Decorative bow (Allium)

The decorative allium bow comprises about 400 species. About 130 species of such a plant are cultivated by gardeners. This flower will become a highlight of any garden plot, and against the background of the usual asters and tulips, it will look just great.

Growing ornamental onions

Landing

After you decide on the site on which you will grow allium, it will need to be dug up, while mineral fertilizers and humus should be added to the soil. Then prepare the planting holes and spill them with a little water. After the decorative onion is planted, the surface of the site is covered with a layer of mulch.

Planting in open soil is carried out at the end of September, while the temperature of the soil in the area of ​​formation of the root system should be about 10 degrees.

Growing

It is quite easy to grow a culture in your garden plot, since it is distinguished by its unpretentious care. Weeds must be removed from the site in a timely manner, its surface must be regularly loosened and covered with a layer of mulch during the growing season. Allium is watered in moderation, while it belongs to such plants that tolerate a short drought better than stagnant water in the ground.

Site selection

It is recommended to choose a sunny site for its cultivation, since this plant belongs to the photophilous. The soil he needs is loose and well-permeable to water. In order to prevent stagnation of liquid in the root system, it is necessary to try to improve the drainage properties of the soil. A suitable soil should have a pH close to 7.0. Lowlands and those places where there is stagnant water during melting snow and rains are not suitable for growing ornamental onions. For planting, a hole is prepared with a depth of 2 or 3 times the height of the bulb, thanks to which the root system will be protected from drying out and from winter frosts.

Do I need to dig up the bulbs for the winter?

Experts advise digging the bulbs annually after the seeds are fully ripe and the leaf plates dry.They can be planted again in the ground in the fall. The bulbs are stored for storage in a place where the air temperature does not exceed 18-20 degrees. Some species can be planted not only in autumn, but also in spring, for example, Ostrovskaya, moth and blue. For storage, it is recommended to put small onions in a container with peat or sawdust, this will help to avoid drying out.

Top dressing

Allium can be fed with wood ash and compost. The plant needs fertilization during the active growth of foliage, during the formation of buds and the formation of bulbs. In order for the plant to endure the winter better, at the beginning of the autumn period it is recommended to feed it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer, while undissolved granules are introduced into the soil. You can only transplant seedlings of the initial stage of growth.

Allium propagation by seeds

Allium grown from seeds will begin to bloom only after a few years. For example, yellow and blue allium blooms in the third year of growth, while species with very large inflorescences (for example: Schubert, Christophe and Gigint) begin to bloom only in the sixth or seventh year after sowing.

Cold stratification is recommended for the seeds of the giant allium, and the aflun allium germinates well in a warm place. If conditions are ideal for the growth of ornamental onions, then they can successfully self-seed.

Allium bulb reproduction

In any of the allium species, small bulbs sometimes form on the inflorescences, which are called bulbs. To stimulate their formation, it is recommended to cut the buds and treat the bushes with a growth stimulating agent. Experts say that the bulbs are young planting material clean for phytopathogens, so they are recommended for planting. For example, if you plant allium blue bulbs, then the grown bush will begin to bloom in the second year.

Diseases and pests

If you take care of the allium incorrectly or there will be an increased level of humidity for a long time, then the bushes can be affected by downy mildew or various rot, and onion flies or root mites sometimes settle on them. In order to prevent these diseases, the bulbs should be warmed up for 10-11 hours at a temperature of about 40 degrees before planting, this can be done in a dryer or oven. If pests have settled on the bush, then it must be treated with a chlorophos solution (2%), and you can also use peat, wood ash or tobacco dust for this.

Types of decorative bows with photos and names

Allium aflatunsky (purple sense)

The height of a bush in this species can reach 150 centimeters, while its diameter can reach 12 centimeters. Dense umbellate-globular inflorescences consist of pale purple star-shaped flowers. Such a plant is distinguished by its undemanding care, and even during flowering it looks very impressive and unusual.

Allium gladiator

This look and the simple edible onion are very close relatives. If desired, the dark green foliage can be used for food. The height of the bush can reach about 100 centimeters. The star-shaped flowers are lavender-blue, with six petals and a slightly sweet, pleasant scent. The inflorescences reach 20 centimeters in diameter and even more. This look looks great in rock gardens and rocky gardens, and it also goes well with bearded irises.

