Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Why won’t my onion seeds germinate?

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in Fruit & veg
Yet another packet of onion seed gone to waste. I have pretty good results most of the time from seed, but I never get more than about 2% germination from onions. This is from different seed merchants, different varieties, and over several years. I have tried adding perlite, putting the seed tray indoors, outdoors in the shade, in semi shade, in the sun. Not watering after sowing into damp soil, or watering a bit more. I can grow from sets, but would like to try other varieties for which you need seed. I thinking it’s probably over or under watering - which is most likely with onions?
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


«1

Posts

  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Forgot to say, I used to sow direct, but gave up due to slugs as well as low-germination!
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Last year I grew Ailsa Craig from seed, just a 99p pack from eBay, they all germinated and the onions were large. Sown on the 26th March, indoors,  in separate modules no special treatment, I put them in damp compost then use a stray if the surface gets dry, potted on until they were about 6” tall then planted out.
    I tried to put a photo on of my efforts of plaiting😀. This site always tells me I have no photos or videos in my files. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Join the club. In over 60 years of gardening I have never managed to get any onion seeds to germinate.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I can’t see the problem, onions and leeks are the easiest thing.
     Sow the seed, cover lightly, walk away. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • NewBoy2NewBoy2 Posts: 1,813
    Seeds are just like babies or toddlers.

    They need warmth , light , water , food and some TLC.

    I grow onions from seed every year and always get large firm white and red onions that keep until after Christmas.

    Yellow Rynsburger .

    https://www.realseeds.co.uk/onions.html
    Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Say what you like, it makes no difference, I still have never managed to get one onion seed to germinate. Stood with my son and took seeds from the same packet one year. The ones he sowed all grew, not one of mine did.
  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Palustris said:
    Say what you like, it makes no difference, I still have never managed to get one onion seed to germinate. Stood with my son and took seeds from the same packet one year. The ones he sowed all grew, not one of mine did.
    They just don’t like us do they?
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I always sow my seed in a peat based compost.  (Waiting for the stone throwing) 
    I dont know if it makes a difference but seeds always work for me, they have too, I have a big garden and can’t afford to buy plants, not that I’d want to anyway. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    The thing is that I do alright with most seeds, so it’s not as if I’m a compulsive over-waterer, or something. I was just wondering if onions require a more than usually dry (or damp) soil. Obviously not from the comments above, so I’m at a loss. I will try again in the spring, because it’s become a compulsion now, but I bet it will be sets, yet again. 😂
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Lyn said:
    I always sow my seed in a peat based compost.  (Waiting for the stone throwing) 
    I dont know if it makes a difference but seeds always work for me, they have too, I have a big garden and can’t afford to buy plants, not that I’d want to anyway. 

    I have tried both peat and peat free. I would say that it still might just be bad luck after 10 years, but Palustris has been trying for 60, that must be a record! 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


Sign In or Register to comment.