My trick for pricking out and potting on my onions

[@marksallotmentplot]

You must have the patience of a saint potting on all those onions! 😋

[@eliandkate]

Just cause you don’t here the swearing in the video doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty 😂😂😂

[@stellat.3268]

My onion seeds didn't sprout, just a few like 4 to 5. I was really sad, but now, that I saw all the work you had with the little onions and all the extra space you needed, I am not so sad any more. 🤣🤣🤣 You did a great job with this tiny little onions! ❤

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@gudi361]

Great teapot!

[@tinkerbelledaisy]

I've just discovered your channel and am currently building my first ever greenhouse. I cannot adequately describe my excitement or enthusiasm for getting started. Am enjoying gaining insight from your accessible wisdom which has helped me control the overwhelming urge to rush out and buy loads of stuff. Have already got some bargain seeds and those nifty bottle top sprinklers tho. Looking forward to saying goodbye to the rest of the world and burying myself up to the elbows in compost

[@eliandkate]

Welcome aboard! And, don't cut off the outside world "too much" :D

[@thesullivans7396]

Fab tip!! My onions are ready to prick out. Felt a bit daunting, but after seeing this, feel motivated to use your method. I might even Video it, in my own amateurish way 😄 wish me luck! x

[@eliandkate]

Bring on all those little oniony goodies!!!

[@magsadams20]

Fantastic tip I’ll definitely try that xx

[@eliandkate]

Works a treat

[@davidsdesign543]

Love the new haircut Eli! Speaking of, I always give my onion seedlings a little snip too. Really helps with the legginess!

[@eliandkate]

the haircut seems to be popular.... it's much easier to manage (as a gardener), I have to say. Way less hair product and deals with the wind.

[@markcrichton3257]

New drinking game….every time Eli says “so” you take a shot. 😂

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@lives2900]

The water trick is brilliant! Thanks so much.

[@eliandkate]

Hope it helps 😍

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

That is a brilliant trick. I love your greenhouse. Thanks for sharing!

[@eliandkate]

Awww glad you got something from it AJ 😍😍😍

[@erictownsend4236]

Really? A terra cotta Tea cup? Love it and I love You!

[@eliandkate]

Even better It comes with a spoon shaped like a spade!!!!! 😂😂😂

[@dustyflats3832]

@@eliandkate lol, I was going to comment on that also, actually I was waiting for you to pot it up by mistake 😆

[@loricawley54]

Ur enthusiasm and sunny nature just always make me smile, Eli! 😊 I’m in Tx, zone 8a, and I planted my onion seeds directly outside today as our last frost date is fast approaching. I also direct sowed my pea seeds today as well. As for the rest of my seedlings that I started inside at the end of January, I spent yesterday moving my tomatoes, peppers, salvia, gomphrena, hollyhocks, geraniums, scabiosa, Tx bluebonnets, phlox, and evening primroses into their next pot up before they go into the garden. Exciting times around here! The rest of my garden will be direct sown after our last frost date since we have such a long growing season here. Best of luck with ur seedlings! I think ur going to have a fabulous garden! 💞🌸

[@eliandkate]

Oh I’m jealous I was hoping to get sowing this week but we have a freeze coming so looks like I have to wait another couple of weeks

[@loricawley54]

@@eliandkate Oh, gosh, I hate that for u! It’s such a pain trying to wait out the cold esp when ur just itching to go! Trust me tho, I’ll be whinging about the heat when we hit over 100 degrees F in the summer, and then I’ll be the jealous one of those with cooler climates lol! 🤣🤣🤣

[@eliandkate]

🤣🤣🤣

[@dustyflats3832]

I’ve seen others sow them in a 4” pot thickly. They grow into a nice chunk of sod and pull apart quite easily although I’ve seen the water method used. It’s amazing how tough they are once they gain some thickness. The ones I purchased were picked, cut and rubber banded and shipped. It’s amazing how they spring to life.

