According toHamilton College, allium has a long history of cultivation.
Ornamental allium is characterized by stunning, colorful, globe-shaped flowers attracting butterflies and other pollinators.
Some species of allium are edible, while others are purely ornamental.
Depending on your climate zone, allium bulbs are best planted in the fall.
They need a cold dormant period before sprouting in the spring and producing colorful and fragrant flowers.
Before planting, wait until the soil is 60 F or colder.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to plant them.
Choose the Place
Knowing the ideal conditions for planting alliums is essential to ensure successful growth.
So, where do alliums grow best?
Pick a spot in your garden that haswell-draining soiland getsfull sun.
For taller varieties, choose a place near the border or fence to help stabilize the plants.
you might also grow them in containers, following the same guidelines.
Prepare the Soil
Loosen the soilby removing rocks and aerating it for a few weeks before planting.
We recommend adding a basaltriple superphosphate fertilizerwhen preparing soil.
A 440-pound bag should be enough to cover 2.5 acres.
Space them about 12 inches apart for large varieties and 6 inches for small ones.
The quantity of soil depends on the bulbs size and the plants density.
check that to water the alliums right after planting, but do soonly once.
Then, waituntil springto water them again.
In regions with periods of extreme cold, apply mulch to safeguard the plant.
Allium thrives in regions with minimal precipitation, and excessiverainfall and humidity can affect it adversely.
Plant bulbs store nutrients and water so the plant can survive the driest periods.
Pruning
What to do with alliums after flowering?
After the alliums have bloomed,remove spent blooms.
It will encourage the plant to store more energy for next year.
Wait for the foliage to turn yellow and start withering beforeremoving the leaves.
This will keep your alliums looking their best.
Fertilizing
Use abalanced fertilizerlow in nitrogen but high in phosphorus and potassium.
The best time to apply it is before planting and thenevery four to six weeksuntil harvest.
Three weeks before the harvest, stop fertilizing and allow the plants to focus on bulb growth.
This will ensure it has enough space to flourish and thrive.
The best time to repot your alliums islate autumn.
Popular Allium Varieties
Alliums come in a wide variety of species and cultivars.
it’s possible for you to find both small and giant globe alliums.
With a lot of diversity, the right jot down of allium can enhance your gardens visual appeal.
Take a look at some of the most popular ones.
It produces large, round clusters of purple flowers on tall stems.
When it is in full bloom, it attracts bees and butterflies.
Plant this allium near borders in rock gardens, or scatter it among your perennials.
It won the title of 2018 Perennial Plant of the Year.
The plant bears large, round clusters of bright, rosy-purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies.
Its leaves are onion-scented and glossy green.
Additionally, they are deer and rabbit-resistant.
Plant these bulbs in rock gardens, flower borders, or naturalized areas in small or large groups.
It can be planted in perennial beds, rock gardens, meadows, cottage gardens, and naturalized areas.
Use them as cut flowers.
It has an edible flower and leaves used for flavoring eggs, soups, or butter.
They thrive when planted en masse along the edges, in rock or vegetable gardens.
you’ve got the option to grow them potted in the patio or on the sunny window.
This European native is edible and often used for medicinal purposes.
Bulbs and stems are edible, raw, or cooked.
Its native to central Asia but widely grown in many parts of the world.
This species received the Royal Horticultural Societys Award of Garden Merit.
Bulb rot can make the bulbs soft, mushy, and very smelly.
Solution:Plant alliums in well-drained soil to prevent bulb rot, avoid overwatering, and practice crop rotation.
The larvae hatch and feed on the roots, causing wilting, yellowing, and death.
Onion flies can also introduce secondary infections, such as bulb rot.
The larvae feed inside the leaves and then drop into the soil to pupate.
The adults are small flies that lay eggs on the plants.
It can reduce the plants growth and yield, and make them more susceptible to other diseases.
How to Design Your Garden with Allium?
Do you have a vision of a breathtaking and productive garden?
Achieving this requires some planning and knowledge.
One practical approach is to incorporate allium with itscompanion plants.
They grow together and support each other, bringing many benefits.
Although not all plants are compatible with alliums, they can still benefit from the company of other plants.
A. Brassicas:These include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and others.
Alliums can repel many brassica pests, such as whiteflies, cabbage moths, and aphids.
B. Nightshades:These include tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants.
Alliums can deter some nightshade pests, such as Colorado potato beetles, tomato hornworms, and spider mites.
C. Strawberries:Alliums can protect strawberries from fungal diseases, such as botrytis and verticillium wilt.
They can also enhance the flavor and yield of strawberries.
They can also suppress weeds and improve soil drainage.
They can also improve the flavor of carrots.
How Do You Stop Alliums From Spreading?
Allium produces flowers that can form seeds.
They can be spread by wind or animals, making alliums invasive in certain areas.
If plants spread enough to becomeinvasive, use a herbicide containing 2-4 D, glysophate, or dicamba.
Do this before the plants reach 8 inches.
Do Allium Bulbs Flower in Their First Year?
Allium bulbs can flower in their first year if planted at the right time and cared for well.
