Allium outdoor planting and care in siberia

Hello! Ornamental onions - growing from seeds, planting and care in the open field, popular varieties with photos and descriptions, video tips in our material. Allium decorative bow will become a real decoration of any flower bed or garden. Unusual and original spherical inflorescences impress with their beauty and texture.

Growing an allium does not require any special knowledge or a lot of practical experience. Allium is the Latin name for an ornamental bow. This is a perennial herb from the Amaryllis family, the closest relative of the familiar onion and garlic. Fruiting of decorative onions occurs in August - September.

In its natural environment, allium is distributed in meadows, forests, steppes, mainly of the northern hemisphere. Allium onions have a characteristic onion smell and a pungent taste due to the content of essential oils.

Allium root is a slightly flattened bulb, covered with scales of brown, white or purple. The thickened stem can reach a height of up to 1.5 meters, although there are also undersized varieties. Onion leaves are basal, linear in shape and, as a rule, die off after flowering.

Small flowers of the plant are collected in an umbrella inflorescence, grow on long pedicels. It is the spherical loose inflorescences that are the most decorative part of the plant.

Some species can "boast" of the gigantic size of such balls, reaching a diameter of about 30 cm. Moreover, the color of the balls is very diverse and impressive with a palette of colors: from soft green and purple to pink and white.

Flowering occurs in summer: from June to August, although there are also autumn flowering representatives of the genus. The duration of flowering in different types of allium is different, some representatives of bulbous blooms for a long time and even after that do not lose their decorative appeal.

Dry balls look unusual and original on the flowerbed.

The decorative allium bow is widely used in landscape design, for landscaping and decorating gardens, flower beds, summer cottages. Allium flowers are often used for cutting and making bouquets.

Ornamental Allium onion growing from seeds

Allium seeds are sown outdoors, both in autumn and spring.Some species of allium emerge only when sown in winter, thus passing through natural stratification. Moreover, such an artificially created procedure does not always give a positive result.

The seeds can be purchased from the store or harvested by yourself from existing plants. For this, the earliest large specimens of inflorescences are selected and left in advance. After the allium has completely bloomed, and the seeds are finally ripe, you can collect the seed material.

Seed propagation does not guarantee a complete repetition of the characteristics of the mother plant. Usually, the seeds develop plants with a paler color of the inflorescences.

When propagated by seeds, allium does not bloom immediately, but only after the bulbs grow up and reach a certain maturity. On average, this process takes 3 to 6 years. Although there are species that can bloom after the first year of vegetation. An example is the giant allium.

Decorative bow Allium planting in open ground

It is better to choose a place for planting allium that is sunny, open and protected from the wind. The latter condition is especially important for tall varieties of allium, so that the wind does not tilt and break thin long shoots with heavy spherical inflorescences.

The sun-loving plant, allium, responds to the degree of illumination with the intensity of the color of inflorescences and leaves, therefore, a shadow for a decorative onion is contraindicated. Only light partial shade is allowed.

Allium grows in almost any soil, giving preference to well-drained, water-permeable neutral soil. Only boggy soil with constant stagnation will not work.

Planting is carried out in the spring or autumn.

Previously, before planting, you should prepare the site: dig up the soil and add humus (rotted manure, compost or mineral fertilizers). Bulbous crops are very sensitive to a lack of potassium in the soil, so wood ash can be added to the soil - an excellent source of potassium.

Then, allium bulbs are planted in moistened wells. The planting depth is determined according to the size of the bulb. Typically, the depth is equal to 3 sizes of the planted bulb. The interval between plants is maintained at about 30-50 cm, taking into account their subsequent growth.

It is better to mulch the planting site, thus ensuring moderate humidity and preventing crust formation.

Some growers practice growing onions in seedlings. In this case, pre-soaked and hatched seeds are sown into a substrate of humus, peat and sod land. The emerging onion shoots dive.

Seedlings are planted in a permanent place at the age of 60-70 days, having carried out a series of hardening procedures in the fresh air in advance. Seedlings are transplanted into moistened rows, up to 10 cm deep.

Decorative bow Allium outdoor care

It is not difficult to take care of a decorative bow, it is enough to know the key features and basic needs of the allium.

Watering allium

Ornamental onions are a fairly drought-resistant plant that can tolerate short periods of drought without consequences. Stagnation and excess moisture is much more destructive for bulbous than its deficiency.

Excessive moisture causes bulb rot and death of the entire plant. Regular moderate watering is especially important during the active growing season of the plant, when the leaf mass and flower stalks are formed.

