Who Wants Ramp Bulbs?

Greetings and Happy New Year once again to all of my fellow ramps connoisseurs.

I hope that the past year was good to you and I hope that 2015 is an even better year for you.

I have a question I would like to ask you today.

(PSSST… We’ve got a facebook page now. Give us a like. See it over there on the right? ———>)

Would you be interested in purchasing ramp bulbs before the official ramp season is underway? Ramp bulbs are easy to plant and a great way to get a head start on growing your own bumper crop, or just growing some so you will be able to pluck them fresh out of the ground, flower pot, or unique raised bed ramp garden that you create. (I’ve seen some really nice raised bed gardens that are just begging to have a few dozen ramps planted in them.)

Of course the ramp bulbs would be shipped complete with roots for transplanting, and would look very similar to this:

west virginia ramp bulbs

The bulbs are small because they shrink during the winter months, but quickly swell again as the sunlight warms the ground and the green leaves make their way to the sky.

So before I go out into the cold and begin harvesting bulbs, I would like to know if there is any interest in them. If you think you would like some, please leave me a comment in the space provided below. This in no way commits you to buying them if I sell them, but it gives me an idea as to whether or not it would be a worthwhile endeavor on my part.

How should I plant and grow these ramp bulbs?

For best growing results mimic how and where the ramps grow in the wild. In the wild Ramps grow in shaded areas (usually under trees) with an abundance of moisture and soil rich in organic matter. Look carefully around your gardening area for a tree that will provide a moist soil with lots of shade. Organic matter such as leaves should be abundantly added. Ramps grow naturally under a forest canopy of beech, birch, sugar maple, and/or poplar. Other forest trees under which ramps will grow include buckeye, linden (basswood), hickory, and oak. A forested area with any of these trees present provides an ideal location for planting a ramp crop. Areas that host trillium, tooth wort, nettle, black cohos, ginseng, bloodroot, trout lily, bell wort, and may apple should be suitable for growing ramps. If there is not a wooded area available to grow ramps, a shade structure can be erected over the planting site.

Hardwood leaves provide the best mulch for ramps. Poor results have been obtained with pine bark and commercial mulches and they should be avoided. The effects of mulching are numerous: decaying organic matter provides essential elements like nitrogen, much needed moisture is retained within the mulched area, and the mulch acts as an insulator to protect the plants in sub-zero temperatures. In addition, mulching helps to suppress weeds as well as protect newly sown seeds, seedlings, and ramp bulbs from wildlife.

I would rather plant my ramp bulbs in the woods.

That’s a great idea also! To plant under a forested canopy, rake back the leaves on the forest floor, removing any unwanted weeds, tree sprouts, or roots. If the soil is not naturally high in organic matter, incorporate organic materials such as composted leaves and other decaying plant material from the forest. Loosen the soil and rake to prepare a fine bed. Sow bulbs about 1/2 to 1 inch a part pressing them gently into the soil. Cover bulbs with several inches of leaves to retain moisture in the soil and to protect the bulbs from the wildlife. When using artificial shade, ensure that you till plenty of organic matter into the soil prior to sowing your bulbs.

69 Comments

  1. billygotegruff

    I NEED some of those!

  2. Ginger

    I would be interested in purchasing ramp bulbs.

  3. Steven

    I would order some bulbs

  4. Holly Cunningham

    Me three

  5. terri b

    I would take about 3 dozen or so. BTW, the link in the email led to the Order Wild Leeks page…

    • RampHead

      ACK! I’ll be more diligent in my review next time. The other link gives a 404 error. Ugh. I think I can fix that one though! Thank you for the heads up!

  6. Bonnie

    I would be interested.

  7. clarionfriends

    Yes, let me know if the ramp bulbs come up for sale.

  8. Pashta

    I’d like to give it another try, even though I doubt they’ll grow out here in Montana. The weather is about the same as the Midwest here in this valley, but the soil and trees are very different.

    However, we might be moving so I might not want them till next year.

  9. Jeremy Eisenhart

    Send me some!!!!!

  10. kassandra mccraw

    I would love to buy some. Cant find ramps anywhere in ohio. And im so homesick for some i would love to purchase some bulbs so i can make sure i get some every year.

    • girlof100lists

      Kassandra, where are you in Ohio? You can find ramps at the Athens Farmers Market in the spring.

    • Pashta

      They definitely grow in Northeast Ohio. Got a, warning from a park ranger for picking some in the Metropark, hehe.

  11. Phyllis

    Depending on the price, I am VERY interested.

  12. Schroomer

    Would love to get a patch started here in Maine. Our woods have plenty of trillium.

  13. Elizabeth

    How exciting! Definitely interested and always willing to try to grow something new. Please let us know when they will be available.

  14. Sydney

    Also interested! Last year someone sold bulbs at The Wild Ramp (a local foods store) in Huntington, WV. They did well there.