[@roberttillotson6861]

Those are trays I’m using for my onions. I actually start seeds 4-5 per cell and thin to best one per cell. Go 12 weeks, then transplant to garden bed for spring. Trust me, those cells can go a full 12 weeks. I also use for seed soil. 3 parts compost 3 parts promix 1 part perlite I use 20-20-20 twice a week for food once second leaf forms. I go 8 hours a day light only, staying under bulbing daylight for onion type. Hope this helps. Awesome trays.

[@adamowen5982]

Just Started a small veg garden his past couple of week. Ace video. Liked and subscribed. X

[@eliandkate]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@amilynnstapay796]

Wow! Great growth in 3 days! Those are going to be amazing! Most excellent!

[@eliandkate]

Hope so I’m not using heat or light so it’s a bit slower than some folk but they’ll be strong and raring to go by the time it warms up our there

[@wormulous]

Ugh!!! I fell asleep and missed this coming out! Watching now. :).

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂 did I keep you up last night?

[@wormulous]

@@eliandkate you and every other gardening KZbin creator. At this point I'm going to need to seek help soon about this addiction. Good to know about the falling over and discoloration however, it's of course my first year doing anything and it surely would have given me a teeny scare!

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Eli & Kate, great video with lots of useful information. Thanks for sharing and take care 🙂

[@jennyjohnson9012]

Wow I wish I'd seen this before, I was all afternoon yesterday pricking mine out until I was nearly demented!! 😂😂 What a brilliant idea. Thanks Eli

[@eliandkate]

Oh no! We’ll at least you are armed for next year

[@oreopaksun2512]

Back for a review after watching the harvest video. All the work with the Red Baron in spite of all the set backs paid off! I think I am inspired to try onion seeds again for this fall. I have gotten seedlings to this stage, but must be my laziness - I don't make it to potting up fast enough and they kinda melt away. And, I clearly am not showing them enough love - have to pet them and sweet talk them every chance I get. You should try chop sticks to plant the little babies; if you can't be bothered to learn, there are toddler/learner chopsticks that you can diy with rubber band and a bit of cushion between to work like giant tweezers. Very precise positioning, and I can also use the tips to create the divot, and to scratch the potting mix back around the seedling. Never pot up without chopsticks!

[@eliandkate]

Chopsticks? I use them frequently to eat but can’t imagine why I’d use them to handle seedlings ???

[@oreopaksun2512]

@@eliandkate All-in-one potting up tool: 1) leveler for potting soil in tray 2)dibber to poke holes, rotate if you need wider hole 3) use in gentle pincer motion on either side of seedling to scoop out of original tray 4) gently pin the seedling between the 2 sticks, pop it in new medium as far as you want, retract chopsticks. 5) use tips to scoot more soil around stem and root. For onions, chopsticks are absolutely the way to go. Watch some Asian/Chinese YT gardeners pot up; they are crazy fast!

[@eliandkate]

Hmmmm I think yeah to everything other than using the to handle seedlings… not convinced about that 😂😂😂😂😂

[@gudi361]

Thanks for sharing this trick!

[@eliandkate]

Our pleasure!

[@alunmorriswilliams9228]

Really helpful video growing onions for the first time 👌

[@eliandkate]

Glad to here Alumorris Crossing my fingers for you

[@dustyflats3832]