Watering is carried out as needed. In a dry period - more often, in a rainy period - after the soil dries out. Weeding, loosening and mulching of the soil will also be a mandatory agrotechnical measure for plant care.

Allium fertilization and fertilization

Complex mineral and organic fertilizers (compost, wood ash, manure, bone meal) are used as top dressing.Top dressing must be applied at certain periods of plant development to help the crop cope with stress and stimulate further onion growth and development.

In the spring, in the phase of active leaf growth, bud setting and bulb formation, nitrogen-containing complexes in nitrate form are ideal, stimulating the above processes.

In the summer, it is rational to carry out liquid feeding with a full solution of mineral fertilizers. At the beginning of autumn, for top dressing, you need to use dry phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, preparing the plant for the winter period.

For the winter, it is better to mulch the site with humus or peat.

Decorative bow Allium reproduction

Bulbous crops, as a rule, are propagated with the help of a bulb, or rather, children that appear on it.

During the transplantation of allium (in autumn), the overgrown bulbs are carefully (so as not to damage the roots) separated from the bottom of the mother bulb and planted separately, already in a permanent place.

In what year after planting the bulbs the allium will bloom directly depends on the size of the planted daughter bulbs. In addition to daughter bulbs, the cloves of an adult bulb can also be used for reproduction.

To breed allium in your area, you can use faded heads of decorative onions. Inflorescences of some species of allium, after flowering, form small airy bulbs, the so-called bulbs. They are treated with a growth stimulant and planted in a garden bed for further growing.

Allium onion-rhizome species reproduce mainly by dividing an adult (at least 3-year-old) bush into parts. Each full-fledged section should have a rhizome with several (2-3) shoots and developed roots.

Allium transplant and storage

It is recommended to replant and rejuvenate the decorative allium every 4-5 years. Some species of ephemeroid alliums are dug up every year, without leaving them for the winter. It is also recommended to do it for other types of decorative onions in the conditions of central Russia, in order to prevent their rotting or freezing.

It is not necessary to specially cut off the green mass of the onion, it must die off naturally. Thanks to this, it is possible to accumulate and store the maximum amount of nutrients in the bulb.

Dig the bulbs for storage only after all the green mass of the onion has completely dried. Peeled and dried adult bulbs are stored in a dry, ventilated place at room temperature. The smallest bulbs, in order to avoid drying out, are placed in storage in a box with peat or sawdust.

Ornamental onion Allium diseases and pests

Improper care and high humidity can provoke the appearance of diseases such as downy mildew or cervical rot. Signs of powdery mildew will be yellowed leaves, which eventually become covered with light mold.

If the indicated symptoms appear on the plant, it is necessary to treat the onion with Bordeaux liquid or special combined fungicidal preparations (Ridomil MC, Previkur-energy).

As a preventive measure, experienced flower growers warm the allium bulbs for 12 hours at a temperature of about 40 ° C in a dryer or oven before planting. In addition, it is important to properly store the bulbs prior to planting.

Of the pests, the root mite and onion fly are the most dangerous. At the first signs of damage, the plant is treated with tobacco dust (ash) or chlorophos solution (2%).

One of the main preventive measures to prevent infection with diseases is high-quality harvesting of plant residues of ornamental onions at the end of the season and disinfection (warming up) of allium bulbs.

Allium species and varieties

Allium has more than 600 varieties, differing in color, size and shape of the inflorescences, as well as the height of the onion itself. There are several approaches to systematizing allium species.

One classification is based on the flowering time of ornamental bulbs and is subdivided into the following groups: early flowering (in May), medium flowering alliums (mid-summer) and late flowering (late summer-autumn).

Some botanists classify alliums according to the height of their peduncles into: high (more than 80 cm), medium-sized (40-80 cm) and low (less than 40 cm). Consider the most popular and beautiful onion varieties.

Allium "Globemaster"

It has spherical inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter and a long flowering period (June to October). Peduncles reach a length of 80 cm.

Allium "Purple Sensation"

A common garden form with bright crimson or purple cupped flowers. Peduncles about 70 cm, ribbed stem.

Allium "Mount Everest"

It is distinguished by snow-white spherical inflorescences (15 cm in diameter) and long arrows reaching up to 100-120 cm. Leaves remain green for a long time. The flowers in the inflorescence are large, star-shaped. Used for making bouquets.

