I do onions from seed is because they seem to have less issues with white rot.  My plot suffers from this quite badly but onions from seed seem to have a higher survival rate.  I'm not sure why this is, maybe beacuse they are planted out later or because they have a sterile potting compost rootball, or a combination of the two.

[m1ckz]

do u then put them in a cold greenhouse dd

[DD.]

No, a heated one, but it's not as warm as the window sill.