Red onions

I sowed some red onion seeds about 6 weeks ago. 2 are doing nicely and the rest are really weedy! I used seed compost and vermiculite and left the tray on my window sill, kept it moist and shaded from the sun if it got too strong. What did I do wrong?

 

Possibly too warm, too little light, or a combination of both. You did right by shielding from strong sunlight, but they still like plenty of light. Also, it's possible you've over-watered, which will have limited the root growth.

 

Mine are now out in a cold frame, still look weak, onions tend to, in the early stages.
I think light is the key, I would never shade plants this early in the season.

They might pull through, next month, I find they really make a move, I usually plant out around the end of April, early May.

 

Thank you Freddy and Pete. Maybe I'll pop them out in the cold frame and see if they perk up a bit. Is it too late to sow some more?

 

I'd say it's a bit tight now, but you should be ok. What do you think Pete?

 

I sowed a few more about three weeks ago.
As Freddy says, getting late now, but you would still get something worth harvesting.

 

Hi Froot ~if it is getting late for onion seeds . How about growing from sets ? I always grow my onions from sets . I'll be planting them out just after Easter . Never tried the Wilkos red , but the Sturon and Turbo types are very good
http://www.wilko.com/onion+potato-seeds/wilko-red-onion-714-250g/invt/0158512

 

Sounds like not enough light, mine were the same until they got more light in the greenhouse and they're starting to stand up straight now.

 

What is a set? Sorry, I'm very new to this game!

 

Froot a set is an onion just grown from seed , so a little onion. Photo below.
You can plant them out in April. If you live near a Wilkos , the bags of sets are really cheap . Fun to grow and come back here in Autumn for harvesting advice
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/gar...w-earlier-onions-going-better-harvest-be.html

 

Thank you, this is really helpful and a good article. I did sow Red Baron onions (couldn't remember the name earlier) so I will try to get some sets of those. I'm not too close to Wilkos but I'm a frequent shopper at my local homebase so I'll check there. Roll on autum!