If plants, regardless of whether they are flower or vegetable plants, are grown from seeds in planting trays, pricking out is necessary some time after the seed has sprouted and a young plant has developed. This means transplanting seedlings that are too close together.
When and how should you prick onions?
Onions should be pricked as soon as they develop the first leaf tubes after the cotyledons. Carefully separate the individual young plants and transplant them into separate pots with growing soil. Then ensure sufficient humidity and light to ensure optimal growth.
Why prick
Seeds sown in planting trays sprout well. Many young plants develop quickly, putting pressure on each other and fighting for the nutrients to grow. It is therefore necessary to prick out the young plants. Without this measure they would collapse. Pricking out stimulates root growth, resulting in stronger plants.
The equipment for pricking
To properly prick out, you need medium-sized plant pots or a planting pallet (€12.00 on Amazon), good, humus-rich growing soil and something to separate and dig up the young plants. Suitable is e.g. B. a teaspoon for digging and an old pencil for making the new planting holes.
When and how are onions pricked?
If you don't want to sow onions in the form of onion sets, grab the planting tray in early spring and sow the seeds. When the first leaf tubes develop after the cotyledons, you can prick out. To do this, dig up small groups of plants and carefully separate the individual plants. They immediately sort out stunted and sick young plants.
Pricking step by step
When pricking, proceed as follows:
- First fill the potting soil into the pots or planting pallet and press it lightly.
- Drill a hole in the surface of the earth with the drill rod.
- Get some young plants out of the planter using a spoon handle or something similar.
- Carefully separate the individual plants.
- Use your thumb and index finger to pull the plantlet on a cotyledon over the freshly drilled hole.
- Now carefully press the fine root end into the hole, sprinkle some soil over it and press it down lightly. The cotyledons should just be sticking out of the soil.
- Water the seedling.
Caring for young seedlings
Once you have planted all the onion seedlings in an extra pot, cover the planting pallet or pots with foil for a few days to increase the humidity. If you have a greenhouse, you put your pricked onions in it. Here the small plants are protected from cold, wind and direct sunlight, but get enough light to thrive.
