What is Allium sphaerocephalon used for?
The juice of Allium sphaerocephalon is used as a moth repellent and the plant is said to repel insects and moles, although the flowers are very attractive to pollinators. Alliums are bulbous perennials, living up to four years after planting. With a long flowering season, they bloom for weeks on end, bridging the gap between spring and summer.After Alliums finish blooming, let the leaves die back naturally, so the bulbs can store energy for the next season. Once the foliage has completely withered, you can cut it down to ground level. Leave the bulbs in the soil over winter—they’ll stay dormant until spring.Allium Sphaerocephalon self-seeds and will spread readily, so it’s perfect for wild gardens.Alliums prefer a full sun position in the garden that has well drained soil. They form dense, slowly-spreading clumps over time.Cut the Alliums back at the end of their blooming season. They will then continue to grow in your garden year on year with very little maintenance.
Where is the best place to plant Allium sphaerocephalon?
Allium bulbs will thrive best in a sunny spot with free-draining soil. Choose an area of your garden that receives full sun, ideally with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Alliums do best in full sun to partial shade They require a well-drained soil. Water in well after planting, beyond that normal rainfall should be sufficient. Allium bulbs should be planted 1-2 times as deep as the diameter of the bulb.While it’s not ideal, you can plant allium bulbs in the ground or in pots, as late as March. They won’t flower as well or as promptly in their first year, due to the shortened time period for establishing roots, but they should catch up and perform well in the following years.Plant Allium bulbs in early to mid-autumn in a sheltered site to prevent top-heavy flower spikes from blowing over. Dig over the soil and remove any weeds before planting. Water well after planting, saturating the soil around the bulbs. Once established, Alliums are drought tolerant.It also works well in a pot. For best results, plant allium sphaerocephalon bulbs in fertile, well-drained soil up to three times their diameter. Grow in well-drained soil in full sun.Plant Allium bulbs in early to mid-autumn in a sheltered site to prevent the top-heavy flower spikes from blowing over. Dig over the soil and remove any weeds before planting. Water well after planting, saturating the soil around the bulbs. Once established, Alliums are drought tolerant.
What should you not plant near alliums?
Plants Not To Grow With Alliums Avoid planting any type of Allium, ornamental or edible, near beans and peas in the edible kitchen garden. While Alliums are good at attracting beneficial pollinators, they also give off chemicals in the soil that will stunt the growth of any beans or peas growing near them. After Alliums finish blooming, let the leaves die back naturally, so the bulbs can store energy for the following season. Once the foliage has completely withered, and you have dried flower heads, you can cut it down to ground level. Leave the bulbs in the soil over the winter, as they’ll stay dormant until spring.Ornamental Alliums in general need minimal care during the winter. They are quite hardy and will be dormant until spring. Edible alliums such as onions, garlic and leeks can be planted in the fall and overwintered in the warmer hardiness zones.Ornamental alliums are not as tasty as the edible varieties, but for humans, they are not poisonous and will not cause any kind of reaction for people that do not have allergies to them.Allium post bloom care is very easy. Simply keep the plants moderately watered until they fade to yellow and begin to shrivel. At this point, you can cut the plants down to the ground, leaving them where they are or dividing them. Allium bulbs should be divided every three or four years.Pruning, or cutting back alliums is part of the annual fall maintenance cycle. Cutting off any leaves and stems as soon as they die back will help to control the spread of any diseases. All alliums, edible and ornamental, are susceptible to fungal rusts and mildew that can overwinter on infected plant material.
What’s the best month to plant alliums?
October is the ideal month for planting Allium bulbs, as long as the soil temperature is around 15°C or cooler, but not frozen. Alliums are spring-flowering bulbs, so planting in early to mid-autumn gives them enough time to establish strong roots before the winter chill. Allium bulbs should be planted in fall, ideally from September through December.Some allium species spread vigorously through seeds or multiplication, but many varieties do not spread at all. The allium bulbs that do multiply should be divided every three to four years, simply dig around the plant with a trowel and lift the bulbs out.Allium are typically planted in fall. Their roots will form in fall and they will bloom in late spring. Choose a planting location that has well drained soil, and receives full to at least a half day’s sun. The spacing for alliums typically ranges between 4 and 8.The best time to plant allium bulbs is in early to mid-autumn, ideally between September and November. Giving bulbs a head start lets them establish strong root systems before the cold winter sets in.Do not plant too closely together since they multiply rapidly. Plant Alliums in full sun in early fall. Water well throughout the growing season.