Frits & Alliums in pots?
Antennaria@aol.com (Thu, 15 May 2003 20:15:14 PDT)

Sorry that I haven't had time to jump in and respond to this question.

Alliums are quite growable in pots. I prefer to grow all my plants outdoors
in the ground, where soil temperature and moisture content are more even than
in pots. However, I've had good luck in pots too, with the exception of the
"big ball" type of alliums... A. giganteum, karataviense, cristophii, etc.,
which are prone to rot in too small a pot and require very large pots due to
their large bulb size and sensitivity to excess moisture.

Currently the only Alliums that I grow in pots are potentially tender
species, such as a half dozen Mexican species (at least one of which has
proved hardy here over the past 6-7 years). The tender Mediterranean species
are also growable in pots, and in some years I've grown A. neapolitanum and
roseum just to enjoy the spring bloom, but neither survives the winter here
(never) when planted outdoors.

But if you want to try growing Alliums in pots, they're fairly easy and
growable, and you're likely to have good success. The most important risk is
moisture content, and I have "boiled" enough bulbs in pots that are too moist
during hot weather, so keep an eye on them during hot spells. Similarly,
during an Allium's resting period or dormancy, excess moisture can be a risk.

Mark McDonough Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States
antennaria@aol.com "New England" USDA Zone 5
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alliums, bulbs, penstemons, hardy hibiscus, western
american alpines, iris, plants of all types!