Alliums are spectacular plants, so it’s worth saving a few seeds to grow more for the garden.
Seeds from cultivars won’t be true to type, but it’s fun to grow them anyway and see what you get. You can either sow the ripe seeds straightaway, in the ground where you want them to grow. Or store the seeds in the fridge, to sow the next spring, either directly in the ground or in trays of gritty compost. When sowing direct or planting out, choose a sheltered, sunny spot with sharp drainage to get the best display.The seeds will germinate quickly and reach flowering size in a couple of years.
If you want to keep the seedheads in the garden for winter interest, try tapping the seeds directly into a paper bag. You could also re-use the cut seedheads in indoor displays.
Alliums are one of the most popular bulb flowers grown in gardens today. Known for their gorgeous, globe-shaped flower heads, alliums include ornamental varieties like Allium giganteum (giant allium) and Allium christophii (star of Persia), as well as edible types like onions, leeks, and chives. While most gardeners start with bulbs, growing alliums from seeds is an easy, economical way to propagate these beauties yourself.
In this complete guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about growing alliums from seeds, from when and how to plant them to care tips for robust seedlings. Let’s dive in!
Why Grow Alliums from Seeds?
Here are some of the main benefits of starting alliums from seeds rather than bulbs:
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Cost savings – Packets of allium seeds are significantly cheaper than purchasing bulbs, This allows you to grow more plants for less,
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Wider selection – You’ll have access to many more allium varieties by seed than what’s available as bulbs from local nurseries. This includes rare and unusual ornamental types.
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Full growing experience – Starting from seeds allows you to care for the alliums from the very beginning and watch them develop through their entire life cycle. It’s incredibly rewarding!
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Naturalization – Some ornamental alliums will self-seed, creating beautiful naturalized displays year after year.
When to Plant Allium Seeds
Timing is important when sowing allium seeds, Here are the optimal times
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Indoors: The best time to start allium seeds indoors is late winter to early spring, around January to March. Giving them an early start helps ensure large, healthy plants.
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Outdoors: For direct sowing in the garden, aim for late fall, typically September to November. This allows the seeds to experience a natural cold period which benefits germination.
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Note: When sowing leeks and onions specifically for harvest, start seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before your last spring frost date.
How to Plant Allium Seeds
Follow these tips for successfully sowing allium seeds:
Prepare the Seeds
Some allium seeds, like star of Persia, benefit from cold stratification before planting. This mimics a cold winter period and helps break dormancy.
To stratify seeds, place them between moist paper towels inside a sealed plastic bag. Keep the bag in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks.
Choose the Right Starting Medium
Select a lightweight, well-draining soilless mix enriched with compost or worm castings. This gives seeds the proper drainage and nutrients to thrive.
Sow Seeds Indoors
Fill seed trays or pots with moistened soilless mix. Sow seeds close together but not crowded, about 1⁄4 inch apart, and cover lightly with 1⁄8-1⁄4 inch of mix. Water gently and cover trays with plastic to retain moisture.
Direct Sow Outdoors
Prepare soil by loosening and removing weeds. Sow seeds thinly in rows or clusters. Cover with 1⁄4 inch of soil and water well.
Caring for Allium Seedlings
Proper care is vital for growing healthy, vigorous allium seedlings:
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Keep soil consistently moist but not soaked. Alliums dislike drying out.
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Move indoor trays to a sunny spot or under grow lights immediately after germination.
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Thin overcrowded seedlings to 1-2 inches apart to avoid competition.
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Harden off indoor-started seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors.
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Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost, spacing 4-6 inches apart depending on variety.
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Water transplants regularly until established. Add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly if growth seems slow.
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Monitor for pests like onion maggots and diseases like downy mildew.
When Will Alliums Flower from Seed?
Patience is needed when growing alliums from seeds. Here’s a general timeline:
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Onions, leeks, and chives will produce greens within one year from seed.
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Edible alliums grown specifically for bulbs need 18-24 months to reach maturity and full size.
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Ornamental alliums can take 2-3 years to produce flower stalks and bloom from seed. But the wait is worth it!
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To enjoy flowers sooner, start with bulbs the first year while sowing seeds for future displays.
Tips for Success Growing Alliums from Seeds
Follow these best practices to help ensure success:
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Start more seeds than you need and thin later for the strongest seedlings. Alliums don’t always have the best germination rates.
