[Benandbill]

Last year we used onion sets, so I've never used seeds before.  I've got 2 or 3 per individual cell in a seed tray now varying from a couple of centimetres high to over an inch.

Should they go straight in the ground down the allotment now or should I put them in bigger pots first to toughen them up as they're really skinny, like tiny blades of grass?

[JayG]

Growing onions from seed has been discussed a couple of time on here in the last month or so.

My Sweet Spanish Yellow seedlings were, and remain, an unmitigated disaster and at the current rate of (non-) progress are unlikely to ever get planted out. 

Others who have had a go may have better news (or advice!) 

[Goosegirl]

Have a look at Robinsons Mammoth Onion website - they have good advice on growing onions from seed.

[Kleftiwallah]

Or look up Medwyns of Anglesea.    Cheers,   Tony.

[mumofstig]

My seedlings are deffo getting bigger, and the roots are coming out of the bottom of the small modules. At the risk of being laughed at by the OBs I'm going to plant mine over the next few days and see what happens.
Everything else seems to put on a growth spurt after transplant, so I'm hoping these will do the same 

[shokkyy]

Everything else seems to put on a growth spurt after transplant, so I'm hoping these will do the same 

Well, either that or keel over and die

I'm still terrified of planting out my weedy little onion seedlings, though I have to say most of them do at least seem to have a third leaf now, albeit a very thin one.

[JayG]

I've given mine a full-strength dose of Miracle Grow and a final, FINAL warning!!! 

[Benandbill]

That could just well be the answer JayG.  Introducing a bit more discipline into the onion camp!!  Stand there red faced shouting at your seed tray Windsor Davies style, liking it, liking it a lot!! 

[JayG]

That could just well be the answer JayG.  Introducing a bit more discipline into the onion camp!!  Stand there red faced shouting at your seed tray Windsor Davies style, liking it, liking it a lot!! 

I did think of threatening them with "The Chop" and being made into soup but they knew "I couldn't possibly be serious" (they might be pathetic little slobby runty things but they're not stupid!) 

[Salmo]

Leave them in their modules until they have al least 2 leaves, preferably 3. If this takes until May it will not matter. Plant out too soon and they will sulk.

Unless you want them to grow huge you can plant them in their modules leaving them as a group. Space the modules about 12 inches apart in the row. As the onions grow they will push each other out of the way and produce good kitchen size bulbs. With the groups spaced out it is much easier to hoe.

[Benandbill]

Thanks for that Salmo.  Quick question though, when it comes time, If I wanted to seperate the 2 or 3 in the modules, would you suggest not doing this for risk of damaging the roots or do you think it's safe to do so?

[Salmo]

If your onions are still just opening the crook on their stems then you can seperate them into their own modules now.

[Benandbill]

I've just done this now.  There are real space issues now in my kitchen so the onions are now by the window in my garden shed.  I know they're supposed to be able to take a bit of cold 

[Benandbill]

How about these?  Looking at them they're tall, droopy but still v/skinny and don't have 2 or 3 leaves? 

Would anyone take a chance on planting these out?

[shokkyy]

I don't think I'd be brave enough to plant them out before they had at least a couple of leaves. My skinny onion seedlings are doing just fine now I've planted them out, but they all had at least 2 leaves and a lot of them had 3.