Allium "Hair"

It stands out for its unusual foliage, gray shades and spectacular flowers. Highly decorative appearance with a pleasant delicate aroma. It blooms for about 3-4 weeks.

Allium sphaerocephalon (ball-headed)

A beautiful ornamental plant that blooms in mid-summer and continues to bloom for about a month. The inflorescence has an irregular shape, resembling an oval. The color of the inflorescences is pink or lilac.

Allium "Schubertii" (Schubert)

A dwarf but extraordinarily attractive plant. The inflorescence of gentle, bluish-pink tones resembles a star in shape. Pedicels of completely different lengths, arrows are not high, up to 30 cm. Flowering begins in June.

Allium "Moly"

Stunted appearance, forms inflorescences of golden yellow shades and star-shaped.

Allium "Christophii" (Christophe)

It is characterized by low peduncles (about 30 cm) and huge (up to 25 cm) inflorescences of purple or pink tones. Decorative allium is especially effective when dry.

Allium gigantheum (giant)

It has high (about 1-1.5 meters) peduncles and decorative linear leaves. The inflorescence is spherical, medium-sized, up to 10 cm in diameter, purple in color. Blooms for about 20 days.

Allium "Gladiator"

IN

Tall view with a spherical inflorescence of star-shaped flowers of lilac shades.

Where to buy allium seeds

The Scientific and Production Association "Sady Rossii" has been introducing the latest achievements in the selection of vegetable, fruit, berry and ornamental crops into the wide practice of amateur gardening for 30 years. In the work of the association, the most modern technologies are used, a unique laboratory for microclonal reproduction of plants has been created.

The main task of NPO Sady Rossii is to provide gardeners with high-quality planting material for popular varieties of various garden plants and novelties of world selection. Delivery of planting material (seeds, bulbs, seedlings) is carried out by Russian post.

We are waiting for you for shopping at the NPO Sady Rossii.

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Allium is just appearing in garden plots, it is a plant for innovators who appreciate everything unusual. Ornamental onion (allium): planting and care are described in detail in the article, a description of the plant is also provided, varieties, features of reproduction, cultivation in open ground are indicated, especially successful combinations with other plants in landscape design are indicated. The article is accompanied by colorful photos.

Description: varieties and varieties of allium

Decorative bow - allium - an extraordinary decoration of the garden plot. The plant looks like an alien among the usual asters, irises, peonies, tulips, attracting the eyes of everyone around.

Due to its unusual appearance, the decorative bow is appreciated by landscape design professionals.Growing ornamental onions is possible even for novice gardeners, the main thing is to provide him with the necessary conditions for planting in the open ground, care, adhere to all the rules for its reproduction.

Ornamental onion is an unpretentious and very beautiful plant

Existing varieties and varieties of decorative onions can be used not only as decoration for flower beds and flower beds, but also for making bouquets. Certain varieties (for example, Hair) have a rather pleasant aroma. Alliums amaze with a variety of colors, shape and structure of inflorescences, they come in different heights.

One of the most common outdoor ornamental bow varieties is Allium Schoenoprasum (shnitt). The plant is short with lilac-pinkish or light lilac spherical inflorescences. It blooms in spring, suitable for growing both as an ornamental plant and for use as food. The green leaves of this allium variety are suitable for salads and have a rather mild taste.

Allium Schoenoprasum

Effective in bouquets and other floral arrangements Schubert's bow, Hair, MountEverest:

• Schubert's bow - a low plant (arrows up to 25-30 cm), the inflorescence of which (grayish-pinkish shades) has the shape of a star, all pedicels of different lengths, blooms in June. Only professionals at first glance can recognize onions in this plant;

Schubert's bow

• Hair - an unusual hybrid of onions, has unique inflorescences and leaves of smoky-gray tones. Especially effective in landscape flower beds, used for flower decoration and bouquets. Blooms for about 3-4 weeks, starting in late May;

  Hair Bow

• Mount everest - a type of onion that adorns the garden with white inflorescences-balls, consisting of dozens of flowers in the shape of an asterisk. Reaches 100-120 cm in height;

Mount Everest Ornamental Bow

• Great as an ornamental plant bow "Globemaster", which blooms in early June and blooms almost until late autumn. Onion inflorescences are spherical (they can reach 20-25 cm in diameter), consist of individual flowers in the shape of an asterisk, ornamental onions grow up to 80 cm in height;

Globemaster variety

• Moth bow, golden (Allium moly, Allium aureum) - interesting with star-shaped inflorescences of golden (yellow) color, usually grows up to 20-25 cm;

Moth bow

• Round-headed onion blooms quite late (in the middle of summer), blooms for about a month, the inflorescences are in the shape of an oval (or a slightly elongated egg). Flowers of pink or lilac shades, arrow height - up to 60 cm;

Round-headed onion

• Will add variety to the flower arrangement bow bow (wild), growing up to 50 cm in height. Inflorescences differ from other decorative onions in shape - a bunch of short spherical flowers of pale pink shades.

