A: I have some alliums that I would like to relocate to a bed of other alliums that are flourishing outside. Do I have to wait until September to do that, or can I do it now?
A: Alliums are summer-dormant bulbs that blossom late in the spring. These can be moved, and the best time to do it is just as they start to fall dormant after finishing their blooming cycle.
I’d hold off at least until the leaves begin to turn yellow. That indicates that the majority of the bulb’s “recharging” is complete. The foliage’s function is to absorb sunlight and create the plant sugars that the bulb stores to grow and bloom the following year using water and chlorophyll. If you remove the foliage too soon, this recharge will be interrupted.
The drawback of waiting until fall is that you won’t be able to pinpoint the location of the bulbs. The foliage will have withered and become brown at that point. You could therefore mistakenly dig into the bulb and kill it if you don’t label the location.
You can find the bulbs by digging just before the foliage entirely turns brown. Dig up the entire bulb and plant it again right away in the new site at the same depth (preferably, around two and a half times as deep as the bulb’s length). Before transplanting, remove the foliage. No immediate requirement for fertilizer or irrigation.
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When may I lift bulbs of allium?
Taller people can need assistance when exposed. After the flowers have faded, let the plant with them until they disintegrate because they make for wonderful winter interest. Some gardeners collect the seedheads and dry them so they can be used as home decor.
Allium bulbs can stay in the garden for multiple seasons. When planting new plants, try to keep in mind where you already put bulbs to prevent damaging those areas.
How to propagate alliums
In a few years, allium bulbs will grow in number. You may occasionally see the white bulbs being pushed out of the ground. Carefully pull the bulbs and gently peel out the offsets in late autumn or very early spring to replant them directly into the ground.
Allium can be grown from seed by leaving the flowerheads on the plant and harvesting the ripe seed to sow right away. Keep in mind that starting alliums from seed requires patience because it takes years to produce a flowering plant.
Growing alliums: pests and problem solving
A fungus called allium white rot prevents the growth of other alliums and onions. Clear and burn the infected plant material, and stay away from growing alliums in the same spot for at least five years, to prevent recurring infections.
Alliums have a tendency to outgrow their surroundings. Learn how to control the amount of alliums growing in a border in this Gardeners’ World video:
Can bulbs be moved while they are still growing?
Yes, you may wait until the end of the growing season in the fall or the beginning of the spring to move misplaced perennials and bulbs. Why then wait? While they are in bud or even in bloom, many perennials, anything with fibrous roots, and practically any bulb can be moved.
If possible, transplant on an overcast day for the best results to prevent the plant from losing moisture from its leaves to the sun. If the weather can’t wait, transplant in the late afternoon. Down this manner, the plant won’t be stressed out by a day of sun and may start settling in.
The most essential component for creating by shovel is obviously something you already have—water. No matter how carefully you dig, you’ll still cut through some roots because those are what supply the plant with water. The plant won’t be able to get enough water to prevent wilting until they get comfortable in their new location. The answer? Every step of the route is watered.
Do alliums require digging up?
There is nothing more to do if you’ve previously cleaned up the foliage after dieback and removed the flower scapes but to wait for spring!
Disease: There aren’t many insects that cause disease in the genus allium. Under the roots, moles can create air holes by tunneling, which will cause the bulb to dry out and get damaged. If there are no tulips and crocuses to keep them occupied, mice, voles, and gophers will eat allium.
Additional worries: Some species produce numerous seeds or small bulbils inside the flower head that develop into little plants. Make sure this isn’t a problem by researching the precise kind you are purchasing.
Are allium bulbs safe to dig up and store?
Some bulbs, like tulips, prefer to be kept dry during the summer months while they are dormant. To create these circumstances, it is best to lift, dry, and store them until autumn, when they can be replanted.
Lifting and storing actual bulbs and corms:
- When the foliage has gone down, carefully dig up the bulbs and remove any loose dirt.
- Trim the loose, flaking tunic’s roots and outer layers.
- Keep only large, healthy bulbs since they are more likely to bloom the following year; throw away any that are broken or infected.
- To help prevent fungal rots from forming in storage, place the bulbs on a tray and let them dry for at least 24 hours.
- The bulbs should be placed in labeled paper bags or nets and kept in a dry, cool environment.
Caring for older plants
Over time, clump-forming bulbs may get crowded, which may reduce flowering. To maintain the clumps healthy and flowering well, divide them every few years.
At the conclusion of the bulb’s growing season, you will just need to prune to get rid of extra seed heads and leaves.
True bulbs and corms
Although they are simple to spread, patience is needed. Most plants grow to flowering stage from seeds, chipped bulbs, or rooted bulb scales in two to seven years.
After flowering, clump-forming plants, like grape hyacinths and snowdrops, can be dug up, divided into smaller groupings, and replanted to create new colonies. These ought to establish themselves easily and bloom the next season.
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