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Allium problem

PeadarPeadar Posts: 58
in Problem solving
I planted some allium bulbs last autumn- osatari , christophii and ping pong. The first two did very well and produced large, impressive blooms. However, ping pong only produced one fully formed flower. All 18 grew, but the flowers of all but one were either deformed, are appeared to have decayed- see photos. 
Has anyone any thoughts on the cause?

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I wonder if something has eaten it? I would remove it asap.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Looks like it’s reverted to its wild state,  I had a big bed of the drumstick ones (can’t remember the name). They came up for a few years,  Bee magnets,  this year they are all like those,  green tendrils and just a hard centre,  pulling them all out was a nightmare,  there were hundreds of tiny ones,  I’ll be pulling them out forever.
    I don’t know why that happens. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • CatDouchCatDouch Posts: 488
    Hi @Peadar I’ve had a similar problem, I’ve got Alium Purple Sensation and some are exactly like yours.  Mine are in their second year, last year a couple didn’t open but this year probably 50% didn’t open properly.  You can see the deformed/unopened ones in the bottom of my photo.  Sorry I can’t shed any light on the problem but it’s not just you 🤔
    South Devon 
  • SYinUSASYinUSA Posts: 243
    It almost looks like the seeds ripened before the flowers opened and started sending out new stems from there. I wonder if it's a natural response to dry conditions - setting seed sooner to give themselves a chance to reproduce. I've seen seeds sprouting from inside vegetables before, so why not ornamental onions too?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That’s exactly what mine did,  looking on the net, seems they are special,  they weren’t to me, I’ve never planted them and they’re everywhere,  some must have got into the compost bin because they come up where I never planted them. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_vineale
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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