Alliums Planting Guide

June

Growing alliums in June

Whether you're sowing, transplanting, or harvesting, alliums needs the right timing. Check your zone below for exact dates.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 28–42

Plant depth 5″

Spacing 7″

How to water alliums
Mulch heavily around alliums to hold soil moisture without watering more often.
Where to put alliums
South-facing beds are ideal for alliums. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant alliums. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Find your zone's alliums schedule →

Ornamental alliums (Allium spp.) bridge the gap between spring and summer with their striking globe-shaped flower heads in shades of purple, violet, white, and pink. Blooming after tulips have faded, they extend the spring display well into early summer. 'Gladiator', 'Globemaster', and 'Purple Sensation' produce softball-sized heads on 18–36 inch stems, while smaller species create charming accents at border fronts. Deer and rodents shun them completely due to the characteristic onion scent. Dried seed heads provide architectural interest into fall.

Allium spp. · Flower · Amaryllidaceae family · 28–42 days to maturity

Bulb Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Alliums is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Alliums Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Alliums?

Zone Compatibility for Alliums Zones 3a – 9b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	—	—	—	Sep 15 – Oct 13
Zone 3b	—	—	—	Sep 22 – Oct 20
Zone 4a	—	—	—	Sep 28 – Oct 19
Zone 4b	—	—	—	Sep 26 – Oct 24
Zone 5a	—	—	—	Oct 1 – Oct 29
Zone 5b	—	—	—	Oct 6 – Oct 27
Zone 6a	—	—	—	Oct 6 – Nov 3
Zone 6b	—	—	—	Oct 11 – Nov 8
Zone 7a	—	—	—	Oct 25 – Nov 15
Zone 7b	—	—	—	Nov 1 – Nov 22
Zone 8a	—	—	—	Nov 11 – Dec 2
Zone 8b	—	—	—	Nov 28 – Dec 19
Zone 9a	—	—	—	Dec 10 – Dec 31
Zone 9b	—	—	—	Dec 27 – Jan 17

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Start Indoors shows "—" because Alliums is typically direct sown outdoors rather than started indoors. It germinates quickly and doesn't transplant well.

Transplant shows "—" because Alliums is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

Direct Sow shows "—" because Alliums benefits from being started indoors first, then transplanted after the last frost.

How to Plant Alliums

Planting Depth

Between Plants

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 6 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 9b

📅 Days to Maturity

28–42 days

One of the fastest crops — harvest in under a month!

👪 Plant Family

Amaryllidaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Amaryllidaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Alliums

Alliums matures in just 28–42 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 7 successive plantings by sowing every 3.1 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Alliums

✅ Good Companions

Tulips Daffodils Echinacea Salvia Iris

❌ Keep Away From

Beans Peas

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Alliums

Plant bulbs in fall, 3–4 times as deep as the bulb diameter (typically 4–6 inches for large types, 3 inches for small species). Space 6–8 inches apart for standard cultivars. Foliage often looks untidy as it dies back before bloom — plant around perennials that will conceal the yellowing leaves. Excellent drainage is essential; alliums rot in wet soils. Leave bulbs in place for naturalization; divide every 3–4 years when clusters become congested. Deadhead spent globes or leave for ornamental seedheads and self-sowing.

Saving Alliums Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Alliums by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Alliums?

Alliums (Allium spp.) takes 28 to 42 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Alliums grow in?

Alliums can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Alliums need?

Growing Alliums requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.5.