Alliums.

[Barbara]

i've collected lots of seeds off one of my alliums,
how does a new plant grow from them, as the allium i grew is from a bulb, does the seed grow into a bulb , or is it a different type of allium , i'm going to try to grow them in a pot.
barbara

[Tig]

I would imagine that is the best course of action Barbara, any seed I have collected from bulbs I have sown in pots, you just have a long wait before you get flowers from them in my experience, but if you are patient - they eventually perform

[Weeterrier]

I have one that self seeds Barbara, and I think it took about three years for a flower to appear.

[Barbara]

thanks girls, we need patience us gardeners

[owdboggy]

I have grown dozens of varieties of Alliums from seed over the last cough cough years. It is reasonably easy, but the bigger the bulb the longer the wait for flowers. So here goes
Sow the seed fresh. It germinates better straight from the plant rather than being dried off.
Cover lightly with grit, gravel or whatever rather than compost.
Sow in a deep pot rather than a seed tray (reasons later).
Leave exposed to weather. They need a period of cold followed by warmth to initiate germination.
When (if?) they germinate do not be in a hurry to p rick them out. This is the reason for deep pot rather than seed tray. They have only one root to begin with and if it is damage, it dies and a new one has to be produced from the base of the seedling. usually they die.
Feed the seed pot with dilute Baby Bio type stuff, until the leaves go yellow then allow the pot to dry off.
Repotting may be done when they are dormant. Some types never really go dormant so be careful.
I often do not repot until they have had another seasons growth. Remember many of them actually grow in late winter/early spring.
Cannot think of anything else for the moment.
Not as hard as it seems. Oh and since they are almost always self pollenated you get what you sow, no variations. UNLESS you have been given some Allium flavum hybrids in which case.................

[Barbara]

thanks boggy, i have sown them in a good sized pot, fingers crossed

[Chuckles]

I put some seed heads in the shed having all good intentions of sowing them. Question is where in the shed, it's sort of got all filled up ;D I'll see if I can find a way through to the other side of the shed and give them a try, nothing ventured nothing gained as they say ;D

Good luck Barbara

[Plocket]

My hair alliums seem to have seeded themselves but it looks as though I'm going to have to wait at least another year before I see flowers and can confirm that it was the allium!

[Chuckles]

I know it's almost 2 years ago now but did your patience pay off Barbara ? and did your hair alliums flower Plocket ? I never did find my seeds in the shed, they probably got eaten by mice. I've got a few alliums just starting to go over so will be keeping an eye on them for fresh seed. Also got some deep pots ready so I'll have a go this year as Owdboggy said below "It is reasonably easy"

Aug 3, 2008 15:51:36 GMT owdboggy said:

I have grown dozens of varieties of Alliums from seed over the last cough cough years. It is reasonably easy, but the bigger the bulb the longer the wait for flowers. So here goes
Sow the seed fresh. It germinates better straight from the plant rather than being dried off.
Cover lightly with grit, gravel or whatever rather than compost.
Sow in a deep pot rather than a seed tray (reasons later).
Leave exposed to weather. They need a period of cold followed by warmth to initiate germination.
When (if?) they germinate do not be in a hurry to p rick them out. This is the reason for deep pot rather than seed tray. They have only one root to begin with and if it is damage, it dies and a new one has to be produced from the base of the seedling. usually they die.
Feed the seed pot with dilute Baby Bio type stuff, until the leaves go yellow then allow the pot to dry off.
Repotting may be done when they are dormant. Some types never really go dormant so be careful.
I often do not repot until they have had another seasons growth. Remember many of them actually grow in late winter/early spring.
Cannot think of anything else for the moment.
Not as hard as it seems. Oh and since they are almost always self pollenated you get what you sow, no variations. UNLESS you have been given some Allium flavum hybrids in which case.................

[Barbara]

Never got a plant from them Chuckles, but they have self seeded in the garden, every one from last year is two, and even three this year, so nature doesn't really need me at all, so I'll just mind my own business. ;D

[carolann]

I have fancied growing Alliums but have never got around to buying any do they have any special needs or will they grow in any type of soil? also where is the best place to grow them? please dont say shade as I dont really have any, and finally how big do they grow?. Thanks in advance.

