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Allium siculum

Honey Garlic · Honeybells

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Allium

A nodding head of bell-shaped flowers hanging on long stalks, cream at the tips and deep red inside the base
FlowerLeo MichelsCC0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Flower
CreamWikipedia
Native range
Bulgaria, Corse, France, Greece, Italy, Krym and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Honey garlic gives off a penetrating, sulfurous smell when any part is cut or handled. Its leaves are triangular in section and twist along their length. Wikipedia: Allium siculum

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around May 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on May 7, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 63 days.

75% germination in 42–63 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nectaroscordum p. 49Public domain
Show the original text
Nectaroscordum (Liliaceae). N. siculum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/4 in 6-9 w), 70L-40(1/3 in 11th w)-70D(2/3 in 4th w), and 40(1/5 in 12th w)-70D-40(2/5 in 7-9 w). A second sample rotted perhaps due to dying in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nectaroscordum p. 49. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 13, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1/3 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 28 days.

67% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nectaroscordum p. 49Public domain
Show the original text
Nectaroscordum (Liliaceae). N. siculum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/4 in 6-9 w), 70L-40(1/3 in 11th w)-70D(2/3 in 4th w), and 40(1/5 in 12th w)-70D-40(2/5 in 7-9 w). A second sample rotted perhaps due to dying in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nectaroscordum p. 49. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 7, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on February 6, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1/5 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 63 days.

40% germination in 49–63 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nectaroscordum p. 49Public domain
Show the original text
Nectaroscordum (Liliaceae). N. siculum DS 6 m germ. 70D-40(3/4 in 6-9 w), 70L-40(1/3 in 11th w)-70D(2/3 in 4th w), and 40(1/5 in 12th w)-70D-40(2/5 in 7-9 w). A second sample rotted perhaps due to dying in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nectaroscordum p. 49. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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