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Purple Allium spheres are everywhere these days, and it's easy to forget that not all alliums are purple drumsticks Find out about edible umbels, tiny teardrops and rare rose-pink bells. Plus, how to plant, propagate and care for all of them
Sicilian Honey Garlic is enjoying a surge in popularity - evident at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, where its usefulness in editable gardens was illustrated. Florets are bell-shaped rather than star-shaped and carried in loose nodding umbels.
Growing Alliums - Tips
Don't plant them too close together. Most drumstick alliums like about 20cm (8") between them. Smaller alliums need less, and larger ones more.
Plant allium bulbs at a depth of about three times the diameter of the bulb
Plant rhizomatous alliums just under the soil Plant in early autumn
Most alliums like a sunny site out of the wind, although a few, such as Allium nectaroscordum siculum ssp bulgaricum, like some shade Fertile soil, which doesn't get soggy is best.
Optimum pH is about 8
Aliums are hardy in the UK and zones 5 to 8 in the US.
Try not to grow where onions have been grown in the past to minimize onion fly
Don't plant them too close together. Most drumstick alliums like about 20cm (8") between them. Smaller alliums need less, and larger ones more.
Plant allium bulbs at a depth of about three times the diameter of the bulb
Plant rhizomatous alliums just under the soil Plant in early autumn
Most alliums like a sunny site out of the wind, although a few, such as Allium nectaroscordum siculum ssp bulgaricum, like some shade Fertile soil, which doesn't get soggy is best.
Optimum pH is about 8
Aliums are hardy in the UK and zones 5 to 8 in the US.
Try not to grow where onions have been grown in the past to minimize onion fly
Drumstick Alliums
Ever popular, Drumstick Alliums manage to be architectural without being stiff and unchanging.
Here are some of the best:
Alllium 'Gladiator'
Ever popular, Drumstick Alliums manage to be architectural without being stiff and unchanging.
Here are some of the best:
Alllium 'Gladiator'