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What's happening to my Alliums!?

p.inchley153p.inchley153 Posts: 2
in Plants
We've got a number of alliums around the garden, and none of them have produced flowers this year. Instead when the head opens it has revealed what look like to or three seed clusters bunched together. After a while they produce tendrils like the second picture. Any ideas?


Peter I

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Almost looks as though the seed has ripened and is growing. Have you tried prising one of the flowers apart? Are they all the same variety? 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,978
    I have some that do that, usual off shoots/bulbs from original plants, I pull them out and compost. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,727
    I've only grown them for the first time this year,and so far have left the seed heads as they are very attractive.
    Can you get more from these seedheads? 
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,709
    They are tiny bulbs, You can separate them and grow them on. They will flower again in a couple of years. As they are vegetatively propagated, they will be the same as the parent, unlike seed grown which can vary.  Babingtons leek is a well known type that does this.
  • p.inchley153p.inchley153 Posts: 2
    Thank you all for your comments. As soon as I'd posted it my wife told me they weren't all doing it, but I should think we had 10 or 12 that did. Not sure whether they were all the same variety. She's done with them what Lyn did. Perhaps if any do it again we'll try to propagate with them.
    Peter I
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