Allium eros

Very beautiful inflorescences of such a plant, which have a spherical shape, can have a different color, which varies from light lilac to pink. The bush reaches a height of 0.3 to 0.35 m, while the flowers are approximately 10 centimeters across. This plant blooms in June.

Allium roundhead

This species blooms rather late in the middle of summer, with a flowering duration of approximately 4 weeks. The inflorescences are oval in shape, and they include flowers of pink or purple color. The height of the stems can reach about 0.6 m.

Allium blue

This species is one of the most decorative types of allium. The stems of such a plant can reach a height of about 0.8 m. In diameter, the inflorescence reaches about 70 mm, it is a lush hemispherical or spherical umbrella. One inflorescence contains from 200 to 250 variegated bell-shaped blue flowers. The color of the inflorescence is incredibly spectacular, it may even seem that it is simply impossible to find something more beautiful blue color on planet Earth.

Allium moth (yellow onion)

The height of the bush in this species reaches 0.2–0.3 meters. The loose inflorescences include star-shaped flowers of a rich golden-yellow hue. This plant blooms in the last days of May, while the flowering duration is about three weeks.

Allium Christoph

This type is considered the most decorative among medium-sized ones. As a rule, the height of the bush does not exceed 0.3–0.4 m. But if the flower is provided with favorable conditions for growth, then the bush can grow up to 0.6 meters in height. The spherical inflorescence of such a plant is very large, in diameter it can reach about 25 centimeters. It contains a large number of small, star-shaped flowers that can be purple or violet in color. A very spectacular bloom can be observed in June, and it lasts for about 30 days.

Allium Ostrovsky

Such a short, very spectacular view in height can reach about 0.2 m. Large crimson flowers of a broad-bell-shaped shape smell very nice. They are part of the inflorescences, which can reach about 10 centimeters across.

Allium ivory queen

Such a plant can decorate any garden. The height of its stems varies from 0.25 to 0.35 m. On their tops, beautiful ivory flowers are formed, which can reach up to 12 centimeters across, and have a very rich and pleasant aroma. But when there are no flowers on the bush, it still looks very impressive thanks to the beautiful foliage. The leaf plates are corrugated and painted in an unusual bluish green color. Flowering in this species lasts about three weeks.

Allium bulgarian

In this species, the bush can reach a height of about 0.9 meters. It blooms in the first weeks of summer, at which time it is decorated with very spectacular purple-white flowers, collected in inflorescences.

Allium giant

The species got its name due to the fact that the bush in height can reach about 150 centimeters. Umbellate inflorescences reach about 80 mm in diameter. The star-shaped flowers can be painted in a pale purple color. Squat wide leaf plates are belt-shaped. Flowering occurs in June and lasts approximately 3.5 weeks.

Allium is city-loving

In such a short plant, the size of the bulbs is only slightly larger than the size of a pea. The height of the bush varies from 10 to 20 centimeters. The inflorescences include from 30 to 40 flowers of a rich purple-pink color and broadly bell-shaped form. The bush blooms in the last spring weeks, and the flowering duration is 3 to 4 weeks.

Allium Unifolium

The homeland of such a plant is North America. It is highly decorative, even despite the fact that its inflorescences are not spheres, but loose umbrellas. The bush rarely exceeds 20-25 centimeters in height. Due to the fact that the bushes are small and compact, with the help of them, if desired, you can create neat compositions, for example, planted in containers.

Allium Schubert

The height of the bush can reach from 25 to 30 centimeters, it is decorated with pinkish-gray star-shaped inflorescences.The plant blooms in June. It is not at all like an onion, and only a professional can determine that Schubert's allium is his relative.

Allium Cowani

This species is early flowering and blooms in May and June. Long peduncles in height reach from 0.3 to 0.4 meters, spectacular inflorescences are formed on their tops, represented by lush balls, which include small snow-white flowers, reaching 40 mm in diameter and with a pleasant smell. The flowering period is 15 to 20 days. If you rub the shoots or foliage, you can smell the garlic.

Allium neapolitan

A low bush in height can reach from 25 to 35 centimeters. The length of its broadly bell-shaped pink flowers is from 10 to 14 mm, they are collected in a flat or slightly convex umbellate inflorescence.

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