Allium seed

I had some of the large Allium Christophi bulbs and they flowered so beautifully, now the seed heads are providing their own spectacular display,

I would like to harvest the seeds so ,when is it best to do so ,they are still green at the moment do i wait until they start going brown ,and when do i sow them ,now, or should i dry them till next spring

 

Never grown them from seed, but I remember reading in a book that you need to wait until the seed heads are about to open and scatter. I dried a few seed heads last summer for indoors. I didn't pick them until they were brown and dry and then the seeds were starting to scatter (especially all over the house when I brought them in!).

I'v heard they can take several years before new plants will bloom, but again, never tried it.

 

I am currently growing Allium Christophii from seed from the seed bank thread ( great thread, avail yourselves of it guys). I sowed them late last yr and greenhoused them at first-then ( peter I think it was) told me that was unnecessary so I whizzed them back out again. They are like wispy blades of grass now but all have germinated and are looking good. I can't see them flowering next year to be honest, there is no way are they building up a bulb under the soil-so maybe the year after.

 

Collect as said, but foor best germination sow fresh. Sow in deep pots rather than seed trays and leave out over Winter, they germinate in Spring. Do not prick out, rather feed every two weeks with half strength fertiliser. If need be repot the whole lot in a deeper pot (I use those Clematis pots). Grow on until they go dormant. Best split when they are dormant.