When is the best time to move or divide large-headed alliums (not sure of the varieties). I suddenly seem to have a lot this year. Also any tips for how to divide them?
You can do them now..they have more and less finished with their growing and if yours are like mine..there is only a seedheads sticking out. I just did divided some of mine..just dig some up and plant somewhere else..there will be individual bulbs so not actual physical 'division' (as chopping anything in half) is involved.
Thanks- that sounds easy- but I think I'll wait until it cools down a bit- I'm working up a sweat just walking round the garden at the moment!
Like most bulbs they need to die back to put the goodness back for next year. I quite like leaving the seedheads on and spraying them with glitter to give the bed a bit of bling. Cut them off later for xmas decorations.
Sorry to disagree a little Ace, but with the big alliums the leaves have already done their work and more often than not have died back even before the flowers appear. Certainly they do not last long after that. Once the flower has finished the whole stalk is only lightly connected to the bulb and once the seed is ripe the whole thing is supposed to disconnect and blow away across the Steppes spreading the seed as it goes.
So, with those alliums you can divide and conquer as soon after the flowers have gone to seed as you need to. Actually is some ways it is the best time as at least you can see where they are and whether there is more than one bulb in that position.
I only ever dig mine up by accident, I just leave them in the ground and the bottom leaves are usually covered by the succession planting so have never noticed them wilting off before the flower comes poking through. I find the bigger varieties do not throw of many babies. Unless they find it hard to compete, but I do suffer badly with wild garlic, so they might get pulled out when I have a mad session at getting rid of it. My herbacious border is due for a complete dig over, clean, re-manure and replant this winter, so I will have a gather up and see if they have multiplied.