Do Alliums cross-pollinate?

[SarzWix]

I don't think the chives will cross-pollinate, they're not the same thing? You should be able to tell by the types of leaves though (I think that's what the HSL thingy was saying - flat leaves and round leaves are different and won't cross). If it looks like they might cross you'll have to put a fleece/insect mesh cover over the ones you want to save and pollinate with a brush.

[veggiechicken]

Thank you Zaz - as you can tell I'm very motherly towards by Babbies
I shall let them go forth and multiply!

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Sarz And everyone else who's contributed.
I've learnt a lot today about Alliums that I never knew before!
Its been a good day

[zazen999]

Just to be clear, you don't need to do that for bulbils. Just seed.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I want to save bulbils (which are effectively seed)

Oh no they aren't. Panto time . vegetative propagation which is what propagating from bulbils or pips is, will result in a clone of the parent plant. It's how the leek exhibitors propogate their leeks. Once they have a good strain, they want to keep that exact strain going.


It's actually quite a good way of propagating exhibition onions as well but unfortunately, it's much harder to get them to throw pips/bulbils. Having said that, The year I tried to cross breed a new strain, both onion heads were covered in bulbils and I had virtually no seed. Sods law innit .

I had a very big onion which was soft and prone to fungal attack and a smaller well shaped harder onion which was resistant if you wonder what I was up to and trying to achieve

[bearded bloke]

I had a very big onion which was soft and prone to fungal attack and a smaller well shaped harder onion which was resistant if you wonder what I was up to and trying to achieve

Hey AP,I hope you are not using your "onions" as a yoofamism there bud

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Ap! So, if a plant produces bulbils, it doesn't produce seed - or can it do both?
There's a lot more to these alliums than I thought

[Aberdeenplotter]

They can do both.