A lot of work. I started several varieties including the 2 you have. I sowed 2/6 in cell packs. Boxing Day 12/26 and wish I could post pictures as mine are much bigger and think heat has a lot to do with it. I sprinkled them fairly thick and on most cells averaged about 5 per cell. I’ve given them at least 3 haircuts to 3” tall. I have a fan on them during the day and they are starting to get thicker. I used potting soil and did sprinkle a small amount of natural granular fertilizer on top because I didn’t have any liquid food fertilizer except fish and, yeah, not advisable inside. Finally got liquid fertilizer and chose Espoma Organic and doesn’t smell. I have had a slight bit of yellowing prior to fertilizing and some first leaves drying which I think is normal. Mine are inside and about 70*F/21*C. Yours look like it could be related to light and heat, but it seems the transplant helped. Just keep them sort of dry as onions will flop if too wet. It is difficult to tell if too much or not enough water as when actively growing they do like water to a point. I think when too dry they look more dull. The red onions seem to be about as picky as leeks and shallots to get germinated. Honestly I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought seed, but I bought 2 of a couple varieties. The Blush variety has a bit of red and those too act a bit finicky, but grow well in the garden. Noticed red last year were smaller than yellow or white also. It is so satisfying to harvest onions and potatoes and know where they came from. It’s my last garden excitement before the dreaded winter. We are just finishing fresh onions up and have some frozen and dried so I’m pretty close to knowing how many we need. Drying onions for first time in dehydrator last year out on patio and the smell was so wonderful it made us hungry for a McDonald’s hamburger 😂. I like my own homemade as well, but it was something about that aroma😅 Thanks for sharing as that’s how we all learn.

[@johngoldthorpe1056]

Hi Eli THK you for the info on how you grow your onions. Thks john.

[@eliandkate]

My pleasure!

[@Growyourheirlooms]

LOL 20 Billion to go! I feel your pain. Great video, thanks for sharing

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂

[@ienekevanhouten4559]

I love the humor in this channel, and how tidy that greenhouse space is. Sadly, my onion seedlings got decimated by fungus gnats.

[@eliandkate]

Oh no!!!!! 😢

[@GrowingAGreenFinger]

Nice trick...I may have to try that for my seedlings? I say "SO" and "uuuhhh" in my videos...takes FOREVER to edit it all out 🤣

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂

[@jeanhelliwell8160]

Eli. A tip for getting the roots into the holes, I saw on Jessie Plot 37,is to use one of those pencils that has an eraser on the top. I find it works amazingly well.

[@eliandkate]

Oh good tip

[@leeemerson-py1yd]

Thank you for the video Eli. Great tips.

[@eliandkate]

Hope it saves you time and stress 😄

[@sheilathomas8528]

Thanks Eli, never seen the water method, great tip. Thanks for sharing.

[@eliandkate]

Happy to help 😄

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Eli & Kate, onions are fiddly to repot but, they look so much better. Can I reccommend Karmen for a red onion, they are good. Thanks for sharing and take care 🙂

[@fergusdangerfield156]

Hi Eli. I sowed my ailsa Craig's on 28th Dec and have pricked them out, this morning. If just hope mine grow like yours x.

[@eliandkate]

Wooohooooo You can get a nosey of mine from this year in last weeks video if you want. I just potted them on

[@j.b.6855]

I use the tray method for starting onions. It works well. I cant up pot them as space under lights in my seed starting room is limited. I start them in sifted potting mix, not seed starter. That way there is a little more nutrients o the seedlings can stay in the tray until they go outside. Thanks for the water bowl method for separating them. I havent had much trouble and my hands are big, size 16 ring. Anything that makes separating easier is a good thing, I have used a spray bottle in the past.

[@eliandkate]

Oh spray bottle sounds interesting 🤔

[@donnamatthews4250]

Thank you!

[@eliandkate]

👍👍👍

[@Jimsraisedbedgarden]

Thanks for your help the other day Eli and good to see the successful Potting on for your onions , mine on the other hand mmmm I think I put them in pots that were to big and there not really changed so I think I will give them a few more days to see if they can progress then if not I think I will plant some new ones 👍 xx

[@eliandkate]

Youve still got time to re sow if need be I’m sure they’ll be fine though

[@Jimsraisedbedgarden]

@@eliandkate everything crossed lol , and thankyou once again x

[@helencockwell8329]

Brilliant tip thank u 👍😊

[@eliandkate]

😀 glad it helped

[@amybreeden8442]

Thank you!

