The imperial crown, which comes from Persia, is valued in Central European gardens not only because of its magnificent flowers, but also as effective protection against vole infestations. The vegetation rhythm of the plants gives you a certain schedule in which you can cut the plants back at a time.
How to cut an imperial crown correctly?
To cut an imperial crown, you should first shorten the flower stalk after the flowers have wilted and later remove the yellowed, wilted leaves at the bottom. Leave a short section of stem to leave the bulbs undisturbed.
Perennial onion plant with a permanent location
Unlike many other onion plants, you do not necessarily need to dig up the imperial crown bulbs and then replant them every year. The perennial plants can be overwintered outdoors without any problems if the bulbs are planted about two to three times as deep in the ground as the bulb is tall. However, the imperial crown grows out of the ground every spring, which is why the parts of the plant that die above the surface of the earth should be removed for reasons of appearance and he alth care.
Self-sowing desired?
After the flowering period in April and May, the imperial crown inflorescences wilt and, if fertilization is successful, also produce germinable seeds. If you want to propagate your imperial crowns from these seeds, you must leave the seed heads on the plants until they are fully ripe. You can then either harvest the seeds and germinate them in a controlled manner, or you can sow them yourself in the flower bed. Otherwise, you can remove the inflorescences immediately after they wither, otherwise an unnecessary amount of energy will be invested in the maturation of the seeds.
Do not remove the leaves of the imperial crown too radically
After the flowers have wilted, you should initially only shorten the flower stalk, as the leaves at the base of the imperial crown continue to store energy in the bulb for the next growing season. Only when the leaves near the ground have completely yellowed and wilted can you simply cut them off. But if you leave a short piece of the stem, then:
- does not unintentionally dig up the onions when caring for the soil
- do not unnecessarily compact the soil above the bulbs when gardening
- Do you have guidance when planting new plants in the flower bed
Tips & Tricks
Since eating the imperial crown has a toxic effect on humans and animals, you should wear gloves when cutting and cover the cutting material on the compost heap with non-toxic material to be on the safe side. You should also wash your hands before eating anything or touching sensitive body parts and mucous membranes.
