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Allium Problem
NGLittleSeedlings
Posts: 729
Hello,
Can anybody tell me why the tips of some leaves on my Alliums leafs are starting to curl and go brown? They are grown in pots, well watered and have budded up nicely.
The rest of the plant seems healthy except for a few leafs having this problem.
If anybody could tell me what causes this and how to prevent it then that would be great.
I hope you are all having a good weekend 
0
Posts
They do. Some look really naff by the time they flower, best behind something to hide the leaves.
W/E good thanks
In the sticks near Peterborough
Ohh I didn't know it was normal for them to do that, feel a bit silly now, oops lol
Thanks for replying
This article http://www.trecanna.com/garden-articles/Cornish%20Gardener%20article%20-%20May%2005%20Alliums%202.pdf
says that it's perfectly normal for the leaf tips of alliums to go brown and that it doesn't indicate a problem.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Could they possibly be a bit over watered? Alliums like quite dry, free draining conditions. Stick your finger in the compost and see if it's very wet below the top inch or two. They don't usually have many pests and diseases so it's the only thing I can think of.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It's not silly,
It's not something the sellers advertise
In the sticks near Peterborough
We've had a lot of rainfall this week and this is when I noticed it so that has increased the intake of water they got, I only watered them when the compost was dry beforehand
Several people on here are talking about overwintered onions and garlic having brown tips, and mine here do, but they seem to be bulbing up nicely, so not surprising if alliums are similarly affected. Maybe to do with wet mild winter? Although we have good draining soil here. But I think it is a universal issue, if that's any consolation.
Thanks for everyone's quick responses
I don't think it is the weather or watering. I bought a pack of alliums years ago and they have seeded themselves all over the garden, wet, dry, sun, shade. A significant proportion begin to turn brown before the flower buds are fully formed but they still flower and seed normally. Don't worry about it as long as you get a good show!
I grow mine amongst other perennials, ( usually hostas ) which tend to mask the grotty allium foliage, but allow the flowers to perform.