Can I plant allium bulbs now?

[WellTidy]

Obviously, they wouldn't flower this year, but could I plant them now for next year? I ask as at this time of year, I can see the gaps in the borders where I would want them to come through. It autumn, I have summer perennials which are still in flower and I can't see the same gaps.

I would like to plant quite a lot of allium bulbs (maybe 60 or so, all different varieties) and more lupins in one of the borders. I will wit until spring next year to plant the lupins as I've left it too late for this year.

I'd wait until the autumn if I were you

@reservoircats Why? what goes wrong if you plant them now?

I’d wait too but can’t you bung some bamboo canes in where you want to plant them to mark the places? Or - you can grow them in pots and plant them ‘in the green’ next spring when you can see where you need them to go. Although appreciate 60+ pots will be a faff.

@MereDintofPandiculation because the ones in my garden are flowering now, so it wouldn't make sense to plant them as bulbs because I don't think they would flower this year.

I know they won’t flower this year.

And yes, I would really struggle to keep 60 pots going!

@reservoircats But isn't that false logic? It's the growth they make this year that will build up the food stores for next year's flowers. And they'll grow more effectively in the summer than over autumn when light levels are low, and in winter they'll just be losing energy and drawing on the food reserves. So better to get them in the ground now, than to leave them for an even longer period of draining reserves.

@MereDintofPandiculation does it really matter? It's just my opinion, I'm not forcing it upon anyone!

Was going to ask the same thing. I planted a load of allium drumstick months ago and most of them have come up as green shoots, but no flowers? Does this mean they were planted too late and will flower next year? I have another packet I found in the boot of the car and they have started getting shoots and I wondered if I should just plant them now anyway?

I think it's a bit early for buds on drumstick alliums belfasteast. Mine are currently in the green shoot stage, and I don't expect them to have buds for a while yet.

I'd just plant any bulbs now, just to save wasting them. They might not last unplanted until the autumn.

I’m going to get them in the ground now I think. I can see the gaps now and hopefully the border will look more balanced next year. I’m quite excited about it already!

@reservoircats Of course it matters! If it's a matter of preference, that's one thing, but if there's a definite reason to keep them out of the ground (they're susceptible to allium fly/their growth cycle is fucked and they die over winter/they flower poorly and late and then don't flower next year) then that's important to know. I'm not getting at you, I'm trying to increase my own knowledge.

I left some align bulbs to plant later this year and they'd gone a bit mouldy, I'd get them in the ground now - generally think they're best where they belong not sat in a shed

*alium, predictive text!

I will definitely get them in now then, thanks! No more dithering!