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Post by roofgardener on Sept 29, 2015 6:14:20 GMT
Onions seeds, sweetpea. According to the packet, they need to be kept at 15 degrees in order to germinate. I've got so MANY of them, that I thought I'd need to heat the entire polytunnel. (too many to fit into a heated propagator). I think I'm going to have to re-visit that assumption.  |
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Post by sweetpea on Sept 29, 2015 16:23:39 GMT
I have grown many types of onion from seed and never used heat for the simple reason I didn't have a heater.
In early january I would put a tray of seeds on the windowsill and had good onions for the summer local show. All the others were sown either in drills outdoors from March onwards and some in September for overwintering.
All the stuff you get on packets re sowing etc. are counsels of perfection so no need to adhere strictly to the letter.
Always worth trying with a few seeds in different ways. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Just don't do the whole lot at once. The words, 'Egg and Basket' come to mind.
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Post by daitheplant on Sept 29, 2015 19:08:25 GMT
Spot on Jim, sowing and growing "cold" produces better/stronger plants in my view.
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Post by roofgardener on Sept 29, 2015 20:12:35 GMT
Hmmm... Sage advice.
I must ponder on this.....
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Post by Cherry on Oct 1, 2015 15:58:29 GMT
The onions have been lifted in this area. As acres are grown, I wouldn't expect them to be started in heat and they are beautiful onions.
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Post by dianthus on Oct 1, 2015 21:06:50 GMT
I start all my seeds in a small pot and sit it in a self seal poly bag.... a mini greenhouse effect, and they sit in a tray on my south or west-facing windowsills.
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Post by roofgardener on Oct 2, 2015 5:44:28 GMT
Hmmm... for the quantity I have in mind, I'd need a flat with more windows, dianthus. I wonder... Is Blenheim Palace available for rent ? |
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Post by dianthus on Oct 2, 2015 9:23:31 GMT
What you really need is a waste supply of heat..... like the tomato grower next to Drax power station, who uses the hot water from the cooling towers to heat his greenhouses. |
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Post by dianthus on Oct 2, 2015 11:28:33 GMT
Hmmm... for the quantity I have in mind, I'd need a flat with more windows, dianthus. I wonder... Is Blenheim Palace available for rent ? Btw, I once started off about 4000 bedding plants this way, and then had to bring them in each night, in the large trays, as I was hardening them off, as I had no greenhouse nor cold frames. Bin liners and newspapers covered my kitchen carpet every night for several weeks that Spring! lol |
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