Re: allium -Reply
- To:
- Subject: Re: allium -Reply
- From: R* C*
- Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 16:42:59 -0500
Valerie, given the right kind of climate and soil conditions, repeating
alliums are not just a rumour-just as well at $5 a bulb for the giants here.
I planted 5 bulbs (which I considered a respectable investment) four years
ago. The second year I had 10 plants
and have been stable at that number for the last two years.
I also have some of the small pink flowering ones with loose umbels but have
forgotten the name (something starting with m and sounding slavic?). They
continue to bloom for me as well, as does moly, a nice yellow flowered
allium. And then of course there are the chives, planted by a previous
owner and now running wild in the lawn. Quite an interesting smell when
cutting the grass.
Like most of the bulbs they seem to want good drainage, hot summers and cold
winters. Mine are in sandy soil and although they are in a spot that is a
little damper than the rest of the yard during snow melt, I don't think you
could ever call it wet.
If tulips won't return for you, it's likely that most of the showier alliums
won't either.
As for cutting back foliage, you are just going to have to learn to resist
if you want to grow bulbs at all. I get flack about it for weeks-how messy
the garden looks, can't you do something about them-they look like they're
dieing. But resistance pays off in the long run.
Bob Campbell
USDA 4
Southern Ontario
>My alliums never come back. I like to think of them in the same category
>as tulips -- never a repeat despite rumors. Probably because I'm too lazy
>to dig them deeply enough or because I can't stand to see the leaves just
>sit there and wither to a vulgar yellow like you're supposed to.
>
>Either way, I can't do without them in my garden with the foxgloves and
>roses. I have to buy them every year. That way, there's never that awful
>wondering if they'll come back!
>
>
>Val in KY
>zone 6a
>
>
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