[@eliandkate]

Hope it helps you out Amy

[@williamallison1029]

Enjoyed the video thanks for the information will be planting my onions this week BA94Antrim n Ireland

[@mariedeyo7399]

Oh good gravy, what work, you did a nice job with these weee things. I direct sown in fall in my raised bed.. and couple weeks ago I sown some winterhedge onion and those need to be tranceplanted next week as well as my indoor tomato and some peppers. And for the rest I am going to get some starts for red onion at the feedstore 5 min from my house. Ja I know.. but there are so many other things to do 😁

[@eliandkate]

So so much to do……

[@BettyBoopBarnes]

So sow! Lots of sowing and growing 😂💚 I did my onions a few days ago. They are twice the size in the same size pot. I hacked the tops off to a couple inches, and did the same to the roots and shoved them into 1.5in trays with a handful of potting mix. I was not delicate, and they're fine. Tough little things

[@eliandkate]

I’m lack handed as hell I’ll destroy stuff if I’m not careful

[@BettyBoopBarnes]

​@@eliandkate good for dinner that way lol. What's up with the don't say 'so'? I hope it wasn't someone complaining you say 'so' too often! I love your authenticity, you two are both beautiful people 💚

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂 no it was just me realising I’d said it so often in just a few minutes

[@oreopaksun2512]

Onion seedlings "poodling" never heard that expression before, so that will help me remember when potting up is needed IF I can get the fiddly little guys to germinate successfully. Thank you.

[@eliandkate]

Pootling? Em……. Nope, new one on me. When did I say that?

[@oreopaksun2512]

@@eliandkate errrrm, 0:31 "poodlie" and curling on top? lol, my ear is not that tuned to Scots, but I thought of little pups with curly onion tops...lol

[@eliandkate]

Ahhhhjh poorly 😁

[@samanthahoos9827]

Oh no, that’s a lot of work! I planted my onions in small cells 4-6 seeds in a cell, gave them a hair cut when they were 5 inches tall then potted up 3 weeks later. They’ll grow as bunching onions and I’m fine if they’re smaller sized when harvested.

[@eliandkate]

Some of mine will go that route too 😍

[@nicolahart9177]

I potted mine on about 4 weeks ago and they sulked for a while but just looked at them and like yours they now have new leaves. Wish I had known about the water method though!!!🙃

[@eliandkate]

defo a sneaky trick to store away for next year

[@lynseyhope2800]

I've not killed my red baron yet so hopefully still on track to send spares in your direction! 😂

[@eliandkate]

Thank god….. I realised I’d shouted at you in a video and it might be a bit much pressure…. I have heaps of the others if you wanna swap 😂😂😂😂

[@aimeeetterling7683]

What a great tip!!!

[@eliandkate]

😍😍😍

[@Garden-of-weeden]

Thank you Eli! Now I’m not feeling as stressed 😁 hair doo rocks btw!

[@eliandkate]

Glad that’s helped calm you down 😍 I’m not loving the hair… far too short

[@Garden-of-weeden]

@@eliandkate why do you think it’s too short? Looks great!

[@eliandkate]

I’m not a fan Bit shorter than I like

[@Garden-of-weeden]

@@eliandkate well it will grow quicker than my onions!! Lol

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂 true

[@victorialg1270]

Inspired. I need to get out to repotting mine.

[@eliandkate]

Take a seat… I was there for hours

[@KM-nq7ez]

Thank you for this wonderful information!

[@eliandkate]

Hope it helps you out KM

[@markrollings1762]

Hiya Could you advise where you purchased the compost container please? Pink & green lids Thank you

[@eliandkate]

Those are ikea recycling boxes. They are usually white but we painted them

[@markrollings1762]

@@eliandkate Thank you so much Eli. Have a nice day

[@redhandspunhandwoven6512]

Very nice pricking tips! I can see where this would improve the opportunity for success. Looking at how much you have going on in your greenhouse is inspiring - I have a greenhouse, hopefully at least 8'x10', on the list for next year. This year is four new 4'x12' raised beds at home, in addition to my community garden plot/allotment.

