On Wed, 05 Nov 2003 09:28:07 +0000, Victoria Clare
wrote:

(Rodger Whitlock) wrote in
:
~
~ Herbaceous material simply doesn't grow during the winter, a
~ severe cold snap can destroy bulbs. They may be hardy but they're
~ not *that* hardy. Narcissus are bulbs that are bone hardy for the
~ most part *if* planted in the ground or in pots given a modicum
~ of protection, but hanging from a lamp post, they freeze through
~ and through -- and likely die.
~
~But in the UK it's unusual for it to get that cold. In London, for
~example, I've seen the tender varieties of cyclamen planted outside in
~window boxes. I don't suppose the corms are much good the next year, but
~they certainly don't freeze solid and disappear instantly.
~
~London is warmer than most places, but here for example (OK, a long way
~south, but high up, little winter sun, and with the wind blowing straight
~off Dartmoor) bulbs have no problems in exposed pots, troughs and raised
~planters, and I'd be surprised if a basket was that much more vulnerable.
~
~My neighbours had a hanging basketful of dwarf narcissi last year, and it
~was fine.
~
~I don't use them much though. Most bulbs only flower for a month or so,
~and don't look great before or after: personally I'd rather use something
~with a rather longer lifespan if I'm going to the trouble of hanging
~baskets. Maybe the odd bulb mixed with other stuff.
~
In January 2002 I made a winter basket from a pot of narcissus
tete-a-tete, a tiny trailing variegated ivy, a heather and several
primula 'Wanda'. Last year most were still alive and flowered again
(though I replaced a scrappy primula and the heather). As is usual in
my garden, the tete-a-tetes dropped to one flower each the following
year (anyone know how to stop this?) but looked lovely anyway. By then
I had a couple of feet of ivy!
I am expecting it to grow again this coming season - bulbs still nice
and firm, have fed it etc, the ivy's gone mental and the only thing
I've done to it since last year is give it a new basket liner as the
old one had rotted.

I can send photos to show how well it has done if anyone's interested.
I keep it through the year by leaving the whole thing in the
flowerbed.

I'm 140m above sea level in the Chilterns, and the front of the house
gets the prevailing winds.


--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

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