I use Robinsons Mammoth seed. The white ones germinate better than the red ones, but I still get more seedlings than I can use. I sow in deep trays of MPC in January if I remember or February if I forget, in the greenhouse. Always use fresh seed. Old onion seed will never germinate.
I sow mine in late Jan/Early Feb under florescent tubes at around 24C I water the compost until you can squeeze water out of it and then put the seeds on top covering with a thin layer of compost, they come up within 4-5days if for some reason the top is drying out then I use a spray bottle to rewet it but I don't water until they have germinated. I have more luck with Bedfordshire Champion (around 90%) than I have with Red Baron (70%) and more luck with either than with leeks which manage about 50% at a guess.
I’ve always used Bedford Champ before. Because that’s what my dad used, but tried the Ailsa Craig and found they were bigger and good.
I've not tried them but then I don't want big onions either, there's only two of us and it's kind of depressing always having half an onion drying up in the fridge.
What I really don't like is the flat onions, the sets I got this year were Stuttgarter and they are kind of squashed, meaning you get a lot more edge and it makes them a lot harder to cut!
horrible flat onions /and why are they selling them with a picture of a mouldy one!
@Skandi@LynnImlike the sound of Bedfordshire champ. Does that store well? @fidgetbones Good tip, but never applies to me because I go through whole packets every year failing to germinate any 😁
Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.
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@fidgetbones Good tip, but never applies to me because I go through whole packets every year failing to germinate any 😁