[@eliandkate]

Oh fab progress then One year at a time

[@johngoldthorpe1056]

H Eli when you sow you onions seed on boxing day , do you keep them in your house, or greenhouse, for protection heated or not, until you prick out then pot on, also if and when you plant out in your raised bed. When the weather is right . Another great video with info so simple but good. Thks john.

[@eliandkate]

Hey John so I used a heated propagator in the greenhouse to germinate the seeds as they germinate faster with some heat. other than that they are just out in the greenhouse. I shove a propagator lid over them when it's cold, just as a layer of protection cause they are still quite small and I worry. I don't plan putting them out until the chance of a freeze has completely passed. I know onions generally are hardy, but with tiny little seedlings, I'm a bit cautious.

[@louiserowley-spendlove2462]

Genius ❤

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂 hmmmmm that’s pushing it a bit 😂😂😂😂

[@marymcandrew7667]

You looked like a proud momma when you were bending over those onion babies! I feel the same way about all my little seedlings!

[@eliandkate]

Oh I was. I was so chuffed Polar opposite to this year… this year they got way less nature momma and loads more “just get on with it” 😂😂😂

[@chicosgarden]

Great tips! I haven't done onion from seed yet. I did give my red onion sets a head start inside 11 days ago and was hoping to be putting them outside in a pot but with the winter weather due later in the week, I need to hold off but I will have to 'pot them on' tomorrow. I have a feeling I won't be able to do the same with onion sets? so, I plan on giving the trays a good water first and then gently separate them :)

[@eliandkate]

Sets are a lot more hardy than seedlings 😍

[@Ma1ingo]

Great Tip Eli, thank you. That will be useful for me as this is my first time growing onions. I was wondering, when is it safe to just put the seedlings out in their final bed? I have seen people saying they can take a bit of a frost so I'm not sure if I should pot up or just plant them.

[@eliandkate]

It’s all dependent on your garden Celsius. They will cope with the cold and a little frost for me though, we are still likely to get some major freezes for a while so I’ll be holding off until into spring. I’ve seen folk down south out theirs out in April

[@joannc147]

Well, how did ya know to post this today? I was looking at my wee onion seedlings and decided to take them outdoors for diluted liquid fertilizer. Oops. I left the flat in a rather precarious position and a curious hen knocked the flat to the ground. Silly hen! 🐓 I will be potting up these 1 month old seedlings - but I’m going to keep them in small bunches for now. Thanks for a helpful video once again! ❤

[@eliandkate]

Magic 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@joannc147]

@@eliandkate somehow, YOU in a Wizard Cap….. totally believable! 🤣🤣

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@serresaschrock2359]

I always give mine a haircut. It makes them stronger and promote growth

[@eliandkate]

Yeah I see a lot of folk recommending that, but it seems that the jury is still out on whether it actually improves growth of if it just makes them easier to handle. I’m still researching to find out more. There may be an experiment in it 😃

[@luciapoole8596]

Great video! Do you think this would be a good method for leeks as well?

[@eliandkate]

oh yeah, I think it was leaks that I saw being done this way

[@luciapoole8596]

@@eliandkate thanks so much. X

[@christinamoxon]

Thanks for the update on the yellow leaves - that's useful to know. Mine are only just coming up, as I only started them a week ago. So I've a little while to go before I need to pot them on. Which is just as well, becuse I don't have any cell trays the right size. Or even close. 🤦‍♀

[@eliandkate]

I know….. they’ve taken up half the greenhouse 😬

[@christinamoxon]

@@eliandkate Maybe you need one of those little shelving units with the green material covers? Or a temporary cold-frame over one of your empty beds? I dont have room to sow my ornamentals either. I have a pathetic little number of cosmos, shasta daisies and a few tiny petunias coming up, but no room for any more. Argh. I wish I had room for a greenhouse. More videos, Eli! 13 miutes a week is not enough! More, more, more! 💖

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂 I wish I had time for more

[@AdventuresnfoodwithJenn]

thank you for the tutorial. My onions go in the ground soon.

