If you ’ve ever countenance your garden Allium cepa or garlic go so long they bloom , you already known what genus Allium blossom look like – spherical head of hundred of tiny star - shaped flowers atop tall , vacuous stem .

If you ’ve ever let your garden onion plant or garlic go so long they flowered , you already known whatalliumblooms look like – spherical heads of hundreds of tiny sensation - shaped flowers atop marvellous , empty stems . The genus allium turn back some 500 species , most of which are aboriginal to the northerly hemisphere , explains the Maryland Cooperative Extension . Most also smell out faintly like their onion cousins , but only when you crush or offend the botany . genus Allium species and cultivars grow for thinned flowers , either impudent or dried , typically have prospicient , sturdy stems and are cold-blooded - hardy perennials . How and when you harvest genus Allium depends on the species .

Growing Alliums

Kids love growing alliums – specially the mammoth varieties with soccer - ball - size of it flowers . Plant them in belated summertime or pin , in full sun and well - drained soil enriched with constitutive matter . moil planting holes 3 inches rich and 6 to 8 inches asunder . Place bulbs in the holes pointed end up , enshroud them with soil and water well , although rains will furnish most of the irrigation ; water sparingly during growth and blossoming . exit botany in place after flowering so bulbs take back as much food for thought energy as possible from the fading leaf before going dormant .

Cutting Alliums for Cut Flowers

issue alliums with a very sharp tongue or razor to avoid crushing or otherwise damaging prow . rank them in fresh , clean water . Recut genus Allium outdoors or in a sink , because the cut cease of some species – particularly Allium giganteum — exude a clear fluid that oxidize to a ancestry - carmine gloss that permanently stains countertops and sometimes floors . tot up 1/2 tsp . of bleach per quart of vase water , to discourage bacterium ; do not add moolah or floral preservatives .

Harvesting Flower Heads When Half Open

The general advice to home genus Allium growers is to cut them when flower heads are one - fourth to one - one-half assailable , because flowers will continue to open in the vase – a practice that extends the vase life of flowers . University of Maryland Extension recommends cut Allium aflatunense , Persian onion ; A. caeruleum , bluish globe onion plant ; and A. sphaerocephalon , also make love as drumstick allium or round - headed garlic , in belated outpouring or summer when prime are 50 per centum or half receptive . Both spicy globe and drumstick alliums are considered summer blooper .

Harvesting Flower Heads When Fully Open

University of Maryland Extension recommends cutting flowers of Allium christophii , also screw as stars of Persia , and Allium giganteum or giant onion plant in late spring or other summer , when flowers are 100 pct open or nearly so . Also attractive as refreshful - swerve flowers , both of these species are often used as dry flowers .

References

…