[brownp]

I’ve sown seed onions  - the first time there was virtually no germination (too cold I think). Tried inside and had some germinated but not enough (I chitted the entire pack eventually and found less that 10% germination rate).
Of the ones that have grown on into seedlings, they don’t look very strong and are laid down. I’ve taken them into the potting shed  - they aren’t too warm and have not had frost on them. They are not over-watered or covered. They look like they are damping off (I had that last year with some other seeds that I over-watered).
I now have a grow light so I have put them under it for the last week but they haven’t responded….
There are 3 varieties - all look similar
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Phil

[mumofstig]

IMO they do need warmth to germinate, mine start on the windowledge, near a radiator, they never germinate or grow well, when they're cold and damp.
They do always look unhappy/weedy and lay down, while they are small, I often snip the black seeds casings off 'cos they seem to weigh them down..
Once they're pricked out into modules, and grown on a bit, they usually do straighten themselves up.

Were your seeds new this year, unlike other veggies the seeds don't seem to germinate unless they are fresh. I had a packet last year which was a year old, still within date according to the packet, and only a few germinated - so I feel your pain 

[brownp]

Thanks  - the seeds were new, but they may well have not been fresh - I bought them last summer I think …I’ll leave them to develop and trim off the seed casings as you said.
Thanks for the input.

[lettice]

I do grow shallots, but buy the actual bought bags of them and put out late March. Only use for pickled onions, picked later in the year.

I do grow spring(salad) onions as seed.
Have found sowing them outside never seems to work well. They germinate badly, even when it gets warmer.
I saw about 6-8 seeds of the spring onions in modules indoors, will be doing very soon  in successional sowings every fortnight till end April and then plant them out in their final destination in their successional planting from end March and pick them till through Summer  and Autumn.
That way you get a nice clump to pick and do not need to separate them, works well for spring onions.