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What's the secret to onions?

Coup

Coup

Howdy everyone, long time no see.
 
So I've pretty much gotten peppers figured out easily enough, and I've been trying my hand at a multitude of vegetables. One of the ones I am having the absolute hardest time with right now is onions.
 
I've always been late getting my onions out, so this year I started everything on-time from seed. However, it seems like I can't get the bastards to actually sprout from seed.
 
Below is a picture of my current onion trays. each one with 8-9 seeds per cell. As you can see, they are considerably lacking in sprouting.
 
XSSelT7.jpg

 
Any advice? Tips? I've tried the paper towel method, the dome method, and just the 'keep the soil moist' method. This is where I am.
 
skullbiker said:
Are you using fresh seed? Onion seed is pretty well a no go by the second year. Now days I get new seed every year.
Click to expand...
 
This might actually be the answer - I have seed that is well into its second year. I might as well use it up, then, since it's probably no good after this year.
 
skullbiker said:
Also, as per temp question by rhines81, they are best germinated at room temp or around 70 f.
Click to expand...
 
I've got a heat mat underneath them with a dome on top now, and the house temperature is ~63-65 degrees. Thoughts?
 
Coup said:
 
I've got a heat mat underneath them with a dome on top now, and the house temperature is ~63-65 degrees. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
That may be too warm if there is no thermostat controling the mat. Most heat mats warm to 15 —20 degrees above ambient temp. If no thermostat, I would put 2 or 3 layers of cardboard between the mat and the tray.
 
Been there, done that.

Do a germination test before you pitch them. Wet paper towel in a baggy for a few days. 65 to 70 would be the top of the ideal growing temperature for young plants.
 
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