Ramp Bulb Planting Instructions

Original growing methods developed by Glen Facemire Jr., founder of America's premier ramp farm.

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1. Choosing Your Location

Ramps (Allium tricoccum) thrive in conditions that mimic their native Appalachian forest floor:

• Canopy: Plant under deciduous trees (sugar maple, beech, oak, poplar) that filter sunlight through the canopy in early spring.
• Avoid Evergreens: DO NOT plant ramps under pines, spruce, hemlock, cedar, holly, or mountain laurel. Highly acidic evergreen needle beds inhibit growth.
• Soil: Moist, rich, loose woodland soil covered with an inch or two of decaying leaves, which supply natural nitrogen and retain moisture.

2. Holding & Storage (If Not Planting Immediately)

If you cannot plant your bulbs the day they arrive:

• Store bare root bulbs in a cool, dark place (such as a root cellar or refrigerator crisper drawer).
• Keep the packing material lightly moist, but never soaking wet.
• Bulbs can be safely held for a week or more. If tips begin to yellow or sprout slightly, they will normalize once planted in native soil.

3. Step-by-Step Planting Instructions

1. Dig the Trench or Hole: Dig down approximately 3 inches deep.
2. Place the Bulb: Hold the tip of the bulb upright while gently spreading the roots downward into the trench. If bulbs arrived clustered together via root division, do not force them apart—plant the clump together.
3. Backfill and Firm: Fill loose soil around the bulb and roots. Press the dirt firmly until the tip of the bulb is sitting just at ground level.
4. Mulch Liberally: Cover the planting area with a 1- to 2-inch blanket of hardwood forest leaves to insulate against winter frost heave and preserve summer moisture.

Glen's Time-Saving Tip (Bunch Planting):
Rather than planting individual bulbs a few inches apart, plant bulbs in tight bunches of 10 to 15 bulbs per hole. When the patch matures in 3 to 5 years, you can dig up entire clusters at once, drastically reducing harvest labor.

4. Water & Maintenance

Once planted beneath deciduous mulch, nature handles the rest. Ramps do not require supplemental fertilizer or routine watering unless experiencing severe drought in their first spring.

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