Question
Hi! I live in Rhode Island- zone 6. I planted my first allium bulbs last fall. The name of the allium variety I planted is 'Gladiator'. 2 of the 3 bulbs I planted are growing beautifully, but one of the plants is actually growing 2 stems with 2 buds!  I thought that to be pretty cool at first, but now I've noticed that the one with 2 buds has weaker looking stems and are much shorter than the others. Do you think it'd help to cut one of them off, so the plant will put more energy into the one bud that's left? I'm not sure if that's how bulbs work or not. Or if it would be better to leave it as is? Any help or info would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
-Susan

Answer
Hello Susan,

This is a new one on me, and I have never heard of it, but I think that we can apply some logic to the situation. I think that your instinct to remove one of the buds is very sound.

I think that there was a flaw with your bulb that has resulted in this very strange growth pattern. Do you recall one looking different from the others? Plants with multiple stems often do better when smaller and weaker parts are removed. Peonies, for example, produce much larger flowers when some of the smaller buds are removed.  

I think that your bulb needs all the strength it can get. You can do this in a couple of ways.

Feed it! I always give my bulbs a feeding as they are coming up and after bloom.

Remove one of the buds. That way, the allium can put all of its strength into one flower. And although one of the wonderful things about alliums is their ornamental quality after bloom, do consider deadheading the other before it can go completely to seed, which requires a lot of strength from the plant.

I love alliums. I grow at least half a dozen types.

Does this help? Please feel free to write again if this is unclear or you have more questions.

Regards,

Donna