Onion experts, show growers or anyone's help to get them to bench next year, please.
Sown in the 'lectric prop on 27th November and, yes, one poked through today.
So, hoping a few more pop up (fingers crossed), how do I molly coddle them over the winter ???
(Our daughter is moving on the 10th so I have a whole spare bedroom to pamper them in!)
Ninnys
Are you plannin g on growing them outdoors or in a tunnel?... I know what I do to get average 2lb onions outdoors from Kelsaes, but you'd double that and more growing indoors.....
When will you need the propagators for other crops?
chrisc
Hi Chrisc,
I haven't got a tunnel so outdoors at the plot for the bulk of them. Space could be made in the greenhouse if necessary for a dozen or so.
The prop isn't a problem they can stay in there as long as necessary. Guidance on light, heat, watering, potting on etc. would be really helpful.
Ninny
PS - 8 seedings up this morning out of 2 x 40 cells!
Light and heat is your main aim.
This is an extract from my website which shows a later sowing date but the after care for you will be the same!
Germinate at a minimum temperature of 16°C (60°F)
As soon as they have germinated, normally in about five to six days, take covers off, and allow plenty light to the seedlings.
Grow on in Greenhouse at this temperature, ventilate as much as possible (depending upon the weather) giving maximum light at all times.
Week 7; As soon as they reach the crook stage, and the second leaf appears, prick out seedlings into 70mm (3") pots of any proprietary soil-less potting compost.
Grow on, giving them plenty of light, but being careful not to force them with too much heat, and too much water, 8°-10°C (45°-50°F) will do.
Watering depends so much upon the weather, so always allow them to dry out between each watering.
It is advisable to spray seedlings, from the second leaf stage with a fungicide at regular intervals to deter 'damping off'
Week 14; Gradually harden off seedlings prior to planting out.
If they were mine I would set up a timed lighting system where the plants get around 12 hours daily light and 12 off.
One way I sometimes used was get a diary with sunrise/sunset times and set my timer to come on two hours before sunrise and go off two hours after sunset!
I would place three boards lined with tinfoil around the propagator and direct the lamp into the rectangle formed this would ensure that the seedlings were well lit all round (360°).
Leave the lid off the propagator to allow maximum ventilation all they need is a bit of 'bottom heat'
..........and be very careful with watering a little hand spray is often suffient enough to keep them going.
Think of new born babies you don't give them a full bottle as soon as they emerge, plants are the same! ...........A little regularly!
Quote from: Tee Gee on December 04, 2009, 13:44:14
Light and heat is your main aim.
This is an extract from my website which shows a later sowing date but the after care for you will be the same!
Germinate at a minimum temperature of 16°C (60°F)
As soon as they have germinated, normally in about five to six days, take covers off, and allow plenty light to the seedlings. - There are only 8 up at the moment, should I wait for say 50% to germinate before I remove the cover?
Grow on in Greenhouse at this temperature, ventilate as much as possible (depending upon the weather) giving maximum light at all times. Sadly no electricity in the greenhouse so the prop is currently in the dining area next to the kitchen and next to the window for maximum light but this is an east facing window. I could move them to the 'soon to be' spare bedroom which is west facing.
Week 7; As soon as they reach the crook stage, and the second leaf appears, prick out seedlings into 70mm (3") pots of any proprietary soil-less potting compost. OK
Grow on, giving them plenty of light, but being careful not to force them with too much heat, and too much water, 8°-10°C (45°-50°F) will do.My prop is an old one without variable temp control. I've popped a thermometer in and it's showing 20 degrees on the bottom, would a layer of a couple of inches of sand help reduce the temp? (lid on)
Watering depends so much upon the weather, so always allow them to dry out between each watering.
It is advisable to spray seedlings, from the second leaf stage with a fungicide at regular intervals to deter 'damping off'
Week 14; Gradually harden off seedlings prior to planting out.
If they were mine I would set up a timed lighting system where the plants get around 12 hours daily light and 12 off.
One way I sometimes used was get a diary with sunrise/sunset times and set my timer to come on two hours before sunrise and go off two hours after sunset!
I would place three boards lined with tinfoil around the propagator and direct the lamp into the rectangle formed this would ensure that the seedlings were well lit all round (360°). Ah - I haven't got one of these, would a normal room light/bedside table lamp without a shade be sufficient and turning the prop through 180 degrees daily help?
Leave the lid off the propagator to allow maximum ventilation all they need is a bit of 'bottom heat'
..........and be very careful with watering a little hand spray is often suffient enough to keep them going.Well I have got one of those, so I'll apply once the soil has dried out a little
Think of new born babies you don't give them a full bottle as soon as they emerge, plants are the same! ...........A little regularly!
Thanks for your help TG and sorry for all the extra questions!
Ninny
QuoteThere are only 8 up at the moment, should I wait for say 50% to germinate before I remove the cover?
Yes! Unless they reach the 'crook' stage when they should be pricked out and potted on into 3" pots. Still leave them on the hotbed and in the reflector box!
QuoteSadly no electricity in the greenhouse so the prop is currently in the dining area next to the kitchen and next to the window for maximum light but this is an east facing window. I could move them to the 'soon to be' spare bedroom which is west facing.
Ah - I haven't got one of these, would a normal room light/bedside table lamp without a shade be sufficient and turning the prop through 180 degrees daily help?
Natural light at this time of the year is not much cop, you will find the plants will go a bit leggy and chlorotic in poor light!
What I meant is get something like a cardboard box and line the sides with tinfoil to act a light reflectors and just sit your table lamp without the shade in front of it, and the plants surrounded by it
The tin foil will reflect the lamp light!
QuoteMy prop is an old one without variable temp control. I've popped a thermometer in and it's showing 20 degrees on the bottom, would a layer of a couple of inches of sand help reduce the temp? (lid on)
Yes but keep lid off and sand damp!
QuoteWell I have got one of those, so I'll apply once the soil has dried out a little
The plan is not to soak the soil the spray will act like a rain shower and the plants are designed to take moisture where it is needed most!
Thanks TG, great advice as always - more foil on the shopping list ;)
Ninny