  15. Brenda Campbell

    I would like some

  16. Jane Gilchrist

    I’d take some.

  17. girlof100lists

    I might buy some — I’m working on establishing a colony in a raised bed behind my garage. Have plenty in the woods out back, but it’s a tough uphill hike back out!

  18. Karen C

    Yes, please! Thank you!!

  19. Frankie Woodson

    I would be interested in some. Have an area with Maple and Perwinkle underneath. Shady & Damp would this be good area?

  20. Roger

    Yes – Please let me know when I could purchase them

  21. Jd Sipe

    keep me posted i would be

  22. Diana Gumas

    Yes!!! I live in the woods and have wanted to plant these for years.

  23. Karen Neil

    I’d buy some!

  24. Zack

    I would love to buy ramp bulbs.

  25. doug

    yes, will buy – thanks

  26. Angela Ball

    Yes I would like to get ramp bulbs.

  27. 4Farmers

    My ground is frozen now but I would love to buy your ramp bulbs!

  28. Brenda

    Sounds good to me.

  29. Mary Jo Spiegel

    Yes– I love ramps!

  30. Georgia Dahlberg

    I would loke some more for 2015! always good to add to my bed!

  31. Lynn Glendinning

    Please include me in your list of folks who want Ramp bulbs! My neighbor also expressed interest in getting some when I mentioned it to her.

  32. Scott

    I need Ramp bulbs to plant on my new property. Will buy!

  33. Judi Suttles

    Yes I would be interested in Ramp bulbs.

  34. hopsturgeon

    I am way in! I will buy a bunch. Started a new garden last year and am ready to go!

  35. Misty

    I would love some ramp bulbs!

  36. Dan

    I Would be interested

  37. Shelly Keeney

    I ordered bulbs from you last year and would like to order again. They sold very well and I received good feedback from customers that purchased them to start their own.

  38. Taryn Moser

    I would love to have some bulbs. I transplanted a few plant a few years ago and they have not spread much, probably the construction in the yard. But I think by adding to the crop would be ideal

  39. Francoise

    I would definitely like to purchase some ramp bulbs!

  40. Pam

    Yes, very interested in purchasing the bulbs. Thanks.

  41. Emma

    Definitely very interested in buying some ramp bulbs!

  42. Jim

    Yes! I would be interested in buying ramp bulbs.

  43. cheri

    I would love to plant some in my woods. depends on how early you are thinking. two feet of snow here now

  44. Cheryl

    Yes!!! I would totally want to try it since I can’t find them on the left coast! We have an abundance of shade and moisture in Oregon!

  45. Tina Snyder

    I would order some ramps. There is not much demand in the Atlanta area so I’m deprived of experimenting with this root.

  46. Jude

    I’m a garlic farmer in New England, and yes, I’d like to try growing some ramps.

  47. Ron

    yes, count me in. looking for bulk order

  48. Denise Neuhs

    I would LOVE some Ramp bulbs!!

  49. Jackie Stinson

    I would like to give a try to plant in some woods in Western Pennsylvania.

  50. Rogier

    I definately want some. When can I order? This will be my second year growing ramps. Yummm.

    • RampHead

      Hopefully soon. Gotta catch a break in the weather.

      • marvin

        I would be interested in a few dozen to plant on my property here in Buffalo Kentucky.

  51. Lynn P.

    I would be interested in some as well, since it seems like the Richwood Ramp Farm’s page has gone down. I have about six plants left from the patch my grandfather hand-planted in Mt. Nebo, WV, and I buy other local WV ramps to infuse new blood into sustaining my family patch.

  52. Greg

    When will be able to order ramps ??????

    • RampHead

      When the weather breaks. We got a foot of snow on the ground, and another 18 inches forecast.

  53. Jay

    Yes interested. How can I get my hands on some

    • RampHead

      Do to the warm weather, I may be able to go and get some this week. Sign up for the newsletter if you haven’t already, those folks will be the first to know.

  54. George

    Happy new year ramp head. Heck yeah I’d be all about ramp bulbs. Put in a raised garden for the wife with a perfect spot for ramps
    Thanks george

  55. Terri

    Happy holidays to you, too! Yes, I’d like another bunch of bulbs, the ones I ordered last year did well.

  56. cissy

    Yes, love ramps

  57. Denise Neuhs

    Yes, I’d be interested.

  58. Jim Stottlemyer

    Yes I am interested in about 10 dozen bulbs

  59. Lynn

    How much would they be? I’d be interested depending on the price. Thanks!

  60. Chris Carr

    I enjoyed the four plds I got off you last year and would be highly interested in bulbs where’s the order form lol Chris Carr.

    • RampHead

      Getting ready to post them soon!

  61. Clay

    I am certainly interested in more bulbs. I planted some on my hillside last year and the city dug them up looking for a water main valve. Since it is the city’s land, I knew this could happen. The bulbs may be fine, but they may not.

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