[shokkyy]

My onion seedlings are finally standing up, all weathered off and now staying outside overnight in their modules. However, they still do look very puny in comparison to most seedlings, so I'm unsure whether or not they're ok to plant out. They're about 3 or 4" tall but about as wide as a blade of grass, with a couple of leaves per seedling. Should I grow them on some more before planting out, or should they go out now?

[8doubles]

Onions are fairly tough , i have had my onion seedlings in the ground with no protection for 2 weeks now and they have not been affected by some really hard frosts .
Other onion seedlings have been out all winter and are fine.

[mashbintater]

Mine are like that Shokkyy, outside in a seed tray, but being Sweet Spanish Yellow, planting out is not advised until May/ June. Do I actually have to wait until then? 

[mumofstig]

I'm wondering cos I've grown the same ones  :blink:

and some  Long Red of Florence 

[JayG]

Mash: you are not alone........................ 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=73133.msg832971#msg832971

[mumofstig]

Now we are all puzzled together 

[JayG]

Now we are all puzzled together 

Not quite Mum: my Sweet Spanish Yellow onions are the first plants I've ever grown which if anything seem to be "growing" backwards (at least cucumbers have the decency to just die if they don't like you.) 

[shokkyy]

Not quite Mum: my Sweet Spanish Yellow onions are the first plants I've ever grown which if anything seem to be "growing" backwards (at least cucumbers have the decency to just die if they don't like you.) 

Yes, that's what's freaking me out. I'm used to seeing seedlings actually get bigger as time goes by, but these just sit there and refuse to change in any way for weeks on end. And they just look so feeble and pathetic that I'm convinced they'll keel over and die if I actually plant them into a nasty rough bed.

[JayG]

 

We had a bit of a laugh last year about "biro refill" sized leeks but on reflection they were like triffids compared with this year's joke onion seedlings! 

[LivvyW]

I'm in the same boat, not budged in weeks.

Caved in and planted sets today (just in case)

Hugely encouraged by the standard of people in the same situation!

Do you think that under these unchanging blades of weak grass, there is a golf ball size bulb bursting to get out of the module...........nah didn't think so!

[JohnB47]

I'm really no expert here but last year I had a similar experience with leek seedlings. They got to a certain size and then just seemed to stop. It wasn't the weather - it was in May I think and I was keeping them watered enough.

Eventually I made up a solution of feed using an old general purpose soluble plant food I found in the shed and gave them that - they suddenly put on a growth spurt. I decided then that when they get to a certain point they need food. So that's what I'll be doing this year - once the seedlings get to a reasonable size, I'll start feeding them with a not too strong feed.  Perhaps it's the kind of compost I'm using (peat I think).

[drmoonshine]

ive got both onion and leek seedlings in my window right now the leeks and onions took a life time to show there first shoots but there there now... like others i'm abit unsure about planting them out in the rough weather i might plant them under a small poly tunnle or something to keep the wind and stuff off them. and water them with  a tiny spray bottle so i dont drown them lol

[DD.]

Regarding leeks - nutrients in compost will run out - so do feed them. They don't need mollycoddling. They'll stand through the toughest winter and really don't want to be in an inside window right now, unless you want weak plants.

[mashbintater]

Regarding leeks - nutrients in compost will run out - so do feed them. They don't need mollycoddling. They'll stand through the toughest winter and really don't want to be in an inside window right now, unless you want weak plants.

  When I plant them out, I dib the soil with a broom handle width dibber, fill with water & drop them in. Job done. They grow & thrive. what do you feed them with whilst still in compost D.D?

[DD.]

I used a bit of Miracle Gro I had kicking around.