Bow bow

Planting a plant

If you want to decorate your flower garden with such an unusual plant like allium, planting and caring for it will not cause much trouble.

There are a few rules to keep in mind:

• decorative onion is a light-loving plant, it is advisable to plant it in sunny areas;
• the soil under the onion should be soft, breathable, and it should be well drained to avoid stagnant water;
• the acidity of the soil should be close to normal (7.0).

Advice: if the acidity of the soil where it is planned to plant allium is below 5.0, liming should be carried out.

It is recommended to plant decorative onions in open ground either in early spring or in autumn (in September when the air temperature is not lower than 12 ° C). A hole for an onion is made on the basis that the thickness of the soil above it should be two to three times the height of the bulb itself. Thus, reliable wintering of the plant is ensured, protection from drying out.

Culture loves well-lit places

Before planting allium, the soil should be dug up, at the same time applying mineral fertilizers and humus. It is recommended to water the hole a little, the planting site should be mulched.

Tip: do not plant onions in lowlands, where melt and rain water stagnates in spring.

Plant care

Growing ornamental onions does not require a lot of effort from the gardener; this plant is quite unpretentious in care. Moderate watering is recommended for decorative onions; it is better to under-supply it with moisture than to pour.

Attention: the onion does not tolerate waterlogging, the bulb begins to rot and the plant dies.

After flowering and drying of the leaves, the bulbs should be dug up and stored at a temperature not exceeding 18-20 ° C. Small bulbs should be stored in peat or sawdust to prevent them from drying out.

Fertilizing and feeding allium

As a fertilizer when growing allium in open ground, compost, wood ash, and mineral preparations are applied. It is necessary to provide feeding onions in the phase of leaf regrowth, during the budding period, as well as in the formation of bulbs.

Onions require feeding at least once a season.

Landscape design specialists recommend using complex fertilizers containing nitrogen in nitrate form for these purposes. In the summer months, you can water the plants with liquid solutions of mineral fertilizers. At the beginning of autumn, to ensure a good wintering, decorative onions need to be fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, the granules are introduced into the soil without preliminary dissolution.

Plant propagation

Reproduction of allium, like all bulbous ones, is possible in 2 ways: by seeds and vegetatively, that is, by dividing the mother bulbs, as well as by growing small bulbs - bulbs (for growing bulbs, see also - gladioli, tulips, hyacinths).

Ornamental Onion Seeds

Ornamental onion seeds can be sown either in autumn or in spring in well-lit areas. After germination, seedlings should be dived. In this case, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors: some types of ornamental onions emerge exclusively when sowing seeds before winter, after natural stratification. An artificial change in temperature (keeping the seeds in a cold place) may not give the desired effect. In addition, when growing onions from seeds, it should be remembered that some species will begin to bloom only in the third, and maybe the fifth or sixth season, only after the bulb has gained sufficient weight for the next reproduction.

It is much easier to propagate the favorite varieties of allium with bulbs, separating the cloves from the mother's babies. It should be noted that the ability to form small bulbs, the degree of dividing the bulb into cloves, depends on the features inherent in the species. Babies should be carefully separated from the mother bulb, they should have a well-formed root system and shoots.

Allium bulbs

In allium varieties, very small bulbs can form on the inflorescences. It is recommended to stimulate their appearance by cutting the buds, while treating the plant itself with growth stimulants. These ground bulbs can then be planted outdoors to grow ornamental onions.

Diseases and pests

With improper care, high humidity, ornamental onions can be affected by powdery mildew, rot, root mites, and onion flies. To prevent these diseases, experienced gardeners recommend heating the bulbs for 10-11 hours at a temperature of about 40 ° C (you can use a dryer or oven). Cut onions should be thoroughly dried before storage and also warmed up.

Onion fly

When infected with a tick or fly, the plant should be treated with a solution of chlorophos (2%), use peat, ash, tobacco dust.

Ornamental bow: combination with other plants

In flower beds, allium will look most advantageous and emphasize beauty:

• peonies;
• aquilegia;
• lupines;
• irises;
• poppy.

