The ornamental onion rightly bears its name, it is an ornament in the summer garden. This applies in particular to the rather impressive giant leek (bot. Allium giganteum). With the right care, you will have a lot of fun with the spherical flowers.

The giant leek likes it sunny

The ideal location and the right soil

Allium giganteum, the giant leek, needs a sunny spot to flower beautifully. The soil is preferably dry to slightly moist and moderately nutritious. If it is not permeable, then create a drainage made of gravel or sand. If he feels good, then the giant leek will spread all by itself in your garden.

The perfect planting hole

Ideally, you should plant ornamental onions three times as deep as the onion is tall. In the case of the giant leek, this corresponds to a planting depth of about 20 centimetres. The distance between the individual plants should be about 30 centimeters. However, dig the planting hole a few centimeters deeper.

A layer of sand or gravel about five centimeters high ensures the necessary permeability of the soil. Also add some compost before planting the onion. So your giant leek has enough nutrients for growth and the first flowering.

The ideal planting time for the giant leek

A suitable planting time is autumn from September to the first frost. The earlier you plant your giant leeks, the sooner they will sprout in spring. Planted early, your leeks have enough time to grow well and form strong roots until winter.

Can giant leeks be combined with other plants?

Giant leeks can be excellently combined with a wide variety of plants. It fits well in a romantic country house garden, with roses and ornamental grasses. Low groundcover hides the yellowing leaves of the leek in summer. Herbs such as lavender or oregano are also good neighbors for giant leeks.

The essentials in brief:

  • Location: ideally very sunny
  • Soil: well drained, without waterlogging
  • Planting time: autumn, September until the beginning of frost
  • Planting distance: 30 cm
  • Planting depth: 20 cm
  • Drainage: about 5 cm of sand in the planting hole
  • Fertilizer: compost

tips

Giant leek combines well with other plants. This is an excellent way to conceal the leaves that are already yellowing in summer.

Category:

Indoor plants