How To Grow: Alliums

Alliums are a genus of more than 500 species of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus as many have an onion odour and taste. They are herbaceous perennials that are often described as lollipops or fireworks because of their distinctive shape.

Picture courtesy of sarniebill1.

Alliums are perennial flowering herbs that come in a wide range of colours, including white, purple, yellow and pink. They grow well in rock gardens and flower beds and you should plant bulbs in September or October. Here are our gardening tips on how to grow alliums in your garden this year:

1. You need to select the right site in which to grow your alliums. These plants like to be in full sunlight and need to be situated in soil that drains well.

2. Once you have found the perfect spot in your garden to grow your alliums you need to dig holes in the flower bed that are three times the circumference of the bulb. As a rule, if the bulb is two inches in size then it needs to be planted six inches deep, around the holes should be between 4 – 12 inches apart dependant on the size of the plant.

3. The allium bulbs need to be planted pointy end up and need to be well watered in. To help the soil drain well it is also beneficial to spread mulch, wood chips and organic matter over the entire planting area.

4. Alliums will bloom around May/June and if you cut them back well at the end of their blooming season then they will continue to grow in your garden year on year with very little maintenance.

Visit us here at The Secret Gardens of Sandwich during June to see our alliums in bloom.