Alliums

Am I too late to plant alliums for this year?

I thought it might be an idea to plant some between the perennials before I get them established and they get huge.

I think they are beautiful - we all saw them at Chelsea etc - so thought if I am not too late I might research varieties and pop some in quick.

 

Here is what I understand:

Alliums are generally planted in the autumn.

Allium cepa (culinary onions) are planted earlier in the year, but the ornamental Alliums are usually planted in autumn. The only Alliums planted in the spring would be those planted "in the green," ie, which have finished flowering but are still in leaf, and which are often sold by garden centres in small pots.

My advice is to keep the Alliums in a bag in a cool dark place and keep for late summer/autumn. The last Alliums I planted we put out in late August (2007), and of the two, only one came through - but it grew into a beautiful ornamental flower in the spring of 2008 and was undoubtedly a highlight of the garden.

In contrast to what I've said, though, it appears that Alliums may be grown from seeds in spring, as described in this excellent video:
http://www.ehow.com/video_5361475_grow-alliums-seeds.html
It is an American video, but I would have thought spring sowing would still work over here - after all, it is what happens in nature.

 

I think you're too late. But...they are available for sale in GCs as 'growing plants'...at the same cost as a bag of bulbs will cost you in autumn, but for one plant!

The only one that might, and I emphasise might, still be ok to plant is Allium Sphaerocephalon as it blooms later in Summer, while other Alliums bloom in late Spring. My Spring lot are well on their way to forming flower heads.

 

Was also thinking the same way as Aaron, the one that blooms in June ish, if you put it in now, with lots of prays and chanting it might, might work. As mine to are coming up in different stages depending on their blooming month, (some not appearing yet)

 

If you have bare Allium bulbs, I think you must plant them immediately. Nature will make the bulb try to grow and if its not planted it won't have any soil or water or nutrient. It will expend all its energy, and then probably die as no goodness is being replaced. The worst that they could do is to not flower this year. However as SussexG says, I doubt that you could buy bare bulbs now - only growing plants which can easily be planted.

My Allium sphaerocephalon are already 6 to 12 inches tall, so I suspect that it is too late for them as bare bulbs as well. My favorites are A. christophii and A. sphaerocephalon, as they both last for about a month. A. hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' is very popular but the flower only lasts 2 weeks, which I find rather short. There is also a load of really tall ones now - but they are quite expensive.

Thanks for the link Simon. I think Allium seeds will take a few years to grow to flowering size, but its fun to grow them from seed. However they won't germinate if you sow them the same way as other seeds now. The ideal way of sowing Allium seeds is in December or January. You plant them in a reasonably deep container (where they can stay undisturbed for at least two years), and you put the container outside - perhaps with a transparent cover to keep out the rubbish. They need the cold weather, and will germinate early in the spring. I have seen mine pushing up through a layer of snow on the container. If you sow them now you will need to put them in the fridge (in contact with damp soil) beforehand for some time.

 

Thanks everyone, I think we can safely say I'm too late for this year then!!

I ordered a pack of 100 summer bulbs from gardeners world magazine back in February... still no sign of them, and they included alliums, so that is quite annoying!

 

That is annoying. You need to contact the magazine and demand the bulbs now or your money back. Point out that summer flowering bulbs are supposed to be planted now!

 

Victoria, they may have a small statement in their shipping about mailing too late for planting --so they are scheduling you to get them in October/November. February could be too late for some of your choices also. After all they--the company--want their bulbs to be successful. I always plant my bulbs in October or November.

 

I read the email they sent for confirmation of ordering, and it clearly states they will be delivered in plenty of time for planting - but knowing these companies it could very well be that they intend you to plant in autumn for next summer. Who knows! I'm getting wiser :skp:

 

So then there is a statement----"They will be delivered in plenty of time for planting" The key is when do they believe the planting time should be. They give no date. I bet if you read around you will find somewhere in their brochures it says something like, any orders ordered after (a date) Or something like bulbs will be shipped in the month for YOUR area for proper planting. If they believe the planting time should be October/November they you will get your shipment in September.
Lots of my mail order plant/tree/shrub companies will not ship in certain months. It must be a fail safe so they ensure their product will at least have a chance. They don't know if the person on the receiving end is a seasoned gardner or a new gardner.

 

I think that would be pretty poor practice, as in the magazine where they were offered (gardeners world magazine) they were featured as an offer to 'fill your garden this summer'

I always take these 'reader offers' with a pinch of salt, but it seems especially slow delivery to me!