1...
Yes, good points. In my lifetime far too many things have been found to be a significant problem long after they have been touted as Better Than Sliced Bread and then been the defacto standard for years ... and then been banned
Margarine? Low-fat vs. Low-sugar??
2... Only 40% of my seed onions grew to an acceptable size, and I ended up with a lot of picklers
Hmmm ... I have some smaller ones, but none that are as small as to be pickling size.
I don't have a South facing light enough room at home to grow any seeds adequately, especially so early. Consequently, after germination, they all need to go to the cold greenhouse with some sort of double insulation, with all the temperature fluctuations that can cause
This is probably the cause/effect I was looking for. My seedlings are in conservatory (not heated, but definitely frost free, and close to frost on only a very nights of the year). In previous years I have put them under supplemental light, but then I panicked that I might trigger shortening days and bulbing up so I don't do that now!
Would you consider supplemental light? or is that too dear / too much faff / Weirdo territory
?
I sort of treated them as leeks this year and that was a mistake I believe. Probably need to be in separate modules almost right from January. Leeks don't mind their roots being mucked about with, but I now know onions are different. I'll have 3 methods and go for the most effective.
I haven't read the Growing Onions Thread, so may be repeating what is there:
I sow (in 1/4 sized seed trays) in heated propagator
I prick out to module cells. The module cells are small (1" square)
When I plant out all the roots are coiled up at the bottom of the cell like a spring. I gently straighten them out and arrange them vertically in the planting hole. It doesn't take as long as it probably sounds like