I'd start the seeds in cell packs or flats then transplant them to the garden. Much easier to control all the variables such as temp, soil, and moisture.

The link below explains the differences between long, short, and intermediate day onions and which one does best where.

Rodney

Here is a link that might be useful: Onion Plant Types

I had the same problems when trying to grow from seed for the first time.. I direct sowed and that failed.. I tried the wet papper towel method. They sprout but don't root well when transplanted. I came across info on cell packs and flats, as stated above and found that those work pretty well.. One more thing, dont buy onion seed that is over a year old. There's no point in trying to grow dead seed.

Rodney, thank you. I just buy from the local hardware store as they are an old timey place and sell what works here. I have a mental block on onion types. :-) Mav72, you are quite right. Old alliums will not sprout. Rodney, did you use one of those commercial type tiny celled things? because that's a lot of soil and pots for such tiny seedlings. I may try that. Is it too late to keep trying? Thanks guys.
Lisa

There's no need to grow a whole flat of onion transplants. Onion seeds can be sown inside in most any small clean container. I like plastic containers that held store bought strawberries or blueberries since they have lots of small holes for good drainage. Fill it about 3/4 full with soiless seed starting or potting mix, add the seeds, spacing them about 1/4 to1/2 inch apart in all directions and then cover with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of addition mix. Keep the mix moist but not soggy and you should have tiny onions before long. They take longer than many seeds to sprout....maybe as long as 10 to 14 days depending on conditions. Mine do not all come up at once but after a week or two the slow pokes do show up and I have a small tray with lots of plants. After they gain some size I'll transplant them. I'll start in late winter and grow them inside for 2 or more months. It is hard to keep direct seeded onions weeded since they grow slowly at first. I much prefer to transplant them. I'm not sure what the timing would be for you to grow bulbing onions in your area, but you can always use them as green onions and figure you learned about growing them to transplant size and will be know that skill for next season.

naturegirl summed it all up. :)

Rodney