Allium in combination with other plants

You can create beautiful flower arrangements using tall allium in combination with hosts, delphinium.

Allium in landscape design

Allium is spectacular in the photo and "live" both in a single planting and in a group flower garden. A tall plant planted in the area will attract attention and focus on the desired point in space. Ornamental onions in a group planting are also beautiful and attractive, by planting several plants in one place, you can create a bright color spot.

Allium in landscape design

Growing allium, planting and caring for are fascinating activities, because using its various varieties and types, you can create a garden of continuous flowering and admire the amazing shapes and shades from spring to autumn.

Agricultural technology for growing allium: video

Allium in landscape design: photo

Allium or ornamental onion is a plant for mixborders, group cultivation in large tracts, or decoration of a rocky hill. Onions can be used in any way, it is important that the plant in the chosen place is satisfied with the structure and nutritional value of the soil, and sunlight.

Allium grows well in a sunny, open area in a well-drained area. Varietal alliums do not like cold and waterlogged soil. You should also avoid planting onions in humus-rich soil. This is a requirement of almost all species and varieties, although there is an exception, for example, species of goblet Farrera Allium cyathophorum var. Are more tolerant to cold and humid conditions. farreri and Allium moly Allium moly.

On flower beds and mixborders, the allium, depending on the height, can occupy a central place or a distant plan, and only low Karatavsky and Schubert bows can be planted in the foreground.

Keep in mind that usually the leaves of ornamental onions begin to die off with the end of flowering and for this reason it is better to plant Allium, hiding other plants (irises, poppies, anemones, petunias, etc.) behind the foliage.

Tall varieties of onions should be placed in a place well protected from the wind - their large, heavy inflorescences on a high narrow stem tend to and break in bad weather.

Planting a decorative bow

Allium bulbs (ornamental onions) should be planted in early autumn, when the soil temperature has dropped below 16 ° C. Bury to a depth of about three to four times the diameter of the bulb, this is about 15 cm for large bulbs, 10 cm for small ones.

You can plant allium onions in spring, when the ground thaws enough and a stable temperature of about + 3-5 ° С is established, but not lower than -5 ° С.

The distance between the bulbs depends on whether you are going to dig up the bulbs for a dormant period or leave them without digging for several years if you live in an area with a fairly dry climate.

If you plan to plant onions without digging, then for medium-sized species and varieties 5-10 cm apart, taller species need at least 25-30 cm between the bulbs. Keep in mind that the planted bulbs will multiply and gradually form a cluster of daughter bulbs, each of which forms a flowering bush.

If you plan to dig up the onions for a dormant period and plant them again in the fall, then you can plant several bulbs of decorative onions or onions with other bulbs, for example, mixed with tulips, in one hole at once.

Decorative onions in pots

Allium can also be planted in containers in spring and autumn. Roots begin to form immediately after planting.

For planting decorative onions in containers, pots of almost any type are suitable, deep enough, with a large number of drainage holes at the bottom. The number of drain holes is important especially if you plan to display potted bows outdoors on your lawn or flower bed, among other flowers. In rainy weather, the flowing streams of water must immediately find a way out of the pot! Allium bows should never be in waterlogged soil, otherwise they will rot.

• Fill your containers with good quality, well-drained soil - any commercially available flower soil will do.But for each pot to increase the porosity, it is worth adding a handful of perlite or fine gravel (2-3 mm).
• The planting depth of bulbs in a pot is 7-12 cm (based on the fact that small or medium-sized onions are usually planted in containers). By the way, the position of the bulbs is with the pointed end up. Don't pack the ground!
• After planting, water the soil, the soil will partially settle, you will again fill up the earth so that the sides of the pot remain about 1.5-2 cm to the edge of the pot.

It is imperative to water the onions in dry weather, otherwise the roots dry out and die off, but if it is wet and rainy, water only after the soil in the pots is completely dry.

Allium care

When ornamental onions are over, do not cut the foliage - green leaves continue to accumulate solar energy and feed the bulbs, allowing them to grow and strengthen.

The only thing to consider is that hydration should be as needed.

By the middle or the end of summer (some varieties bloom later) the leaves turn yellow and die off, a dormant period sets in - then the leaves can be cut off so that its dry straw does not spoil the view of the flower bed. If the onions are planted in a place accessible for work, then it is better to dig up the bulbs and put them in storage until the fall, so that they are guaranteed to go through a dry dormant period.

