Allotments 4 All

hi i am starting onions from seed and find that they are rotting off not long after they start to grow , i have used cheshunt compound and keep them indoors and to no avail so what am i doing wrong
many thanks for any help
sean

There are all the standard ones:

Is everything clean, including the compost?
Not too closely spaced?
Moving air?
Not too damp or clammy?

hi yes fresh clean compost and the trays i am using are brand new , and 40 cells type , 2 seeds to a cell . i am trying with cheaper seed before i go on to show grade onion plants.

Are you growing them in a heated propergator or in a cold frame/greenhouse, I had this problem the first time I tried to grow onions from seed, water your trays after sowing and don't water them again until the seedlings are gasping then only water from the bottom, its the wet compost that the phytophora thrive in causing the damping off.

hi paul
no i am growing them on a shelf in the living room over a heater , i think it is that i watered them from the top , i used cheshunt compound but watered them when they looked dry again so i will try less watering
many thanks
sean

Quotei am growing them on a shelf in the living room over a heater

From what I have read, I think your problem is more likely to be here!

Does the temperature fluctuate much? and what is your light source?

Onions only need high temperatures to germinate! once germinated the heat can be dropped substantially.

What they require after germination is a steady temperature, no draughts, and plenty of light.

And as has been said before steady with the water. I would put the cheshunt into a hand spray rather than watering, you have more control of the application this way.

Plus it does not cool the soil as much as this is where they tend to rot (soil level)

When they do need water, which is unlikely, water from the bottom.

Unless they are being kept too warm they should not require any water other than the spraying until pricking out time.

But light is essential, if this is impractical put a table lamp fitted to a timer along side them for 12-16 hours. This is not an ideal light but it is better than you will get from the ambient light at this time of year.

Talking of light I wouldn't mind guessing that those people who sow on the shortest day do it for reasons of light as each day gets a bit longer from then.

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hiya, sean, welcome to the site..
lots of the seedlings we grow on the plot get killed off as someone keeps watering them from the top, I stand them in a tray when they need watering and not very frequently this time of year  ;D

hi thanks for all  the great replies, i am going to try all and see how i go , on the light front i am going to get a daylight bulb and fit it over where i am growing hehehe saves the lights in the house lol , i will keep you all informed on my success .
i can't wait for winter to go so i can get on me allotment and work again just don't tell the doctors ok .
really glad i joined here thanks again
sean