I have a Question On Allium

I have 2 Gaint size Alliums I am going to send 2 Picture 1 where it has bloomed and 1 that is dead and I want to no if those are seeds and can you get more Alliums from them
Dimmer(AKA) Kim

Here is the dead one with I think seeds

Those are seed pods and they need to dry (mature more) keep a watch on them. Allium are super easy from seed--start them in the fall. I grow an awful lot of them from seed, just not that particular variety. Just put them in gallon pots with good quality potting soil on the bottom and about an inch of germinating mix on top. They will come up in the spring for you and about 30 days for me, but we have mild winters.
Debbie

Debbie
Does that mean they need to stay on the flower or can I pick them off Why they are still green. Thanks for the information that helps alot.
Kim

You can pick them once they are about half way brown and put them on a paper plate (or something like that--I use those small paper bowls) and complete drying that way. They will start "cracking open" and when they do, you can open them and allow them to further dry out some.

One More Question Can you put a bag over the plant and get all the seeds that way or will it be to Moist

I've never done that, but I check the ones I know are getting close every morning. I don't do that with anything though, so can't recommend it one way or another. I have a lot of experience growing bulbs from seeds so I kind of intuitively know when seeds are ready or will finish maturing off the plant. Sorry, I know that's not a very helpful answer. Most alliums are very easy from seed, so give it a try--its lots of fun and you will learn, whatever the outcome.
Debbie

Ok I am going to try both ways and see what is better
Thank you so Much Debbie you have helped me alot
Kim

Hi Debbie since I uhmm forgot to get the seeds off of mine and they are all over now , does this mean there is a possibility of them germinating naturally?

They will probably do that Marie, unless you mulch deeply like I do. =)

When I want to collect the seeds from a plant, but just know I'll miss when they are ready, I put little wedding favor bags over the seed pod. They are mesh, so the seeds won't rot; and they have little sinch ribbons, so they won't fall off. I get them at Wal-Mart and there are 12 in a bag.

3G
What kind of plant is that?
Kim

They're hellebores. I've been trading seedlings, but I'll send you some seeds for free if you like. Every one that falls here germinates. Send me your address if you would like some. Or let me know what you might want to trade if you'd rather get a year into it already. They are SOO hardy, and evergreen and the blooms last from Jan to the end of May.
You can't predict color though. The parents are lime green white with rasp. spots and maroon. There's no telling what the babies will be.

This was a great thread to find:) I had the seed question myself. I planted 3 Allium Schubertii and they are all tan now and each little stalk from the starburst has an open seed pod and all are loaded with little black seeds. I'll be cutting the heads off tonight and collecting seeds if anyone is interested in them. I definitely don't have the space for a bunch of these, although they were really beautiful.

dmail me and I can get them in the mail, postage or trade whatever, even a future trade.

Here are my three Schubertii from earlier this spring.

Hey dmac085. How long from seed to bloom with those. They are magnificent!

Wish I knew:) I bought 3 bulbs in a co-op so I'll have to go look it up somewhere. I'm going to give some to a friend who has a lot of bare space to fill. I figure that she won't mind waiting a bit for some fill in, especially if they are free and eventually awesome.

The seedheads (whole allium sphere) were about the size of a 10-12" playground ball.

I just ordered some alliums in a co-op, but that one wasn't there. Will you please tell me the name when you find it? The blooms look like fireworks!

The name is in the post with the photo...Allium Schubertii. Last year was my first trying any alliums and I really do like it. I'm hoping that they get a bit taller next spring. I think they topped out about 2-2 1/2 ft tall. Unfortunately I had planted them towards the back part of the bed so I'll be relocating them this fall:lol:

This is what the dried allium looked like when I took the seeds off...
http://www.wildchicken.com/nature/garden/nature_200_016.htm

In PlantFiles it mentions direct sowing in spring or fall. I also read elsewhere to keep the seeds refrigerated until use and to sow in containers in a coldframe in the early spring. Not sure but I'm thinking fall direct sowing or working in a few seeds in late summer, no mulch and seeing if anything happens in the spring. You might even be able to sow now, since now is when the plant went to seed and self seed...seems like nature might know best=)
Let me know if you'd like to try some--I can have them mailed out tomorrow if you want.

Donna

Sorry about asking the name...didn't see it when I skimmed the thread again.
That "wildchicken" photo of the dried bloom is really spectacular.

I appreciate the offer of the seeds, but I am too impatient a gardener for growing from seed. I tried it last year, had all these seeds and racks and a couple grow lights...and hated it. Too much maintenance for me. I only collect and distribute my hellebores because they germinate wherever they fall. If you'd like any of them, let me know and I'll send some out. I just collected them and now is the time mother nature "plants" them!

Dimmer, if you have extra seeds, I would love some! I have a few things to trade if you are interested.

3gardeners, I'm the same way:lol: But I hate seeing seeds go to waste:) I like immediate gratification and there aren't many things that I'm willing to wait on. I think that's why I like bulbs so much. Whenever I try seeds, I can't seem to bring myself to thin them properly and I'm terrible at pinching stuff back too.

The dried seed heads were really something though:) If I hadn't been afraid of rampant reseeding, although I seem to have already had some, I would have left them there to see if they made it through winter. The stalk was completely hollow though so they may have flopped.

Alliums are very easy from seed, I have several and they have just seeded around naturally and they are quite quick to flower from seed so I have some nice surprises popping up as well as the parent plants. There are hundreds of varieties, a plant you can really get into I think once you start looking into them. Christophii is my favourite. Good luck!

Great information, everyone. I'm getting some alliums this fall after months of thinking about it. Can't wait until next year!

Very interesting thread. On Tuesday I dug up my single Allium section and found 35 bulbs of various sizes. I'm not sure how many were there to start (I inherited this garden from the previous homeowner) but I think they've been there for about 5 years. They really do multiply, so I would check and see if you have more than one bulb down there.

I moved them all around and am looking forward to June. Thanks for the seed info -- I will try to save seeds in spring, b/c the flowers are beautiful and I would love to have more.

Do you know if the seeds from "Hair" allium will come true to form? Someone gave me a packet of seeds they'd collected, but something I read on Plant Files made me think the seed would be sterile. Any experience?