The requirements for the digging of bulbs differ for different varieties and types:

• You can calmly not dig it out, leave the onions of Moli, Suvorov, Neapolitan and Ostrovsky's onions to grow after the foliage wilting. It is permissible to grow them in one place without seating for no more than 4-5 years.
• Aflatun onions, giant onions, Globmaster, hybrids of Dutch decorative onions need to be dug up periodically (after a season), otherwise the bulbs are chopped, flowering will be weak.
• It is advisable to dig out the Karatava onion and the Christof's bow with yellowing of the foliage, otherwise the bulbs may die.

Feed Allium three times per season: once when planting, once only after the leaves appear, and again immediately after flowering.

As a top dressing, you can use bone meal, as a source of calcium and phosphorus, at the rate of 3 kg per 1 sq. m. You can make the first time bone meal for digging, the second time in the form of an aqueous solution (500 g of bone meal per 10 liters of water, pour boiling water and leave for 5-7 days).

It is also necessary to periodically loosen the soil, especially after heavy rains. For the winter, despite the winter hardiness of the species or varieties of ornamental onions, you need to mulch the onions with peat and spruce branches, if in your area the frosts can drop below -28-30 ° С.

Allium's frost resistance

Hardiness zones (USDA-zones) are different, for example, Allium 'Violet Sensation' can be grown in zones 4-9, Shnitt-onion (Skoroda onion) winters well in central Russia without shelter (its zones 3-9), Allium Moli, Allium roundhead, Triangular bow and Allium hybrid 'Mount Everest' - also suitable for zone 3 (3-9).

Hybrid varieties of allium: Allium 'Purple Sensation' and Allium 'Hair', and species: Blue onion, mountain loving, Christophe's Onion, Branched onion and Aflatunsky onion are more thermophilic, without shelter they will not tolerate frosts below -27-28 ° C (zones 4-9).

The most thermophilic are onions of zones 5-9: Karatavsky onions, Nectaroscordum (Allium Sicilian), and varieties Allium ‘Millennium’, Allium ‘Globemaster’, they can freeze out in severe winters in central Russia.

Ornamental onions - diseases and pests

Ornamental onions suffer from pests and diseases, like onions. These are mainly white onion rot, downy mildew and onion fly damage. You should beware of slugs, snails and miner flies.

To prevent disease, do not plant bulbs in areas of the garden where there has been or remains infestation! Do not plant onions without disinfection.

Downy mildew (downy mildew) onions

This is the most serious threat during wet and cool seasons (or in humid areas). Alliums planted in close proximity to leafy salads or green onions are especially vulnerable. Symptoms of defeat:

• Yellowing and death of leaves from the tip down
• Over time, the appearance of white or grayish-purple spore-bearing mold on the leaves
• The inflorescences dry out quickly, crumble, the flowers are deformed and turn brown

Fighting onion powdery mildew and downy mildew

• Avoid crowded plantings of flowers and crops
• Avoid planting onions in humid places (lowlands) and places that are completely wind-free, where there is stagnant air
• Regularly control weeds to ensure air movement through crop vegetation
• Do not use compost or green manure from an unverified source or with infectious material
• if you find infected plants, destroy them by burning and avoid replanting from any onions in this place for five years
• try to plant perennial onions separately from other onion garden crops
• when choosing planting material, pay attention to the recommendations of the manufacturers - there are allium varieties that have some resistance to powdery mildew

Downy mildew treatment

Warning: the preparations can only be used on decorative bows, not onions used for food.

• ridomil MC 25 g per 5 l of water
• Bordeaux mixture (100 g of copper sulfate and 100 g of lime)
• copper oxychloride (20 g per 10 l of water)
• you can try Previkur-energy

Remember that the main thing is to remove and burn all plant residues after harvesting green and onions.

Disinfection of bulbs

To disinfect ornamental onion bulbs, heating is used - this is the only way to preserve the bulbs and destroy the causative agent of downy mildew and other diseases if the planting material is infected.

Warming up should be carried out immediately before planting (a week) at a temperature of 45-47 ° C, preferably by blowing (directed stream of hot air) for 10-12 hours.

What did you want to ask

Decorative bow - can you eat it?

You can, all decorative onions are edible, you will not get poisoned, but, like ordinary onions or garlic, they have their own contraindications - gastritis and stomach ulcers, intestinal colic or irritable bowel syndrome. Be careful with onions and in the stage of exacerbation of pancreatitis (use only cooked).

The decorative bow has faded, what should I do next?