[Tig]

I have grown quite a few from seed now, Ruthie sent me some schubertii seeds which are coming along nicely (think I posted their photo on the 'show me your seedlings' thread. Also some hair allium seeds Foz sent me are forming little bulbs and growing OK. Most of the bigger alliums self seed in my garden. They like light, I don't think they are happy growing in shade

How big do they grow depends on the type as there are loads to choose from. A word of warning though - don't go for the small white or yellow flowered ones - they take over and are not that attractive in my opinion. I like the metallic looking ones (christophii does well for me), and the large purples. I have Gladiator which grows to over 3' tall, and Purple Sensation is a lovely deep colour, posted some photos of that one on my garden thread.

I can always save you some seeds Carolann, if you can be patient ;D

x Tig

[owdboggy]

And avoid like the plague (which they are) Allium ostowskianum, farreri or orephilum. All the same plant and they are thugs! Small purple jobs by the way.

[carolann]

Thanks for the offer Tig but if I get any it will be bulbs I dont think I could wait that long I will have a look on the tinternet and see whats on offer thank OB for the advice.

[Chuckles]

Had a real  the other day when I was sorting through some of my perished pots.  Found 2 of these



They look to me like alliums there is a label but it is faded.  I've not inspected further for fear of doing something I shouldn't.  I know back in 2010 when I commented about getting fresh seed off some of mine to try as per owdboggy instructions on this thread in 2008. I did sow some and they got put away behind the GH and forgotten about, as you do.

It must of been early february 2012 I noticed growth but it had been nibbled at so I just left them.  I'm inclined to think I should split them up into small clumps and put them in some deeper pots to grow on, the troughs they are in are only about 5" deep and the shoots are about 3". If I'm right about them being Alliums they are 3 years old and would of been the large head variety.

Thoughts anyone

[Tig]

You can soon find out if they are alliums Chuckles - just a nick of the leaf and you'll get that distinctive onion smell.

I'd plant them in small clumps straight into the garden if you have space for them, otherwise go with the deeper pots, but then you will eventually need to dig bigger holes to get them in the ground

[Chuckles]

I'm such a fool Tig why didn't I think of doing that Yes they pong of onions so I have rather a lot of young allium.

Will go for the deeper pots in the short term as I reckon they will get lost in the garden.

[Chuckles]

I now have 8 deep pots filled with baby Allium, the bulbs were the size of match heads so I think I've got a long long wait until I get flowers.

[Ladygardener]

It's amazing how things grow when we don't bother with them at all Chuckles as you have them in new compost and bigger pots they should romp away.

[Barbara]

Well done Chuckles, you could open a nursery specialising in alliums.

[Chuckles]

One thing it does is make you appreciate the cost of mature bulbs. Saying that if all mine survive I could make a mint

[Chuckles]

Just over 12 month ago I potted up my home grown alliums into 8 tall deep pots, well this year it was thier 3rd birthday and they grew, but only leaves Maybe next year we'll have flowers. Now the leaves have died back and if I get a mo I might see if they are bigger than the match head size they were last year

[Ladygardener]

Perhaps next year will be the year for them Chuckles, they certainly need patience don't they!

[Chuckles]

Have just this minute emptied one of the pots and was amazed to see how much they had grown, last year match head size and now I'd say the size of a standard marble and 



I'm convinced now my patiences will pay off Ladygardener Whats the verdict owdboggy do you recon next year I'll have flowers

[owdboggy]

Depends on which Allium it was. The big Goliath types would take a bit longer to reach flowering size, but A. karataviense would flower at that size.

[Chuckles]

Thanks for the info owdboggy, as far as I know they are 'Purple Sensation' which I believe are of mid range size in the Allium world, mine (the parent ) have just gone to seed and the heads range from 3-5 inches across.

[Ladygardener]

It's looking very hopeful for next year then Chuckles.

[owdboggy]

I would say then that they need another year of good feeding to reach flowering size.

[Barbara]

I would hope for flowers next year Chuckles, feed them girl.

[Chuckles]

Well now I've got this far with them I have to persevere As they have now died back I've emptied all the pots and have roughly around 200 bulbs various sizes obviously and probably 60 marble size.