Alliumsplanting
Planting Allium Bulbs – Planting Allium Bulbs with Instructions from the Allium Growers
Planting Allium bulbs! The most beautiful time of the year, apart from the flowering period of course... The Allium specialists from The Bulb Farmers explain step by step what you need to know. If you're going to plant Allium bulbs, get ready for carefree enjoyment all summer long. These fantastic plants require very little care. Once planted, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy. Take your time to read all the tips and instructions, and learn to plant Allium bulbs with the confidence of a grower.
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Meet the Allium grower. Your guide in the world of flower bulbs.
1. Planting Period for Alliums – When to Plant Allium Bulbs?
Alliums bloom in spring/early summer, from May to July. Therefore, you should plant allium bulbs in the fall (September – December). The rule of thumb here is to plant your allium bulbs before the first frost sets in. The growers recommend planting allium bulbs between October and November.
TIP: Start planting your allium bulbs on time! The earlier you plant them within the indicated planting period, the more nutrients the bulbs will absorb. This ensures that your allium bulbs are "well-rooted" (strong enough) before winter sets in and will bloom beautifully in spring. And that's exactly what we want! Planting them too late may result in them not sprouting or growing well.
2. Location for planting alliums – You can plant allium bulbs in full sun or partial shade
The growers advise us all to plant our allium bulbs in full sun. In fact, you can plant your allium bulbs anywhere in your garden. In some cases, you can plant your allium bulbs in a spot with partial sun/shade. If you have purchased bulbs from The Bulb Farmers, always check the accompanying product card to verify the recommended planting location.
TIP: Planting allium bulbs is suitable anywhere in your garden. However, ensure they are not obstructed during their growth. Avoid overgrown areas.
3. Well-Draining Soil – Planting Allium Bulbs Thrives Best in Well-Draining Soil
When planting allium bulbs, keep in mind that they prefer to be in well-draining soil. The water must be able to drain away so that your bulbs NEVER remain submerged for long periods. This can be detrimental and cause rot in the bulbs. Alliums originate from rocky environments where water can easily drain away. When planting allium bulbs, it's useful to keep this in mind.
TIP: When planting allium bulbs, it's all about balance. The soil should neither be too wet nor too dry. Not when you plant them and not when they emerge/bloom. When planting allium bulbs, the soil should always be slightly moist. We'll delve deeper into this in a future article.
4. Soil Preparation – Loosen the Soil Before Planting Allium Bulbs
When planting allium bulbs, it's essential to give them a little extra care right from the start. This involves loosening the soil before planting. Why is this important? Good question. The soil needs to be airy enough for your bulbs to establish strong roots. This is especially crucial in heavier soils like clay, ensuring the highest quality blooms.
TIP 1: Planting allium bulbs can be done in any type of soil. However, if you have heavier soil in your garden, such as clay soil, it's advisable to mix in some soil and/or sand. This not only makes the soil more airy, allowing your plants to establish strong roots, but it also helps to keep the soil loose after planting. Clay soil can become compacted after heavy rain, suffocating the bulb. You wouldn't enjoy being submerged in water either... If this (clay) soil then dries out, it can become extremely hard. Your alliums will struggle to grow through this hardened surface.
TIP 2: When planting allium bulbs, and any other flower bulb for that matter, attention to detail is crucial. Therefore, try to remove things like pebbles and weeds from the soil. This prevents your plants from being hindered as they emerge and bloom, and also ensures that weeds don't compete for nutrients that your alliums desperately need.
5. Fertilization and planting allium bulbs – Fertilization is not necessary.
Generally, you can plant allium bulbs without adding fertilizer. When should you fertilize? Well, that depends. It's up to you to assess whether your soil is nutrient-rich or not. Are you planting allium bulbs in a garden with plenty of organic material? Do you already have many plants thriving there? These are often promising signs that there's enough nutrition in your soil.
TIP 1: When planting allium bulbs, if you're unsure whether there's enough nutrition in your soil, feel free to sprinkle some fertilizer throughout your garden. That certainly won't hurt. Also, add a bit of fertilizer in the planting hole for your allium bulbs. Types of fertilizer you can use include natural fertilizer pellets or organic compost. During the blooming season, you could also consider adding some fertilizer, but only if you don't intend to dig up your bulbs. We'll explain that later. One thing at a time.
TIP 2: Not necessarily a tip, but always check the label to see exactly how much fertilizer you should apply.
6. Planting Distance for Allium Bulbs – Large Bulbs at 10-20 cm and Small Bulbs at 5-10 cm
Alliums grow in height. When planting allium bulbs, you can place them quite close to each other. This creates a delightful display without too many gaps between your plants. You can plant large allium bulbs at a distance of approximately 10 to 20 cm apart, while small allium bulbs should be spaced about 5 to 10 cm apart. See the list below for sizes:
- Sizes for small allium bulbs: all sizes up to size 12-14
- Sizes for large allium bulbs: all sizes from 14 upwards (sizes: 12, 16, 18, and 20)
TIP 1: The width of an adult's fist is approximately +/- 10 cm.
TIP 2: Purchased your allium bulbs from The Bulb Farmers? Check the bulb size on the accompanying product card.
7. Planting Depth for Allium Bulbs – Planting Large Bulb Sizes at a Depth of 15 cm and Small Bulb Sizes at a Depth of 7 cm
When planting allium bulbs, ensure that the bulb is completely covered with soil after planting. Because the bulbs come in different sizes (thus different heights), this also determines the planting depth. Therefore, you should plant large bulb sizes at a depth of 15 cm and small bulb sizes at a depth of 7 cm. See the list below for the sizes:
- Small allium bulb sizes: all sizes up to size 12-14
- Large allium bulb sizes: all sizes from 14 upwards (sizes: 12, 16, 18, and 20)
TIP: No tip, but we really want to emphasize that it's essential that the bulbs are completely covered with soil. If you give the bulbs some water after planting and you see the bulb suddenly appear? Then sprinkle some extra soil on top.
8. Positioning allium bulbs – Planting allium bulbs with the 'pointed side' up
When planting allium bulbs, we need to consider a top and bottom. The pointed side is the top. This is where the new stem will grow, eventually producing a beautiful flower. Planting allium bulbs with the pointed side down will require more energy for the bulb, especially to grow the stem upwards. Energy that won't be used for the growth of a beautiful flower... So, pay attention to this detail.
TIP: When planting allium bulbs in the fall, there's no need to 'cover them up'. Literally covering your bulbs (with straw, for example) to keep them warmer during the winter months. However, in exceptional situations where extreme cold is expected (-10 degrees Celsius), you could cover the soil with straw or leaves. Like a blanket.
9. Planting Allium Bulbs and Watering – Before planting allium bulbs, make the soil lightly moist
When planting allium bulbs, the planting hole should be lightly moist when you place the bulb in it. This helps the bulbs to establish roots more quickly. As for watering during care? We'll explain that in the next article.
TIP: Planting (and caring for) allium bulbs is best done with rainwater or water from the ditch, for example. Your plants will be SUPER happy with that. Seriously. Here's the thing; tap water is okay to use, but it contains more minerals and lime. Not ideal when planting allium bulbs that are supposed to produce the world's most beautiful flowers.
There you go. If you're reading this, you've reached the end of this article. That means you're one step closer to learning how to cultivate with the confidence of a grower. You can now plant allium bulbs like a true professional. Want to make your green fingers even greener? Dive into the articles at the bottom of this page. Still have questions? Share your question via the form below.
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