Ramps are highly prized spring harvests for chefs – discover how to grow your own at home from bulbs or seeds to have rich pickings for years to come

Ramps (Allium tricoccum) are traditionally wild plants foraged for their flavorful bulbs and foliage. Nowadays, ramps are highly prized and are increasingly seen on restaurant plates and sold in stores. The problem is that over-harvesting impacts natural clumps, so it is becoming increasingly popular to grow ramps in backyards.

Also known as wild leeks, ramps are native plants to eastern North America and can make a great choice for any gardeners looking to bring wild and edible woodland plants into their yard. It requires the right location and some patience to grow ramps, but a thriving clump can provide harvests for many years.

Attempting to grow ramps at home is a sustainable way to protect natural clumps and give yourself access to the distinct sweet garlic-onion flavored leaves and bulbs. This guide looks in-depth at how to grow ramps from bulbs or seeds, all the way through to harvesting the crop.

How to grow ramps at home

You can grow ramps from bulbs or seeds, but bulbs provide a harvest in half the time (3-5 years) of seeds (up to 7 years) and are the preferred method for most. A third option is to divide plants, but do not dig clumps of ramps from public or private land without permission.

How to grow ramps from bulbs

Ramps bulbs can be bought from nurseries or online and are best planted as soon as you get them. If the weather is not suitable for planting, ramps bulbs can be kept in a refrigerator for up to a week.

The best time to plant bulbs is in early spring, in February or March, and you need to be careful not to damage the delicate bulbs or any roots. Prepare the planting bed ahead of time and plant the ramps bulbs three inches deep in the soil, with the tip of the bulb just popping out of the ground. Space individual bulbs 4-6 inches apart to give plants space to spread and keep the soil moist.

How to grow ramps from seed

Ramps can be grown from seed, but it requires patience. You sow seeds outdoors in early fall but it may take time for them to germinate and at least five years until the first harvest. Seeds need a period of cold stratification for germination, which is achieved by planting ramp seeds in the fall. However, specific conditions are required for germination that may result in seeds not germinating for 18 months. You can get wild leeks seeds at Walmart to sow at home in the fall.

As for how to plant ramp seeds, remove any leaves or debris and loosen the top layer of soil with a hand rake. Sow the ramp seeds thinly and gently press them into the ground, before covering them with a couple of inches of leaf mulch to protect the seeds. Keep the soil moist and retain a close eye for the first seedlings to appear.

Where to grow ramps

Ramps prefer to grow in a shaded woodland garden environment. They want a part-shade spot and are ideal shade plants for areas where they can get natural cover to imitate where they grow in the wild.

‘Think of places that mimic their natural forest habitat: partial to full shade, and rich, moist, well-draining soil,’ says Andre Paquette, founder of Firefly Farm and Mercantile. ‘If you have a spot under deciduous trees, that’s ideal. They like cool, damp conditions and thrive when protected from the hot midday sun.’

Growing underneath deciduous trees allows ramps to take advantage of the mild temperatures and increased sunlight in spring before the tree canopy grows. The foliage then protects them from summer sun and leaf scorch.

Andre Paquette

Andre, founder of Firefly Farm and Mercantile, has over 30 years of experience in gardening and seed cultivation. A passionate grower, he and his wife cultivate more than 400 varieties of heirloom seeds, along with peonies, roses, and garden bulbs for all seasons. Their exhibition and growing gardens, showcasing their dedication to sustainable gardening and rare varieties, are open to visitors during much of the growing season.

How to grow ramps - care tips

Watering plants is an important aspect to get right when growing ramps. It is a fine balancing act as ramps like consistently moist conditions all year round, but overwatering plants and leaving them sitting in soggy soil can cause root rot.

A soil moisture meter, available at Amazon, can be a useful tool to judge when to water plants and maintain the fine line between giving them the moisture they need and drowning them. As for how much moisture is the right amount, Graham Smith, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, recommends giving ramps ‘an inch to an inch and a half of water per week’ and not only during the growing season as with many other plants. ‘Ramps need water all year round, even when the bulbs are dormant, and especially if your garden is dry,’ he adds.

Fertilizer is often not required if you grow ramps in rich soil with lots of organic matter. ‘Since they naturally grow in rich, humus forest soil, they don’t need heavy feeding - just a top-dressing of compost or well-rotted leaf mulch in the fall will keep them thriving,’ says David Miller, an arborist and gardening expert at Austin Tree Services. Leaf mold is an excellent choice for mulching as it replicates woodland conditions and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

Take time to keep the area weed-free to ensure your ramps are not robbed of water or nutrients by unwanted plants. It is imperative to take care when weeding not to damage or dislodge the ramps bulbs. The process of mulching ramps plants annually will help to smother weeds and prevent unwanted seeds from germinating.

How to harvest ramps

Ramps can take at least three years from planting to get to the stage where you can begin harvesting. It is important to give the plants enough time to establish and to show restraint when picking - it would be a harvesting mistake to take more than 15 per cent of a clump each year.

The time to harvest comes in early spring and there are different ways to harvest, ranging from digging all the bulbs in a patch to harvesting just one leaf from each plant.

Lisa Keys, a home gardener, forager and writer of the blog Good Grief Cook, has foraged for ramps for many years and planted a clump in her yard in Pennsylvania. She recommends: ‘When it comes to harvesting ramps, it is best not to dig up the bulbs but instead cut a single leaf from an individual plant. This way of harvest ensures that the ramps will continue to thrive.’

Whether you lift bulbs or harvest just the foliage, only take a small amount and leave enough behind to ensure the plants can regenerate. This guarantees the future health of the clump and many more years of harvesting.

FAQs

Can you grow ramps in a pot?

You can grow ramps in pots as part of any container garden, and the plants are also suitable for raised beds. Any container for ramps must be at least 12 inches deep and have drainage holes in the bottom for excess moisture to escape. Fill the container with a fertile, well-draining potting mix and plant bulbs or sow seeds 4-6 inches apart. Top the container with a layer of leaf mulch and place it in a shady spot in the yard.

Ramps continue to be a popular plant for those who forage for food. If you want to go out to pick ramps in your local area, check our guide to foraging mistakes to avoid to make sure you do things properly. It includes expert tips for ensuring you are safe to forage in specific locations, avoiding overharvesting, and having the right tools for the task.