Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi,
Can anyone tell what I have done wrong? I thought I would try growing onions from seed this year. They took a while to germinate but got there eventually. As soon as they came through I took the lid off the propagator. I transplanted them into large cells when most of them were just past the crook neck stage. Since then they have either sulked (gone floppy) or just died. Did I leave it too late to transplant? The roots were very long. The seed tray and cells were all cleaned so I don't think it is damping off or some other similar problem. Any ideas?
Thanks
Haggis

Hi Haggis,
What you have done is germinated in heat and then directly put them into the cold. You have then transplanted too soon. They have got to be well out of the crook position and have put on some growth.
I do not use a propagator to grow onions. The seed is put into moist vermiculite in a polythene bag on Boxing Day morning and when there is signs of germination then the contents are individually sown into modules that are kept a house temperature and they are still here in the house now. they are growing well and will not need to be transplanted but will eventually go onto the bench in the tunnel where they will harden off and be planted out probably in very late march. I feel that yours resented being transplanted at such an early stage.
JB.

Johnboy,
thanks - think I will try your method next time. The propagator wasn't heated so they have been pretty much at the same temperature throughout (in my dining room) but I guess I was just too quick to transplant. I think your method would be much better and would save the transplanting stage.

Never mind, there is always another year!
Thanks again
Haggis

Dear Haggis, theres still plenty of time to start again this year.