I've never had luck getting alliums to return year after year. I spent a lot of money on 5 gigantus ones last fall, they were beautiful this spring, I'd really like to have them bloom again next spring. I've recently learned (from this forum) that the reason tulips don't do well is they need a dry summer. Does this apply to alliums as well? Does anyone dig theirs up and store them over the summer in the basement? I was considering doing that. Here they were a few weeks ago:
Well....it depends.
I installed 100 oreophyllums and two years later there were none - and then four years later they were everywhere in adorable little clumps. I had the same experience with allium christophii. After paying $1.00 EACH because I saw nothing, I now have so many (a couple hundred?) that I give them away.
If you don't deadhead them they go to seed and throw their seeds about. It takes at least a couple of years for them to germinate and grow.
I think that you may be pleased in a couple of years. I did dig and store christophiis then. It does work, although from my experience it has nothing to do with dryness (I dig and store my tulips) so there is certainly no harm instoring them.
Perhaps othrs have some experience?
Donna
So I did finally dig up my globemaster alliums a couple days ago, and under each dried up stem I had 2 smaller bulbs. Instead of 5 large bulbs I have 10 smaller ones. Does anyone have experience, will these smaller bulbs eventually bloom? I am storing them inside in a dry place until fall.
I am thinking that to really understand which bulbs will return (or won't) you need to know where they grow naturally. That is a hard thing to find out for many bulbs, especially those that are hybrids.
Seems it is pretty much a 'game of chance'.
Griffinia, a kind of amaryllis. Evergreen in tropical areas>
I only have schuberti and it has bloomed two seasons in a row without any problems. I think there may be new bulbs and will find out later this week when I'm planting some stuff. I kept the seeds from last fall (stored in the fridge-still) but didn't bother this year. Now I'm wondering if I'll have a bunch of seedling babies in a few years:lol: I'm trying 3 others this fall--24 azureum, 6 nectaroscordum and 6 Violet Beauty. Fingers crossed that they do OK:)
Azureum will definitely come back and bring friends. I have found it very reliable.
Cool! That was my favorite one:lol: I'm a fiend for blue:)
Me too!
I love alliums, too, and wish they were more dependable in our garden. In many cases, I think our wet winters do them in, along with summer irrigation (since I am foolhardy and plant them in our perennial bed). I've never dug mine and I will be interested to see how yours do next spring but I imagine they will be just fine, especially if you replant with a good bulb fertilizer in the hole (and I'm not exactly sure which one that would be)
I found this Article about growing alliums (from the Maryland Extension) and it gives some detail about the various cultivars that might be of interest. Apparently they don't all love the same conditions and some are easier to grow than others:
http://extension.umd.edu/publications/PDFs/FS767.pdf
In general in our garden I've found that they like very well-draining sandy-loam soil and require excellent drainage, summer and winter. And I think it's already been mentioned that they loathe extra watering when they are dormant (which is why ours often succumb).
I have never divided ours, but it certainly sounds like a sensible idea if they seem crowded. And some of our smaller alliums do reseed themselves. I think some of the big alliums are hybrids and don't produce seed of any use.
I just bought several new allium bulbs from Bleek's co-op so I am looking forward to another good year. I always watch for Bleek's co-ops~~ he offers a good selection at pretty good prices if you are looking for a source. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1029059/
And then I often find allium bulbs at the 'end of season' bulb sales at very inexpensive prices at Lowe's, Home Depot and the garden centers.
Good luck! t.
Tabasco, thanks for that link to the Maryland Extention article, very good information. We'll find out next spring how my split bulbs do, but according to that article they may not bloom next year, they'll need another year to mature.
Hmmmm...I've never seen any Bulb that doesn't come back up. Very interesting I wonder why they didn't come back for you. Also I never have dug a bulb that is cold hardy unless I have had to move it.
When I lived in NJ, my giant alliums returned for about six years. They were planted in four inches of lean, dense clay on top of several feet of crushed limestone. I never fertilized them. But they did get a little scrawnier each year. Since they were in a bed with other plants, they got watered regularly, but the soil could never get waterlogged because it was sloped, and because of the gravel.
Would LOVE to find someone willing to share/trade for a couple giant allium bulbs!
If anyone out there has a couple to trade, please look over my list and let me know . . please *S*
