Ever considered planting allium on your homestead? What is allium and what are the best ways to grow it? Keep reading to find out!
Allium – A Homesteading Guide to Onions, Garlics, Chives, and Allium Flowers
Allium has been a part of my homestead for as long as I can remember. They’re so versatile, you could plant one type into your flower garden and the other in your vegetable garden. Here’s how to get started.
Allium is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants that includes the cultivated onion,garlic, scallion, shallot and leek as well as chives and hundreds of other wild species. [wikipedia]
Planting Allium In Your Garden
I always try to plant with a purpose. Who doesn’t want to feed their family from their own land. Planting alliums will not only give you readily available onions and garlic, but it will also give you a great sense of self-sufficiency! These plants are potent with flavor and will enhance any dish that you add them too. Not only that, but their blooming flowers are a sight to see. Here are some species that you can start planting in your garden.
Allium Species
1. Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum)
Leeks remind me of so many recipes. I’m craving some miso soup now. Read more on it here.
2. Red Onion (Allium atrorubens)
Sometimes called purple onions. Available all season so you can have as much as you want either raw or cooked. Check them out here.
RELATED: 9 Surprising Health Benefits of Onions
3. Scallion (Allium chinense)
If you’re looking for a milder taste from most onions, this is it. Read more about it here.
4. Shallot (Allium fistulosum)
Don’t be fooled, it looks similar to red onions only smaller. Check it out here.
5. Garlic Chive (Allium tuberosum)
An Asian species of onion but it tastes more like garlic than they do like chive, thus the name. Get more details here.
6. Ramps (Allium tricoccum)
Don’t get these confused with leek, scallions or shallots. They’re a different specie altogether. You’ll know when you taste it. Get everything you need to know here.
7. Garlic Scape
They look oh so interesting with their loops. Read more on them here.
8. Garlic (Allium Sativum)
You use it in almost everything that you cook. Aside from that, it has been proven that they have so many health benefits. See how you can grow them here.
9. Yellow or Brown Onion (Allium cepa)
Also called brown onion, it has a rich taste and like red onions, they’re also available throughout the year. Read up here.
Here is a beautiful illustration of allium species
Allium Flower Garden
This plant, while commonly known as just a seasoning or flavor-enhancer, can also be very beautiful! They are hardy, easy to care for, and will even grow in almost any kind of soil. If you want to give these perennials a shot, here are some of my favorites.
1. Purple Sensation
The name says it all. Beautiful and sensationally purple.
2. Allium Caeruleum
If you love the color blue as much as I do, you’ll surely fall in love with this flower.
4. Allium Moly
They may not look like an onion, but trust me, they are.
5. Universe
One of the largest of allium flowers. They truly are one big ball of joy.
6. Allium Millennium
If you want something that has a long bloom season, this is your plant.
Want to see how to plant bulbs? Then check out this video tutorial from Longfield Gardens:
So are you going to start planting alliums in your homestead? Let us know below in the comments!
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