Planting allium bulbs

Basically, when? I know the usual blah blah blah about August to December, but anyone got any suggestions? I've planted them in September before, but I feel this might be a little early.

 

All my bulb planting happens October to November.

 

Im with Red on this one.:thmb: 02

 

ahhh was thinking about you today and the alliums, Aaron. Popped into the poundshop in town and they have stacks of bulbs in (obviously all for a quid) but they had 3 different varieties in so wasnt sure which ones to get .... but I remembered you saying you wanted to get a load more.

Which ones have you got in the garden that flowered this year ?

 

Hi Sam

Purple Sensation always look great and they're usually the cheapest to buy. You can get really tall alliums - Globemaster, qith huge heads, but they seem to be very expensive for one bulb. I've found you can get eight sensation for the price of one globemaster.

I might try some of the blue variety this year.

 

yes i think i seen the globemaster ones in homebase at the weekend. I think it was one bulb for about £4-£5 yet the different ones in the poundshop had about 8 bulbs in each bag, or even the different ones at homebase you got 6 i think for £4.

Will have to have a better look !

 

Shopping around is worth it when it comes to alliums. I have a Homebase card with £30.00 on it so I might splash out a bit and get some more...even though I have what was sold as a "mixed bag" to find somewhere to plant...

There is also the Christophii and Schubertii varieties when are magnificent but don't grow as tall as the others and need more room to really appreciate them. They might be on my list as well!

 

so pretty much all alliums then hey aaron ? lol

Have you tried any of the ones from the poundshop before, or is it best to stick to more expensive ones you think ? Reason I ask is I brought a stack of bulbs in the spring from the poundshop - gladiolli, lupins, iris etc and ever single bulb came up great and I have had a mass of flowers for the £5 quid i spent !!

 

Any I've bought cheap seem to do fine, although the price difference isn't that much really...at least in Wilkies anyway.

 

Some of you may be interested in this Thompson and Morgan offer available via a Gradeners world newsletter I received last week.

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/plants1/product/pwr88953/1.html/?oc=GWRW;RA=gwmx

FREE* Alliums


Description

These hugely popular flowers were a must-have at Chelsea this year and come in all shapes and sizes, from pretty Allium caeruleum (10 bulbs) and bushy, pompom sphaerocephalon (50 bulbs), to starburst aflatunensis (5 bulbs) and the unusual oreophilum (35 bulbs).
Just send £3.99 to cover the p&p and get your 100 bulbs FREE to plant immediately.
Order will be acknowledged with a despatch date.
Only 1 Free Pack per customer please.



Steve..

 

Nice one. I'm ordering them tonight!

 

Good find ! Think I will order some myself, although just brought 100 'allium drumstick' bulbs this afternoon ... will reminds me, will do a post about all the bulbs am buying as not really sure how to plant them, when and if i can double layer etc ......

 

ok ... have ordered them before they run out lol

 

The Aldi stores are selling bulbs right now. I think that you can get 30 Alliums for something like £1.49. I had some luck with the ones I bought from them last year, so they're good value for money...

 

Just ordered mine. There are a few interesting varieties there, apart from the usual Purple Sensation (although I've also bought some more of them too, elsewhere!)