Onion Seed Starting Tips

Ten Top Tips for Growing Onions from Seed

Start with fresh seed and seed starting mix. ...
Provide bottom heat. ...
Clip off seed husks. ...
Keep under lights and trim back. ...
Transplant when the third leaf appears. ...
Trim off seeding leaves. ...
Provide maximum light. ...
Harden off, but protect from chilling.

Should I soak onion seeds before planting?
How do you start onion seeds?
How long do onion seeds take to germinate?
Can you start onions in seed trays?
Can I soak onion seeds?
How do you germinate onion seeds indoors?
Do onion seeds need heat to germinate?
Should I trim onion seedlings?
Do onions need full sun?
What temperature do onion seeds germinate?
When should I start onion seeds?
Is Nigella onion seed?

Should I soak onion seeds before planting?

A set is an actual bulb and will produce onions quickly. You can plant onion sets without soaking them, but soaked onions will sprout more quickly. You can also soak onion seed before planting to encourage germination. Soaking the sets in compost tea will give them added nutrition and protection from disease.

How do you start onion seeds?

When and How to Start Indoors

Plant onion seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before transplanting them outside just before the average last frost date in your area. Seeds should be sown ¼ inch deep. Onions require an open and sunny site, fertile soil, and good drainage.

How long do onion seeds take to germinate?

I enclose newly seeded containers in a plastic bag to maintain moisture, provide them with bottom heat, and the onion seeds germinate in about 8 days.

Can you start onions in seed trays?

2- Starting in Trays. Starting your onion seeds in trays requires a small amount of equipment or conditions and some time on your part. ... Start your seeds about 10-12 weeks before transplanting date, which is about 2-4 weeks before your last frost date.

Can I soak onion seeds?

Onion seed benefits from pre-soaking before planting. They can be soaked for as little as 15 minutes or as long as several hours. You can use plain water, compost tea, or Superthrive as you prefer. Drain and pat dry just before planting to make handling easier.

How do you germinate onion seeds indoors?

To start onion seedlings indoors in February or March, fill a container nearly to the top with a seed starting mix and then make two furrows, about 1/2-inch deep, for the onion seeds. Sprinkle seeds in the furrows and cover them lightly with more soil mix.

Do onion seeds need heat to germinate?

Provide bottom heat

The tops of my florescent plant lights are flat, and they give off just the right amount of bottom heat needed to help onion seeds germinate quickly. Onion germination is fastest as 68-77°F (20-25°C), with slight temperature drops at night.

Should I trim onion seedlings?

Onions & leeks germinate best at 75-85°F. ... When the plants reach 5” tall, use scissors to trim them back to 2” as this will encourage them to grow thicker and stronger (and the onion trimmings are delicious in sandwiches & soups!)

Do onions need full sun?

Onions need full sun. Select a location where your onions won't be shaded by other plants. Onions need well-drained, loose and nitrogen-rich soil.

What temperature do onion seeds germinate?

Fields should be seeded from early March through mid-April when onion beds are dry enough to avoid compaction or germination problems during planting. Onion seeds germinate at temperatures above 40°F; the optimum soil temperature is 75°F.

When should I start onion seeds?

Start onion seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date (look up yours here at PlantMaps.com). I use recycled berry containers to grow onion seedlings. The containers are about 4 inches deep and have plenty of holes for drainage.

Is Nigella onion seed?

The tiny black seeds have a slightly bitter taste with some of the pungency of onion, but also offer many other subtle nuances of flavour. Their appearance means they are commonly called black onion seed, but they have nothing to do with the onion family.