Onion from seed - any advice Digits???

[curly_kate]

I have always grown onion (except green onion) from sets, but I got some cippolini onion seed for Christmas. I read that they like cool conditions, and I need to keep them from drying out. Any other tips? I planted them on 1/7, and don't see any signs of life yet.

 

[digitS']

It shouldn't take long for the seedlings to come up at room temperature but it wouldn't be helpful to put them somewhere that is especially cool. As you can see from this table, warmth doesn't inhibit onions from sprouting until it gets pretty darn hot:

Days to Germination, Soil Temperature (F)

Bottom watering always seems best but especially for seeds sown at a shallow depth.

I don't set the seedlings out real early because I want to eliminate as many of the weeds as possible. Trying to pull chickweed out from around tiny onions without uprooting them is real difficult. If the seedlings get a little stretched before you can get them out - you can give the whole flat a "haircut" to slow them down a bit. It doesn't seem to hurt them and they have a chance to grow a little more sturdy but I really prefer to just have the timing right.

I like to sprinkle a balanced, dry organic fertilize on the onions a couple weeks before they are to be transplanted out into the garden. Putting them in a well-fertilized, well-cultivated ground especially helps the big guys but your little cippolini will appreciate it, too.

Best of Luck, Kate.

Steve