How Starting Small Limits Beginner Gardeners
December 4, 2024
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My husband and I are creating a backyard cut flower garden called Little Patch Flower Co. (follow along here) and when I came across these gigantic allium flowers, I could not stop picturing our little ones in awe of this unique plant! After calling several local nurseries, I finally found a shop only 20 minutes away with two gigantic allium bulbs and bags of smaller allium bulbs. I was ecstatic to say the least. We have had a pretty mild fall here in zone 6b so the nursery employee informed me that I still had time to plant before the first hard frost. We also chatted about some of the benefits beyond the stunning blooms, such as deer resistance and pest control with companion planting.
Alliums thrive in hardiness zones 3-8 with at least 6-10 weeks of cold temperatures for best results. They prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.6-6.5) with full-sun to partial shade. After using this soil test kit, we realized our garden bed needed some extra nutrients. This is our tomato garden bed that gets plenty of sun and the soil is well-drained. Because of these essential factors and the added benefit of alliums being a great companion plant for tomatoes, we decided to place the alliums here. The next step explains how we improved the soil for the bulbs.
Whether or not your soil needs improvement, an organic, mild fertilizer like Espoma's Bone Meal, adds extra support for your bulb roots over the upcoming winter months.
Be sure to follow the planting instructions on your bag of bulbs, but if your bulbs do not come with instructions, here are some basic guidelines. Dig a hole for each bulb about 4-8 inches deep (or 2-3 times the size of the bulb), and 3-6 inches apart, depending on the species. The gigantic bulbs should be spaced 8-12" inches apart. Keep in mind the look you are aiming to achieve in your garden. Bulbs can be planted closer together (some people even place ten in the same hole). Add approximately one teaspoon of mild fertilizer, such as bone meal, then place your bulb with the pointy end facing up. For zones with intense winters, mulch heavily for protection then remove mulch in the spring before blooms.
And now one of my favorite parts about planting in late fall, only water these bulbs once then wait for the spring blooms! After completing these steps, they will do their thing throughout winter to surprise you this spring.
I hope you found this step-by-step article helpful. Interested in seeing our spring blooms and the process of our cut flower garden creation? Be sure to subscribe below!