Wait until the leaves turn yellow and cut off. Do not touch green leaves. If you plan to transplant the onions, then after the leaves turn yellow, dig up the onions and store them.

In general, there is a rule: in a temperate climate zone, allium bulbs, after the seeds have ripened and the leaves have dried out, must be dug up, then planted again in the fall. This is due to the fact that in their historical homeland allium bulbs (ornamental and edible onions) undergo a period of rest in dry land, there is almost no precipitation. It is especially critical for onions if the second half of summer is cool and rainy.

How to grow decorative onions from seeds?

First, only species of onions, not hybrids, can be propagated by seeds.

Secondly, allium grown from seeds blooms only in the second year, and some species - for 3-5 years, when the bulbs grow to productive sizes.

Thirdly, allium seeds germinate for quite a long time, up to 10-12 weeks.

If this has not yet made you change your mind about sowing ornamental onion seeds, start this procedure at the end of winter. Seeds must be put in the refrigerator in advance, immediately after purchasing or collecting seeds in the fall. At a temperature of 12-13 ° C, they should lie down for 2-3 months. Then the seeds must be laid out in a gauze napkin and soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 liter of water) for 30 minutes. After that, you can put the allium seeds in the Epin or Zircon solution (diluted according to the instructions) for 18 hours.

Plant in seedling boxes filled with soil composed of peat, garden soil and sand in equal parts. Previously, the soil must be sterilized in the oven.

It is better to sow ornamental onion seeds with tweezers, on a separate seed, in 3 cm increments, between rows - 5 cm.Seeds should be sprinkled with a layer of earth no more than 1 cm.

It is even better if you have seedling cassettes with cells of 2-3 cm. Sow 2-3 seeds in each cassette, if all germinate, remove the excess.

Moisten crops from a sprayer, cover with foil, and place in a warm place, where the temperature is + 20-25 ° С. Ventilate regularly, do not let the soil dry out or sour from dampness! When shoots appear, move the boxes or cassettes to a cooler place, where it is about + 16-20 ° C and very light, this is necessary so that the allium seedlings do not stretch out. Reduce watering gradually, the earth should dry out slightly in the top layer!

You can plant seedlings at the end of May, when the threat of spring frosts has passed.

Is a decorative bow suitable for the home?

Ramson (or Bear onion) is best suited for growing in a pot - it has decorative leaves and cute umbrella inflorescences.

Some types of onions (except the tallest ones) can also be grown in pots, for example, Karatavsky onions, Schubert's onions, drooping onions and some others. But you need to understand that alliums cannot live permanently at home. These are garden plants and they need not only a dormant period, but also a daily temperature drop, a lot of light and fresh air.

Allium (Allium) or ornamental onion is a herbaceous biennial or perennial plant from the Onion subfamily, which has a large bulb. In appearance, this plant of the Amaryllis family is so different from other inhabitants of the flower garden that it is difficult to confuse it.

A high (in some species up to 1 m), swollen stem is crowned with an umbrella-shaped inflorescence of a spherical shape, consisting of many small flowers on long pedicels. In some representatives, the size of the inflorescence can reach 40 cm in diameter. Different varieties will delight with flowering from June to September.

The plant has a characteristic pungent onion smell and taste due to the presence of essential oils, but allium is valued by flower growers for something else. Exotic external data make it possible to use it in rock gardens, rocky gardens, single plantings and flower arrangements.

Site selection and preparation

Allium giant planting and care photos

Allium has the most beautiful flowering in sunny, well-lit areas., on the southern slopes. Even a slight partial shade can reduce the color intensity of flowers and leaves. Tall varieties must be protected from the wind so that they do not break in gusts - it is worth choosing a protected place in advance.

It is preferable for planting an area with fertile soils., additionally fed with a complex mineral fertilizer, with neutral acidity (pH about 7.0). In more acidic soil, dolomite flour or lime is additionally required.

Soil water permeability is an important condition when choosing a landing site... Allium bulbs are still able to withstand short-term waterlogging of the soil, but with poor drainage they rot. Although decorative onions are good for what, among the variety of varieties, one can find an exception to the rule: the varieties Farrera and Allium Moli are most tolerant of moisture and cold.

Allium from seed

Allium flower cultivation and care Allium 'Globemaster'

After the end of the flowering period, it is time for the seeds to ripen. To obtain a good seed, it is worth taking seeds from the very first, largest and completely faded inflorescences. New plants are planted in the fall at the end of September or in the spring. It should be noted that the onion will be able to flower, only at least 3 years should pass for some species and even 4-7 years for others (with large inflorescences).

