How to Successfully Plant Alliums

Alliums, also known as ornamental onions, are stunningly beautiful and easy-to-grow perennials that add a unique flair to home gardens with their large, showy purple, pink and white spherical flowers. If you're interested in planting alliums in your garden but don't know where to start, this guide will help you get started.

Choosing the Right Time to Plant Alliums

The best time to plant allium bulbs is in the fall, ideally a few weeks before the first frost in your area which will allow enough time for roots to establish themselves before winter. You can also plant alliums in the spring, but earlier is better in order to give the plants sufficient time to establish themselves before the hot summer heat arrives.

Selecting the Right Location for Alliums

Alliums prefer full sun, but they can also handle partial shade. They grow best in well-drained soils. If the soil in your garden is wet and heavy, you can add compost or sand to help improve drainage.

Planting the Allium Bulbs

Before planting the allium bulbs, you must prepare the soil by breaking it up and ensuring that it is rich and fertile. Once the soil is prepared, it's time to plant the allium bulbs. Allium bulbs should be planted at a depth of three to four times the diameter of the bulb. In general, this means you should plant allium bulbs about 6-8 inches deep and about 8-12 inches apart from each other.

Watering and Taking Care of Alliums

After planting the bulbs, water them thoroughly until the soil is moist. Water the plants regularly, at least once a week or more if the weather is hot and dry. Alliums are relatively low maintenance, so you don't need to apply any fertilizer or chemicals. However, you should make sure to weed around the plants to reduce competition for nutrients.

Harvesting Alliums

Depending on the variety of alliums you have planted, the flowers will bloom between late spring and early summer. At the end of the growing season, the flowers will slowly start to die back. At this point, it is safe to harvest the bulbs. Simply dig them up and allow them to dry in the sun for a few days before storing them in a cool, dry place until the next planting season.

Conclusion

Alliums are a beautiful and easy-to-care-for perennial that can add some pizzazz to any garden. Follow these simple steps for planting and caring for alliums and you will soon be enjoying their stunning, showy flowers every year.