Alliums

I have some large alliums in a pot and they have flowered successfully for the second year. However, I wondered if I planted the bulbs in a bed, whether they would be better and would they increase? Also can I save the seeds and propagate them that way too?

 

I asked a similar question its here somewhere, good luck

 

NewVeggie - do you know what type of Allium it was.

The most common ones are A. hollandicum 'Purple Sensation', about 3 to 4 feet tall with a purple head the size of a large tennis ball, and A.Christophii which is shorter but with a much larger steel blue head.

In either case they will do well in a flower bed. They won't do any better than in a pot, but its easier not to have to water them. I have both and I find that they come back each year but don't multiply. I also have A.sphaerocephalon, tall thin with a small head - that does multiply well.

You can certainly save the seeds. sow them in December in a reasonably deep pot and leave them outside in the snow and ice. They will germinate much better that way that in the warm in spring like other seeds. Using a deep pot will allow you to leave them in the pot for two or three years. But a word of warning they can take up to 3, 4 or 5 years to flower. I sowed several batches over the last three years, and none are anywhere near flowering size yet.

 

I saw a programme some time ago when Carole Klyne demonstrated propagating Allium by allowing the bulb to dry and peeled off the outer layer of the bulb.
She produced 4 - 5 new bulbs for planting on to develop into new plants and the original was replanted.
I believe she expected the plant to flower in year 2.
Its all from memory, but I'm sure someone else will have it recorded - or can reference to it.