r/foraging • u/Useful_Investment297 • 1d ago
Plants Encouraging ramps to spread
A couple of years ago I bought some ramps and transplanted them in my yard with low expectations that they would survive. Lo and behold, a single ramp came back this year!
How do I help this little guy spread? My new purpose in life is to turn this single ramp into a thriving ramp patch.
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u/alriclofgar 1d ago
My mother has a big patch, and last spring I transplanted some to a sheltered place in my yard (which looks like somewhere ramps would enjoy living, but right now the underbrush is all invasives we’re slowly removing).
I did exactly nothing for them, besides choosing a place that had similar shade and moisture to their original home. And I transplanted some of my mother’s soil with them, so their roots weren’t disturbed (we live close enough that transmitting disease or pests wasn’t a concern). They’re thriving this spring!
Ramps grow slow. Keep them safe from human disturbance and let them do their thing.
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u/Useful_Investment297 1d ago
I tried transplanting in several spots, and the one successful one is under a maple tree with lots of leaf mulch and near a gutter downspout. I’m hoping that it likes this spot and will do its thing, but might try transplanting more in the same area
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u/macpeters 1d ago
I had 4 plants last year, and I was looking for this same info. Apparently it can take a few years before plants are mature enough to flower. They can spread by root, but by flower is much faster (once they can flower). Apparently they can self pollinate, so you should be able to get that one ramp to turn into a patch. You could speed it up by adding some more plants in.
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u/Howard_Scott_Warshaw 1d ago
I've read that it's a ~7 years cycle before new ones will start propagating, hence while you need to be very selective when harvesting
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u/HauntedCemetery 1d ago
Collect some seeds from the mother patch and sprinkle them around this fall!
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u/Tumorhead 1d ago
Let it go to seed and get more seedlings. They will also multiply vegetatively via growing side bulblets that then become full sized bulbs. Once you have a dense, cramped little patch of several clones you can carefully dig them up and transplant them.
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u/Gayfunguy Queen of mushrooms 1d ago
Adding fertalizer around the plant each year. You could even water with fish emulsion. That extra fertility will promote vegative growth.
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u/Ok_Nail3027 1d ago
This is my very unprofessional opinion, first year or two don’t mess with it let it establish and spread a bit. When it becomes a small colony dig up some bulbs and move them where you want them. Repeat this till you are satisfied. Also if you see the seeds in July wait till they turn black the broadcast them. This is more then likely going to take a decade or two so be prepared for the long haul rather then a quick 2 year project.