Your Allium Questions Answered (The Science Behind It)
Alliums are a beautiful plant to have in your garden. I often think of them as a natural firework as the flowering display explodes in an array of tiny star-shaped blooms. Allium flowers in spring through summer in the UK, and is a popular plant to search for on Google. So, I've found and answered the most searched questions for you.
Grow show-stopping alliums (those purple “lollipops”) with confidence. Bulb depth, spacing, containers, feeding, and common problems—answered fast!
Alliums are one of my favourite UK garden bulbs: tall, striking, and buzzing with bees in late spring and early summer. In this Q&A video, I answer the most searched questions about ornamental alliums so you can get better flowers, stronger bulbs, and longer-lasting impact in your borders.
You’ll learn:
• Where alliums are native to + why they thrive in UK gardens
• Are alliums perennial, and do they multiply over time?
• Exactly when to plant (and the best month for results)
• How deep and how far apart to plant bulbs (small vs tall varieties)
• How to grow alliums in containers (deep pot + drainage mix)
• A simple “light bulb” planting trick to prevent rot
• Flowering time, how long they bloom, and whether they flower in year one
• Deadheading vs leaving seed heads for structure + indoor décor
• Feeding tips (including eggshell tea) and when to fertilise
• What to plant with alliums to hide fading foliage
• What not to plant near alliums (peas/beans/asparagus)
• Common issues: onion fly, white rot, downy mildew, leaf miner, and what to do
If you want bold colour, wildlife value, and architectural shape from just a handful of bulbs, alliums are hard to beat.
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Thank you:
John Innes Archives courtesy of the John Innes Foundation.
Find out more about the work of John Innes and his legacy in gardening and horticulture:
https://www.johninnesfoundation.org.uk/
https://www.jic.ac.uk/
For more gardening advice, visit my website:
https://www.daviddomoney.com
Read about alliums:
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David Domoney Chartered Horticulturist
C Hort. FCI Hort. F Wcg. F Cmc.
Fellow of the Warwickshire College Group.
Fellow of the London Colleges of Horticulture.
Recipient of The Prince Edward Award for Excellence in Horticulture.
#garden #gardens #gardening #advice #howto #horticulture #google #allium #alliums #flowers #flower
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Where are alliums native to?
01:08 Are alliums perennials?
01:24 Which garden style are alliums best for?
01:47 How do you grow alliums from seed?
03:11 Who was John Innes
03:40 How long do alliums take to germinate?
03:57 How do you grow alliums and are they easy to grow?
05:15 Alliums as decorative pieces in the home
06:21 How big do alliums grow?
06:48 How long do alliums flower for?
07:07 Are alliums good for bees?
07:24 Are alliums frost hardy?
07:43 What colours do alliums come in?
08:37 When do alliums flower?
09:01 Do alliums flower the first year?
09:15 Do alliums need a lot of water?
09:47 Do alliums need staking?
10:10 Do alliums need deadheading?
10:45 Do alliums need feeding?
11:18 Feeding plants with eggshells demo
13:11 Do alliums change colour?
13:35 Will alliums flower twice?
13:52 What do you plant with alliums?
14:27 What not to plant near Alliums?
15:07 When do you plant Alliums?
15:44 Do alliums multiply?
16:05 What to do with Allium Offsets when moving?
16:29 Do Alliums make great cut flowers?
17:09 When do alliums stop flowering?
17:29 What time of year do you collect allium seeds?
18:00 When do alliums die off (back)?
18:28 When to cut down alliums?
18:45 When do alliums start to grow back?
18:59 Will alliums spread?
19:13 What are the common problems with alliums and how do I fix them?
19:35 Onion fly
19:51 Onion white rot
20:27 Downy mildew
21:11 Allium leaf miner
21:41 Why are my alliums drooping?
22:30 Why do my Alliums have yellow-tipped leaves?
23:18 Are alliums poisonous to humans?
23:30 Are alliums poisonous to pets?
23:44 Thanks for watching