Leeks don't always have to end up on the dinner table. The ornamental garlic is less known for its good taste. It impresses with its purple, white or pink flower balls, which sit high on a straight stem. How do you plant it?
When and how should you plant ornamental garlic?
To plant ornamental garlic, the bulbs should be planted 20-25 cm deep in the fall between the end of September and the end of November in well-drained, calcareous and nutrient-rich soil. The ideal location is sunny and sheltered from the wind. Ornamental onions bloom in early summer, usually from May to June.
When is it time to plant the ornamental onion?
The ornamental garlic bulbs, which are commercially available, should be planted in the fall. Then they sprout in spring and bloom in early summer. The ideal period for planting is between the end of September and the end of November. However, sowing should only take place in spring.
How do you plant bulbs correctly?
Before you simply stick the bulbs into the ground, you should know that nothing will come of the plants. The bulbs are planted three times as deep as they are tall. This means that on average they penetrate between 20 and 25 cm deep into the ground. It is ideal if you plant them in small groups.
Do not plant soft, shriveled or even moldy onions! Nothing will come of them! They do not rot or sprout. The onions of the garlic should be plump and firm. Their color is usually cream.
Which location is suitable for the ornamental onion?
The ornamental onion prefers to be in the blazing sun. Only a few varieties grow well in partial shade. Basically, the larger the bulb, the sunnier the location should be. It can be a protected location: otherwise the long stems run the risk of breaking in strong winds.
Which floors increase his well-being?
The top priority when it comes to soil is that it is permeable. The ornamental garlic absolutely cannot tolerate waterlogging. The following aspects continue to have a positive effect:
- airy and loose
- calcareous
- nutrient-rich
- if clayey, add sand
Which plant neighbors are suitable?
If you have decided on a low-growing ornamental onion, you can combine it with the sedum, for example. Smaller ornamental grasses also look good next to or behind them. Yarrow and summer sage are suitable plant neighbors for tall ornamental allium species. The following plant neighbors are also suitable:
- Phlox
- Catnip
- Flower roses
- woman's coat
- Lavender
- Splendid Cranesbill
- Coneflower
- Aster
When does the ornamental onion bloom?
The ornamental onion usually blooms in May. Its flowers can be admired until June. Only a few species present their flowers in April. More rarely, there are also species that bloom into autumn. Either way – care should not be neglected after flowering!
Tip
When buying onions, make sure that they are winter-hardy varieties!