[@eliandkate]

Oh fab I’m desperate to get mine out the greenhouse 😂😂😂😂

[@carriebrown4727]

Mine look just like yours. 👍

[@eliandkate]

I’m counting done the days till they can go outside Bring on the onions

[@vanessaoconnor5000]

Thank you so much. I have an issue with “so” myself. So, I feel for ya. 😅

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@paulinemorris5186]

So! you have a lot of onions this year, mine are also growing well

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@angelad.8944]

Great tip. Those eilsa craig's can get quite large. What size do they end up being for you? I would think they like the cooler weather alright. 🤔

[@eliandkate]

This my first year growing them so we’re gonna have to wait and see 😁

[@angelad.8944]

@@eliandkate oooh, that's exciting. I hope they grow well for you. 😃

[@robinscontainergarden]

I didn't plant mine until early February, so I'm a bit behind yours. I know you must have taken hours and hours out there potting those up. How many cups of tea did you go through?? I didn't show as many as you, either, because I'm also getting some onion sets that should be arriving in a couple of weeks. I hope they all get big enough to tie up this year! Yours looks amazing and they do take ages and ages, don't they?

[@eliandkate]

Just one cuppa 😍

[@robinscontainergarden]

@@eliandkate You are superwoman!

[@sharonabraham-zw1vl]

We did ours today, never planted onions before 🤞

[@eliandkate]

Fingers crossed 🤞🤞🤞

[@user-xb7sj2uk4u]

I hope this works for leeks seedlings too. Because I am just doing it...replanting my piddly seedlings into a deeper container. Fingers crossed

[@eliandkate]

@@user-xb7sj2uk4u it works grand for leeks too Good luck 🤞

[@user-xb7sj2uk4u]

Only 20 ish to go. I need something stronger than a cup of coffee after this 🤣

[@eliandkate]

@user-xb7sj2uk4u 😂😂😂😂

[@tomtaylor7318]

Sowed my onion serfdom boxing day.they terminated really well and have grown 2-3one but have flopped over not standing upright. What have done wrong?

[@eliandkate]

Tom you haven’t necessarily done anything wrong 😀 Onion seedlings will get to a point where they can’t support themselves yet and will flop over. This is why so many people trim their onion seedlings, once the seedlings are about 5 inches long, they trim as couple of inches off the top in order to keep them neat and upright. There are problem that can also cause your seedlings to fall over, but obviously this is something you’d need to do a bit of investigating on. It could be lack of nutrition and they need potted up into new compost. It could be too much heat, overwatering or under watering. You’ll have to get your deerstalker hat on I’m afraid.

[@dwwcoder5048]

How warm are cold should the water be Lukewarm or cold?

[@eliandkate]

As I said, teppid water. Neither hot nor cold. You don’t want to cause any extra stress on the plant with either extreme

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

I didn't know there was any other way to do it. I thought everyone washed to compost off LOL

[@eliandkate]

You mean you don't have another even better and fabulous technique to show us Steve???? Drat!!!!

[@GardeningGraceAndGratitude]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@tomtaylor7318]

Seed, on, germinated, 2-3ins.

[@MrBrianhanchett]

Can this apply to leeks ?

[@eliandkate]

Yup You could use it to separate any seedlings

[@ChaosOrZen]

Mine tangle up no matter the trim, air movement etc. raises my blood pressure

[@eliandkate]

😂😂😂 they are little prima donnas aren’t they?

[@jennyhayler7553]

I don't seem to be able to grow spring onions every time they come up they flop over

[@eliandkate]

one of those situations where you are going to have to do a bit of investigation to determine what your specific situation is. They could be too wet, or not getting enough water or even too warm.

[@jennyhayler7553]

Thank you for reply ,in that case probably to wet and warm

[@LTeppler]

Sadly, I did not even purchase my onions until a few weeks ago, and they are just now poking their little cotyledons up. I'm one of those conservatives who plant one red onion to a cell. I think I'll change this year and put all the bunching onions in one though.

[@eliandkate]

Yeah if you are growing for bunching you don’t need to go to all the trouble of sowing or planting on per cell 😍