Do you want to give it a try, because after all, anyone can plant ornamental onions? Why not - sowing as a generative propagation method is more complex, but also successful.

Unusual but possible: growing ornamental onions from seeds

When is a good time for sowing?

The seeds of ornamental onions should ideally be sown outdoors before the onset of winter. So the cold can affect them. Alternatively, if you have forgotten, you can sow them in spring. It is important that it is not too late. At best, they are sown from March and by the end of April at the latest.

The seeds are cold germs

It has just been mentioned - the seeds need exposure to cold. Without cold, they will not germinate. They are considered cold germs. Therefore, harvesting them and sowing them straight away in the warm living room at home won't work. They need temperatures below 10°C for several weeks.

Sow outdoors

If possible, sow the seeds outdoors. That's how it's done:

  • right after the harvest in late summer
  • loosen soil
  • mix in some compost
  • Sow seeds about 1 cm deep
  • 2 seeds per seed hole
  • keep moist
  • Germination time: until spring
  • prick later

prefer at home

Pre-cultivation at home can also work. However, it is much more involved and complicated as the seeds have to go through different periods to germinate. First of all, you should know that you do not have to sow the seeds immediately, you can store them in a dry and dark place until spring.

Here we go:

  • Wrap seeds in damp paper and place in a sealable container
  • put in a warm place
  • air daily to avoid mold
  • put in the fridge after 4 weeks
  • after 8 weeks take the seeds out of the fridge
  • sow in seed compost in pots
  • keep moist

Seeds from own breeding or bought

Ornamental onion seeds are rarely available commercially. Selling onions is common. But no problem: If you already have an ornamental onion plant, you can harvest its seeds by leaving the inflorescences in place after flowering in June.

tips

If the soil is particularly rich in humus, the ornamental onion often multiplies abundantly by self-sowing.

Category:

Indoor plants