There are a few different ways to propagate wild garlic (also known as ramps or ramsons). While they do grow from bulbs, they also produce seeds that allow the plants to self-sow naturally. If you’re planning on starting them from seed yourself, you’ll need a little patience—these seeds actually need a cold snap to trigger germination.
Harvesting Seeds in May
While you can start harvesting wild garlic leaves around late March, it takes about two more months for the plants to produce flowers and seeds. The seed pods start out green, and once the seeds inside are fully ripe, the pods will naturally burst open.
As soon as you see those pods starting to crack, it’s go-time for harvesting.
How to Harvest Wild Garlic Seeds
To collect your seeds, simply snip off the entire flower heads. Spread them out on some newspaper and let them dry out. Once they’re nice and dry, the seeds will pop right out of the capsules.
Timing is everything here: if you wait too long, the seeds will have already fallen onto the ground. But if you harvest them too early, they won’t be fully mature and won’t sprout later.
Once dried, keep your seeds in a cool, dry spot until autumn.
Sowing Wild Garlic
Wild garlic is what we call a “cold germinator,” meaning the seeds need a period of chilly weather to wake up. They are also “light germinators,” so you shouldn’t bury them under a thick layer of soil.
The best time for sowing wild garlic is either in the fall or very early spring. You can scatter the seeds directly in your garden in a moist, semi-shaded spot. If you want to give them a better head start, try starting them in a more controlled environment.
Grab a large seed tray and fill it with starting mix, then spread the seeds evenly across the surface. To keep them from washing away when it rains or when you water them, cover them with a thin layer of quartz sand. The sand is heavy enough to hold the seeds in place but still lets enough light through for them to grow.
Eating Wild Garlic Seeds
Did you know you can actually eat the seeds? Ripe wild garlic seeds can be used just like peppercorns. Even the unripe green seeds make a great seasoning once they’re dried. To dry green wild garlic seeds, spread them out on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven at about 120°F (50°C) with the door propped slightly open.
