When to move onion out of vermiculite

pipefish 3/14/2013, 8:21 pm

My onions have germinated. In fact they came up pretty quickly. But my cabbage and broccoli planted at the same time quickly overtook them. I just transplanted the later plants into MM, but am worried about the onions.

Is it normal for onions to curl and stay low without leaves for days when they germinate? Should I transplant them and get them under the lights in a medium with more nutrients (ie MM)?

Thanks,

Dan

meatburner 3/14/2013, 9:30 pm

Did you plant your onion seeds in just vermiculite?

pipefish 3/14/2013, 10:36 pm

Yes. I have been doing that with all my plant types... Thought I was following the SFG method by doing so.... Was this a mistake?

To add a little info: parsley and rosemary seedlings are not doing well by the same method (vermiculite firt then transplant to a MM type mix when they grow seed leaves).

Thanks.

littlejo 3/15/2013, 6:54 am

pipefish wrote:My onions have germinated. In fact they came up pretty quickly. But my cabbage and broccoli planted at the same time quickly overtook them. I just transplanted the later plants into MM, but am worried about the onions.

Is it normal for onions to curl and stay low without leaves for days when they germinate? Should I transplant them and get them under the lights in a medium with more nutrients (ie MM)?

Thanks,

Dan

Dan,
The little stems that came up from the vermiculite are an onions 'seed leaves' for they don't really grow leaves like other plants. I have had onion seed curl and I believe that is their nature. I'd go ahead and transplant into some mm or good potting soil. When they are a couple inches tall, after you have transplanted, trim off just a bit of the tips of the stem. This will encourage the onions to work on their roots. Onions can be put outside as soon as ground is not frozen hard.

As far as the herbs, if they germinated, and the seed leaves have uncurled, then transplant.
I think most folks wait til they get their 2nd set of leaves, but, vermiculite alone is just for germinating, not for growing. My tomato seed germinated in 2 days! I've not tried the herbs, but plan on trying after my forest has been put outside. I don't have any more room at the moment.
Jo

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When to move onion out of vermiculite

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