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Allow flowering alliums to self-seed in your garden beds. They will naturalize beautifully!
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Store leftover seeds properly in a cool, dry spot to preserve viability for future years.
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Rotate planting sites each year to prevent disease. Alliums are heavy feeders.
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Control weeds which compete for nutrients. Mulch well around seedlings.
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Provide adequate spacing for air circulation and bulb development when transplanting.
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Fertilize lightly to promote growth, but avoid high-nitrogen products that push leaf growth over flowers.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Here are some potential issues and how to resolve them:
Problem: Seeds fail to germinate or have spotty, poor germination.
Solution: Ensure seeds have not dried out. Stratify seeds first for improved results. Check soil temperature.
Problem: Seedlings are pale, stunted, or tips die back.
Solution: Give more light immediately after germination. Use fresh starting mix. Avoid overwatering.
Problem: Transplants are slow to establish or don’t flower.
Solution: Transplant promptly once hardened off. Check soil pH and fertility. Allow more time to reach maturity.
Problem: Flowers are small or few.
Solution: Provide full sun. Fertilize lightly in spring and control weeds. Allow plants to self-seed.
Enjoy Growing Alliums from Seeds!
With proper timing, care, and patience, growing alliums from seeds is an extremely rewarding endeavor for any gardener. Not only is it more economical than buying bulbs every year, you’ll also gain the satisfaction of nurturing them from seed to flower. The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors available as seeds is incredible too. Give it a try this season and enjoy these gorgeous globe-shaped blooms!
Step 2[image id=”30859″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” align=”none” title=”Drying out allium seedheads” alt=”Drying out allium seedheads” classes=””] Drying out allium seedheads
Bring them indoors and let them dry out.
Step 1[image id=”30858″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” align=”none” title=”Allium seedhead revealing the exposed seeds” alt=”Allium seedhead revealing the exposed seeds” classes=””] Allium seedhead revealing the exposed seeds
Cut the seedheads from your allium plants as they start to break open.
Growing Plants From Seeds : How to Grow Alliums From Seeds
FAQ
What month do you plant allium seeds?
Before you start planting your allium seeds, there are a few things to consider: Timing: Allium seeds should be planted in early spring for the best results. Location: Alliums thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. Depth: Plant allium seeds about an inch deep.
How hard is it to grow allium from seed?
Allium’s are some of the easiest plants to grow from seed. The seeds are relatively large, and sprout easily. since they are bulbs they can take a couple of years to flower.
Can you plant dried allium seeds?
As well as lifting and dividing alliums, you can propagate the plant by seed – wait until the seedhead is dry and collect the seed to sow immediately or store and sow the following spring. Hybrids won’t be true to the parent plant and it can take several years to reach flowering size.
Can you grow alliums from seed?
Most gardeners grow alliums from bulbs, which are planted in fall and bloom the following season. However growing from seed is also an option. It’s an easy and cost effective way to increase the number of allium plants in your garden. Ornamental allium seeds can be collected from the seed heads, which form after the flowers have bloomed.
How do you grow ornamental alliums?
Ornamental allium seeds can be collected from the seed heads, which form after the flowers have bloomed. The seeds can be grown by sowing indoors, direct sowing, or winter sowing. It will take several years for the resulting seedlings to bloom, and the resulting plants may look different than the parent plants in size and color. PIN IT FOR LATER!
Are alliums good to grow?
This in part points to why alliums are great to grow, depending on the variety of allium you are growing you can either have an ornamental plant that shows off the allium’s unique flower, or you can rely on the seeds to create onion, garlic, or any other allium for food use.
When should I plant Allium seeds?
Timing: Allium seeds should be planted in early spring for the best results. Location: Alliums thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. Depth: Plant allium seeds about an inch deep. Now that you have your allium seeds and have chosen a suitable location, it’s time to plant them.
How do you collect Allium seeds?
There are a few ways you can collect seeds, much of which can depend on how and when you harvest them, but it’s generally pretty easy with a little common sense. If you have an allium plant already you can simply harvest this when it finishes blooming and you will be able to plant way more next season.
How do you plant Allium giganteum seeds?
To plant Allium giganteum seeds, choose a dry day when the soil is moist but not too wet. Plant the seed very thinly into drills ½ inch deep. If planting more than one row, ensure each row is at least 4 inches apart. Carefully cover the Allium giganteum seeds with soil and gently water in.