Alliums can be grown from seed relatively easily, you can grow them both indoors and directly in the garden as well. The process of growing Alliums from seeds indoors and outdoors is mostly the same, although if you are direct sowing them you will have to keep up with watering them until they do germinate. The good news is that once the Allium seeds turn into bulbs they will flower and self seed without any help from you.
To grow Allium from seed you have to make sure that you prepare the soil first, remove all the grasses and the weeds as well, and tilling the soil is highly recommended. The ideal time to sow Allium seeds in the garden is in autumn, if you want to start them indoors then the months of January and February are recommended. Allium seeds will germinate in about 12 weeks, so make sure to water them every day until they are able to germinate.
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Allium seeds will germinate in around 12 weeks, although this process can get a lot longer if you direct sow them into the garden. Seeds in the garden will wait for the ideal conditions in order to germinate, and this could mean that the germination will be delayed for a couple of weeks, to even months especially if they do not get enough water. On the other hand, if you want to start your Allium seeds indoors then as long as you keep the soil moist they should germinate in about 12 weeks.
The ideal time for direct sowing Allium seeds in the garden is in autumn, as they do benefit from cold exposure. On the other hand, if you are growing the seeds indoors then you should start them in January or February, this way the plant will be big enough to be planted outside once the local weather gets warm enough. If you want to know the main pros and cons of Allium seeds vs bulbs then check out my recent article Allium Seeds VS Bulbs ( Pros & Cons ).
How To Grow Alliums From Seed
Start by selecting high-quality allium seeds from a reputable source. Sow the seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, as alliums require a period of cold stratification for germination. Fill a seed tray or pots with a well-draining seed-starting mix and press the seeds gently into the soil, covering them lightly with a thin layer of soil. Water the seeds gently and place the tray or pots in a location with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil consistently moist but not overly wet.
It may take several weeks for the seeds to germinate. Once the seedlings have grown a few inches tall, they can be transplanted into individual pots or containers. Harden off the seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for a few hours each day. When the danger of frost has passed, transplant the seedlings into the garden, spacing them according to the specific requirements of the allium variety. Provide them with full sun, well-draining soil, and regular watering.
Prepare The Soil
It is extremely important to prepare the soil for the Allium seeds, if you just sow the seeds into the lawn they will not germinate. Make sure to remove any grasses or weeds in the area where you want to sow the seeds. Allium seeds will not be able to compete with established grasses and weeds, so you have to protect them from competition until they are mature enough. If you want to plant the seeds in an area where there is grass growing then you will have to dig up the grasses including their roots as well.
You can till the soil if the area is larger, if not you can do it manually with a shovel. If you want to do the no-dig method then you can lay down a tarp on the area which will kill off the weeds and the grasses after a couple of months. The chemical approach is simply to spray the area with a universal herbicide and plant the Allium seeds after 3 weeks, although I don’t really recommend this method because the chemicals can linger in the soil for several years.
If you want to grow the seeds indoors then make sure to use a high-quality potting mix and a growing tray. It will be a lot easier to grow the Allium seeds indoors, although this method takes up a lot of space. For more information about Alliums self seeding check out my recent article Do Alliums Self Seed? ( From Seed To Flowers ).
When To Plant Allium Seeds
Allium seeds should be sown in the garden in autumn, they can germinate in the spring as well, but they will be a lot stronger and healthier if you do it in the autumn. In addition to this, they are more likely to come up in the spring as they will have a head start when compared to the ones sown in the spring. If you start the Allium seeds indoors then you can start them in January or February and you can plant them outside in May.
Make Sure The Allium Seeds Are In Direct Contact With The Soil
Once you have prepared the soil and you are sowing the seeds you have to make sure that they come in direct contact with the soil. The problem with Allium seeds is that they are extremely light and even a light wind can simply blow them away. In addition to this if the seeds are not in direct contact with the soil they will not be able to germinate. If you are direct sowing the Allium seeds in your garden then make sure to rake them in and most importantly water them as well.
Water will simply make the seeds stick to the soil, and if you skip the watering part then you might find your Allium seeds germinating in your neighbor’s garden. If you are growing the Allium seeds indoors then plant 2-3 seeds in each seedling pot, then cover it with a thin layer of potting mix.
Keep The Allium Seeds Moist Until They Germinate
The only way Allium seeds will be able to germinate is if they are getting enough moisture, now this doesn’t mean that they need to be drenched in water every day, but you have to make sure that the soil is not dried out. Most Allium seeds will germinate in around 12 weeks, which means that you will have to water them every day. In case you skip the watering part then the seeds will still germinate although it will take a lot longer time.
If you are growing the Allium seeds indoors then simply spray the seedling tray once every day, and cover the tray. It will be a lot easier to germinate the Allium seeds indoors than outside, so if you only have a couple of dozen seeds then I highly recommend you to start them indoors.
Protect The Seedlings From Slugs And Other Pests
Although most slugs will stay away from Alliums but if they are hungry enough they will definitely go for them. To protect the Allium seedlings from slugs you should use slug pellets, simply sprinkle them around the seedlings, once a week should be enough. If you have sown your Allium seeds in the spring then definitely use slug pellets, if you have sown them in the autumn then use the slug pellets in the spring.
Plant The Allium Seedlings Outside If You Have Started Them Indoors
If you have started your Allium seeds indoors then make sure to plant them outside correctly. Alliums grow the best under full sun conditions, but seedlings will struggle. Simply bring out the seedling tray and place it in an area with partial shade, this way they can adjust to the new conditions. After 2-3 weeks the seedlings should be strong enough to grow under full sun. Before you plant all of them in a full sun location, make sure to test it out with a couple of seedlings and see how they grow.
If they start to get leaf burns or wilt then leave them in their shady spot for a couple of more weeks.
How Long Until Allium Seeds Will Be Able To Flower?
It takes around 3 years until the Allium seeds will be able to flower, although this also depends on how fast they germinate and when the seeds have been sown. If you have sown the Allium seeds in autumn then they are most likely to flower in 2 years. Moisture and soil conditions will also dictate how long it takes the seeds to turn into established plants that actually flower. As long as the Alliums are still growing in your garden every year, it is only a matter of time before they will actually flower. If you want to know when and how to divide Allium bulbs then check out my recent article When And How To Divide Alliums? ( Easy Guide ).
Key Takeaways
- To grow alliums from seed first prepare the soil, make sure that the seeds are in direct contact with the soil, keep the soil moist until they germinate, and protect them from pests.
- It is extremely important to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate.
- It takes around 2-3 years until the Allium seeds turn into mature plants and actually flower.
