Content
Bulgarian ornamental onion is a perennial plant with elegant dark pink flowers with a white border. It is easy to care for and has fairly good winter hardiness. Used to decorate the garden in single plantings and flower arrangements.
Description
Bulgarian onions grow up to 90 cm in height. Flowering begins at the end of June. 20-30 small flowers of soft pink or dark red color appear on the shoots. Flowering lasts no more than a month, but even withered flowers can be used to make floral arrangements. Allium is characterized by satisfactory winter hardiness, but in regions with frosty winters it will be necessary not only to mulch the roots, but also to cover it with burlap.
Despite the fact that the Bulgarian onion bulb produces shoots only for one season, it constantly produces children, so the plant is considered a perennial. Thanks to its beautiful, original colors, allium can be used in almost any design.
The shape of the flowers of the decorative Bulgarian onion resembles bells
Growing from seeds
Allium can be grown from seeds.They are pre-treated with Epin, Kornevin or other growth stimulants. Then they are planted in a previously prepared area. It needs to be cleaned, dug up and complex mineral fertilizer with humus applied. They are deepened by 1-2 cm, and the planting is done tightly first.
Water and cover with film. After the sprouts appear, the Bulgarian onions are planted in a permanent place at a distance of 20-30 cm.
The next season, the mulch is removed and fed with nitrogen fertilizer.
How and when to plant in open ground
The optimal time for planting Bulgarian onions is the end of September (in the south - the end of October). If you carry out the procedure at this time, the plant will have time to take root and will withstand winter frosts well. The location is selected based on the following requirements:
- the area should be well lit (even a faint shadow is undesirable);
- The flower bed is located on a hill. In lowlands where moisture accumulates, allium onions will feel uncomfortable;
- If possible, plantings are protected from winds.
Instructions for planting Bulgarian onions are standard:
- Within a few weeks, the area is dug up and fertilized with mineral fertilizers and humus. You can add a few pinches of wood ash, but nitrogen fertilizers cannot be added in the fall.
- The holes for allium should be deep enough: at least 3 times the diameter of the bulb. The distance between them is 20-30 cm (depending on the desired planting density).
- If groundwater approaches the soil surface, it is necessary to lay a drainage layer (small stone).
- If the soil is infertile, a mixture of humus with garden soil and wood ash is added to the hole during digging or when planting.
- The allium bulb is placed at the bottom and buried, after which it is well watered and mulched.
It is better to plant Bulgarian onions in the fall.
Care
Caring for allium is simple - follow the watering norms and regularly apply fertilizers. Standard agricultural technology:
- Water is not given very often: in case of drought, weekly, but if the rains are heavy, then additional moisture is not needed.
- To prevent the soil from drying out, it is mulched with available materials.
- Fertilizing for allium is applied 3 times per season. In mid-spring, nitrogen fertilizer is given. During the formation of buds and after flowering, add a mixture of superphosphates with potassium salt or Agrofoska (complex fertilizer can also be used).
- On the eve of winter (mid-September), humus and peat can be placed on the soil surface.
- Loosening is carried out periodically, it is advisable to do this after each watering and fertilization. Bulgarian ornamental onions prefer light, oxygenated soil.
- The flowerbed should be weeded periodically to remove weeds. Mulch will help get rid of them.
Diseases and pests
Allium rarely suffers from disease because it has good immunity. But incorrect agricultural practices (excess water, growing in lowlands where moisture stagnates) can lead to rot, powdery mildew and other fungal infections.
To prevent this, you need to monitor the watering of the Bulgarian onions (the soil should be slightly moist). When the first signs of damage appear (powdery plaque, spots on the leaves, rapid yellowing of the foliage), it is necessary to treat the allium with any fungicide: Bordeaux mixture, Ordan, Fitosporin, Tattu, Topaz.
Allium can also be attacked by pests. Onion flies and root mites parasitize the crop.
Folk remedies (ash solution, onion peel infusion, marigold flower decoction) and insecticides will help you cope with insects: Aktara, Iskra, Karate, Confidor
Reproduction
Allium can be propagated by seeds and vegetatively (by bulbs, dividing the bush).
When propagated from seed, Bulgarian onions may not completely repeat the characteristics of the mother bush
This method is labor-intensive and not always effective: allium seeds must first be collected and planted in open ground under a film in September. After the sprouts appear, the seedlings will need to be pruned.
Most often, gardeners propagate allium by dividing an adult bush (minimum age 3 years). Bulgarian onions are dug up and separated so that 2-3 healthy shoots remain on each division. Then they are planted in a permanent place at a distance of 20-30 cm.
Growing Tips
Caring for allium is not very difficult. But when growing in the country, it is useful to know about some features of agricultural technology. Experienced gardeners recommend paying attention to the following tips:
- For prevention, it is recommended to warm the Bulgarian onion bulbs before planting overnight at a moderate temperature of no more than 35-40 °C.The plants need to be inspected periodically and, at the beginning of summer, sprinkled with tobacco dust. This allows you to reliably protect the foliage from parasites.
- Bulgarian onions bloom for a short time. In addition, during the appearance of inflorescences, the lower foliage begins to fade, which spoils the decorative effect of the allium. Therefore, it is advisable to plant ground covers (canopy plants) or low-growing flowers, as well as small hostas, next to it. Then the Bulgarian onion will look more attractive.
- Since allium blooms from late June to mid-July, after which the plant begins to form seeds, it is advisable to plant flowers that bloom at this time next to it. These are, for example, petunia, lavender, hydrangea, marigolds, verbena and many others.
- If you grow Bulgarian onions from seeds, you should keep in mind that their germination rate is not very high. Therefore, it is necessary to sow a lot of grains at once, and then pick the plants - then a significant part of the allium seedlings will be preserved.
Photos in landscape design
In the garden, allium is used in single and composition plantings: on an open, well-groomed lawn, in ridges and rock gardens, along paths, next to a gazebo and other recreation areas, in multi-tiered compositions.
Allium looks beautiful in single plantings
Several varieties of decorative onions can be combined with each other
Allium effectively decorates the shore of a reservoir
Allium will attract attention if planted against a backdrop of bright garden greenery.
Conclusion
Bulgarian decorative onions are interesting for their graceful flowers of unusual colors. It is an undemanding perennial plant grown from bulbs. If standard agricultural practices are followed, allium flowering will last at least three weeks.
