When you plant allium bulbs in your garden, you are doing something wonderful for your future selves! First of all, they produce beautiful, unique flower heads that will brighten up your garden in a way that few other plants can match. They are ideal for adding texture to your beds and borders, and also make stunning displays in containers.
The other great thing about planting these ornamental alliums, part of the onion family, is that it's quite a straightforward process - all these great benefits come from very little work on your part. You just need to know a few things, and that's what we are going to run through with you in this blog.
So if you would like to brighten up your garden with the beautiful, usually purple, flowers in the Spring and early Summer next year, read on for our complete guide to planting allium bulbs. As a taller species of plant, they work brilliantly alongside, or rather, behind' other Spring bulbs, like daffodils or crocus bulbs, so you can create really exciting displays.
When to plant Allium Bulbs
A huge part of gardening is planning - it doesn't need to take long, but knowing when to plant bulbs and when they will flower will enable you to really make the most out of the space in your garden. You can plan which the colours and shapes that you want to see a various points of the year.
The best time to plant most allium bulbs is in early to mid Autumn, and for those varieties you can expect them to bloom in late Spring or early Summer. Basically, plant them in September to November, and your Ornamental Onions will bloom in May and June.
You can plant some allium bulbs as late as December, but you may need to check that the bulbs are still healthy - no mould or any sign of disease.
Where to plant Allium Bulbs
You can plant alliums in a range of different locations, but there are few things to consider that will really bring out the best in them.
First of all, well draining soil is always best. Avoid planting alliums in waterlogged conditions, and the bulbs are likely to rot. They're relatively drought tolerant, so it's always better to go for an area of the garden that gets less water, than one that gets a lot.
Now, while allium bulbs are hardy, the bulbs themselves are quite delicate. What this means is that if your allium bulb gets knocked or bumped while it is in the ground, they could become damaged and it will effect how it flowers.
In terms of light, they are pretty robust - they can thrive in sun or semi-shade. If you are planting allium bulbs in pots, you can move them around to get the perfect conditions, but as long as they get some sun, they should be fine.
As they are quite tall, alliums do require a little bit of shelter from the wind - very strong wind can damage the flower heads.
The most fun and creative decisions that you need to make are which type of alliums you are going plant, and how you are going to arrange them. Take the allium nigrum, which can grow to around 90 cm - they may be best placed at the back of your beds. The allium atropurpureum, grow to around 60 cm, so you'd want them a bit closer to the front. Then you have the range of colours - the 'Purple Sensation' alliums work great when planted near the silver tones of the Allium cristophii.
How to plant Alliums
Now we'll run through, via a step-by-step guide, exactly how to plant alliums:
Digging a hole
When you have decided where you would like to grow alliums, your first job is to dig a hole. Make sure that you have removed any weeds from the area, and then dig down at around three or four time the size of your bulbs. So, for example, if your bulb is around 5cm, dig down around 20cm. Just remember to avoid soggy soil.
A quick note here about planting allium bulbs in containers - most alliums will be fine in pots, you can use any peat-free general purpose potting compost, and the same sort of depth will be fine.
Put the bulb in the hole
When you are happy with your hole. If you are planting them in rows, leave around 10cm between each one - giving plenty of room for the roots to spread in order to support the tall stems.
Replace the soil
Now you can put the soil back in the hole, making sure not to pack it in too tightly. You need to leave room for the roots to spread out, and if the soil is too densely packed then it won't be able to.
Water
Once the bulb is in the ground, you should give it a drink only if the ground is dry. If the soil is already quite wet, you don't need to give it any more water or you may risk waterlogging the ground.
Ongoing care
Allium flowers don't require much maintenance once you have planted them - which is just one of the many benefits of them! These plants dislike summer irrigation, as really don't require much water once established.
You can deadhead the flowers once they start to die back, but it's not essential - the dried flower heads look very attractive, and add something else to your garden. Alliums self seed, so once they have finished blooming, the flower heads will disperse the seeds with the help of the wind.
In terms of pests, you should look out for the allium leaf miner - a small fly that can cause problems for all members of the onion family. You may find them in the Spring and Autumn, and you can protect your alliums by covering them with an insect-proof mesh.
Planting Allium Bulbs - Conclusion
If you are looking for some variety and colour in your garden, then you should plant some alliums. There is plenty of choice, such as the allium sphaerocephalon or allium cristophii, as well as the classic 'Purple sensation'. Have a look through our other flowers and tubers, as well some of our most popular garden plants - see what captures your imagination.
Dazzling displays are just a few clicks away.
