[adri]

Sown today!!

Ailsa Craig Onions and All Year Round lettuce.  800 onions...and a few lettuce to see if it's possible this time of year...

Heated propagator.

Hope I'm not too early.

Nick

[DD.]

They do  not need a heated propagator. Lettuce doubly so.

Have a look at these links:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/onion-shallot/grow-onion-seed.php

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=49569.0

[adri]

even with this extreme cold?

Thanks for the help.

Nick

[DD.]

If you have no greenhouse, you can quite easily start them off in a window with no extra heat, even that can be too warm for lettuce.

Too much heat = weak & spindly plants or even no germination.

[adri]

We've got a greenhouse but it's unheated and more or less covered in snow...and the weather has ended up wrecking the door somewhat.

We're up in the hills of the Peak District too.

I'll take them out of the propagator if that's the advice but I'd be surprised if they germinated.

Off to read the links you gave...

Thanks for the help DD.

Nick

[adri]

DD

The first link suggests sowing onion seeds in March or April.

That's not what I was told when I was in an allotment association.  January was the time to sow.  Might be our climate that dictated that I suppose.

Second link doesn't really mention onion from seed as far as I can see.

I do remember that lettuce doesn't need heat...but that would apply to sowing in March/April...no?  I've only sowed a few All Year Round to see if anything will come of it but don't hold out much hope.

Definitely remember the time to sow onions from seed as being January though.

Cheers

Nick

[DD.]

Gentle heat is OK, but a heated propagator may be too much.

Can you get them onto a window sill in a coolish room?

[zazen999]

If you start lettuce and onions off in a heated prop then you are starting them off too soft and when they go outside they will not like it - they will do this   or   and that's if they survive as they often just fall over as they grow too much too quickly.

Both can be started off indoors and put into a cold greenhouse when they germinate.

[adri]

Ok.

Decided what to do.

They stay in the heated prop for a couple of days just to get frost out of the compost and then I'll move them to a window cill.

I'd be interested in hearing your views on the recommended sowing date for seed onions though.  I'm certain I was told Jan by experienced allotmenters up here in the Peak yet the article DD pointed me to suggested March/April

Thanks

Nick

[DD.]

The serious growers start early. For the average gardener March is soon enough.

Do I understand right that you sowed into frozen compost?

[Parsnip]

mmm, I'm not sure planting seeds in frozen compost is a good idea.. I'm very much a novice myself, but 800 onions...Have you got a big plot? that's a serious amount of onions

[mumofstig]

All seeds are programmed to germinate between a set range of temperatures, and if the propagator gives them more heat than they need they simply will not germinate.
Lettuce is noted for not germinating well in high summer

Have a look at this guide it may give you some idea.

It is usually only the mediteranean vegetables that need heat to start...aubergines, peppers, toms etc. and most of those will germinate on windowledges with no problem

[Aunt Sally]

DD

The first link suggests sowing onion seeds in March or April.


Definitely remember the time to sow onions from seed as being January though.

If you don't believe double D the perhaps the RHS can persuade you:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow-Your-Own/Grow-Your-Own-Veg/Veg-A-to-Z/Onions---shallots

[Glosterboy]

Now, I am not doubting the wise words of both DD or the RHS. But the sowing guide on the back of my Ailsa Craig onion seeds packet definitely shows both January and February coloured red. Which indicates "Sow Indoors" March and April coloured blue. Which indicates "Sow Outdoors". The growing instructions certainly does not mention to use heat to aid germination. But, to cover sown tray with either glass, polythene or a propagator lid.

[DD.]

I always look upon the times given on a seed packet as the very earliest in the south of the country. The years have taught me that it's better to sow later than sooner. Not of course forgetting that space has to be found for these 800 onions raised early in heat. Once they get too large for the great indoors, is the great outdoors ready for them?


And I repeat:

The serious growers start early. For the average gardener March is soon enough.