Collecting and Planting Garlic or Wild Onion Bulbils

Propagating Alliums from Topsets (Bulbils)

The round purple flower head described likely belongs to garlic (Allium sativum) or a wild onion (Allium vineale), which produce bulbils (small clones) instead of true seeds.

Harvesting

Wait until the flower head dries completely on the plant. The bulbils will be visible as tiny cloves (pea-sized) inside the papery sheath.

Planting

• Plant bulbils in fall, 30 days before ground freezes, 1 inch deep, 3 inches apart.
• They will produce small "rounds" (single-clove bulbs) the first year.
• Replant rounds the next fall to develop multi-clove bulbs in year 2–3.

Better Method: Clove Division

For reliable, faster results, divide the main bulb into individual cloves and plant each clove point-up, 2 inches deep, 6 inches apart in fall. Each clove yields a full bulb next summer.

Storage

If not planting immediately, refrigerate bulbils in a sealed bag to prevent desiccation.