The seeds of some varieties of allium (for example, the giant onion variety) must be stratified during spring planting. This procedure allows you to artificially start natural processes and prepare the seed as much as possible for the spring awakening.

Stratification is easy to do at home:
1. Seeds should be placed in a bag of earth or wet sand.
2. Put the bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.
Without pre-aging, seeds can rot in the ground.

Vegetative propagation

Allium giant flower photo

Vegetative reproduction of allium is the formation of babies at the bottom of the mother's bulb grown from seed. This process takes place in the third year of life. Separation of grown daughter onions must be done very carefully to avoid damage. The plants should be planted at a distance of 50 cm from each other, taking into account the degree of growth of the bulbs. In one place without a transplant, it can grow up to 5 years, during which there is an increase in children around the old bulb.

Informative video on how to plant decorative onions:

Reproduction is possible by onion buds - bulbs. To do this, it is necessary to treat them with a growth stimulant and root them in the ground. At the same time, the characteristics of new plants do not change (stem height, color saturation). This method is optimal for a small number of bulbs and the need to speed up the propagation process.

How to plant allium Planting bulbs

How to plant allium photo

Depending on the type of allium, the planting period can be either autumn or spring. If there are several varieties and they bloom at different times, then it is better to plant in autumn, for example, in September. Then the bulbs will have time to take root, and then the next year the plants will begin to bloom. The optimum temperature for planting is + 10C.

Relevant: When planting allium, observe the planting depth - 2 diameters of the bulb size, and do not forget to cover the soil with peat mulch.

Decorative bow allium planting and care photo

The plant will respond well for next year if, after a period of wilting of the leaves, you dig up the bulbs, dry them and store them in a dry, well-ventilated room, at a constant temperature of 18-20 degrees. And then plant the bulbs again to a depth of three times the size. Such storage is especially important for varieties whose homeland is Central Asia - Schubert and Christophe onion varieties.

Subtleties of care

Allium planting in spring photo

The key to excellent growth and flowering will be the observance of the golden mean in watering: it should be constant but moderate. From an excess of moisture, the plant will die, and from a lack - it will stop growing, but it is able to recover. There is a need for annual spring cleaning of the area occupied by allium. Throughout the entire period of growth, constant weeding, loosening of the soil is necessary (especially after heavy rains).

In the spring, you need to fertilize with mineral fertilizers for active budding of the plant. After the end of the flowering period, a fertilizer containing potassium (the simplest and most accessible is wood ash). Allium will treat favorably any specialized fertilizer for garden plants.

Diseases and pests

Allium flower photo

The most common allium diseases caused by bulbous fungi are:

• Neck rot. The most common and harmful. Emerging on dying leaves, the fungus spreads into the bulb itself, which decays later during storage. Prevention: immediately after digging, dry the bulbs well in the sun and heat for 12 hours at a temperature of 48oС.
• Downy mildew. Preventive measures: warming up at a temperature of 40-42oС before planting for 12 hours; treatment in a fungicide solution.

Pests can also ruin the life of the "onion miracle":

• Tobacco thrips are small insects that feed on the plant's cell sap, which leads to its weakening and drying out. Species with white flowers are more severely affected by thrips. Treatment - insecticidal preparations (spinor, vertimek, mospilan, aktara). Prevention: maintaining high humidity in the flower garden.
• Onion fly - its larvae attack bulbs. You can notice the affected specimens by the prematurely yellowing leaves. Countermeasures: planting allium as early as possible. You can add the drug Medvetox-U, which will additionally protect against other pests (scoops, bears).During the deposition of onion fly larvae - watering with a solution of table salt once a week (concentration: 200 g of salt - 10 liters of water).

Optimal landing options

Allium planting and care in the open field

Allium has one feature - sometimes the leaves dry out before flowering, which can ruin the look of the flower garden, but you cannot cut them off - the bulb's nutrition will be interrupted. Therefore, it is recommended to plant accompanying plants next to it, which will hide the unpresentable appearance of the leaves.

Peonies, irises, delphiniums, poppies, petunias are recognized as ideal neighbors. And you can create a fashionable element of landscape design - an allyarium, choosing varieties of onions with different flowering periods. It can be arranged according to the principle of an alpine slide or as a rockery, with the presence of stones. The variety of types of decorative onions will allow each grower to find one or even several for themselves, which will become a favorite decoration of the site.

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