Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: lemonstar on July 20, 2018, 10:43

Title: Allium seeds
Post by: lemonstar on July 20, 2018, 10:43

I have some seed heads that I can shake the seeds out of but I found conflicting information on what to do with them and when to try planting them. I bought Mont Blanc White (from Garthwaite Nurseries and they were a great display) and some Purple Sensation. The seeds would normally drop now but I read that the seed coatings would normally degrade by passing through a digestive system - I have I got to simulate that somehow? Another thing I saw said to store them until Feb and then plant. I wanted some advice on what to do - with so many seeds it seems like an opportunity I shouldn't miss.
thanks
Neil

Title: Re: Allium seeds
Post by: New shoot on July 20, 2018, 10:50

I have Purple Sensation and Christophii and they both self seed without any intervention from me.  The seedlings look like single blades of chives year 1, but bulk up fast.

Just chuck the seed heads around into areas where you want more  :)

Title: Re: Allium seeds
Post by: mumofstig on July 20, 2018, 10:52

Was just about to post the exact same thing NS - you just beat me to it  :D

Title: Re: Allium seeds
Post by: lemonstar on July 20, 2018, 12:00

OK - thanks - sounds simple. There are hundreds of seeds so is there any point to keeping some back to sow elsewhere (i.e. down on my allotment) or in the event that the ones I sow now don't germinate? Do they keep long? Should I freeze them as I've seen suggested or just keep them cool and dry? Maybe there's no point in keep in so many - who has a garden that can take 500 huge alliums anyway? No us.

Title: Re: Allium seeds
Post by: New shoot on July 20, 2018, 12:18

I have a Christophii growing near a compost bin on my plot that I never sowed.  It must have been a seed that arrived when I took garden waste down to the bins.  I don't mind a few flowers around, so it lives there happily with no care from me  :)

If you have some spare space, you could sow a few on the plot  I would chuck them in now and let them take their chances if you have loads of seed.  They are easy enough to dig up and move once they have died down in the summer.

Title: Re: Allium seeds
Post by: sunshineband on July 20, 2018, 13:12

Just shake them over a decent area, or you end up with seedlings like blades of grass touching each other... difficult to thin (complements of one of our grand daughters "helping" me  :lol: :lol:)