Allium sphaerocephalon

Wilderbeast

Hi all, I've just seen now is the time sow 

Allium sphaerocephalon seeds. We've grown these from bulbs for a few years and they have always made a fantastic display. Didn't realise you could get the seeds or grow from seeds at home (I am a total beginner and only started 2 years ago). Has anyone done this, was it successful ? We have an acre garden so I'm mad keen to propagate as much as I can to save costs, I have about 1000 plants growing on for next spring planting all from seeds and cuttings.

Obelixx

They self seeded in my last garden and I would take the grass like babies and grow them on in deeper seed trays and pots.   This was in the last 2 or 3 years before we moved so I never did see them mature to flowering size but it's easy enough to do.

Fairygirl

I grow them, but I usually buy some bulbs,and while faffing around, I find tiny ones which I just keep with the bigger ones. The bed most of mine are in has been disturbed a couple of times due to building work, so it may be a while before I see any proper seedlings that I can use elsewhere. 
The squirrels get so many of the little bulbs though, that if they get a chance to seed around that would be a good result!
Definitely worth trying if you have the time and facilities to go for it. It's expensive filling a big plot if you don't do some seeds and cuttings 

Wilderbeast

Thanks fairygirl and Obelixx, think I'll stick with bulbs waiting all that time isn't really what I want from that type of plant 

Fairygirl

You can get them very cheaply @Wilderbeast, especially if you buy in bulk, and they're very reliable. 

granma

They take quite a while from seed

WLD

Granma…(or anyone else that has let their drumsticks go to Seed)…any ideas about how many years for this variety of seed to form bulbs??
 I have experience propagating all my purple alliums from seed and know that they can take a good five years to produce decent flowers, I’m just curious if anybody has a better idea with this variety as to the amount of time?as I haven’t been able to find a single answer online. Thank you gardeners!

Fairygirl

They form bulbs very quickly IME. They seed around and grow very rapidly. I can't say exactly how long they take, but I regularly pull them out. I also deadhead them so that they aren't taking over.
If you compost material, they can pop up from that in all sorts of places, so it obviously doesn't take very long. They're much more vigorous than most other alliums for me - I don't have great success with most of the others I've grown, as my conditions aren't brilliant for them 

Lyn

@Wilderbeast did you try it,  all my self seeded ones turn out to be the wild variety,  red with green hairy bits on,  it’s a battle to keep getting them out.