paghat5/1/04 7:44

In article , Sacha
wrote:

This subject seems to come up every year, often once snowdrop time is past.
So - just a hint to any new gardeners he snowdrops do best when planted
'in the green'. IOW, don't buy those packets of bulbs from GCs or
supermarkets, buy them (or request them from a friend) while they're still
'in the green'. That is, they've finished flowering but still have their
leaves. Take them straight home and plant them where you want them to
flower next year.

I assume this means that if I buy a bunch of potted ones from a local
nursery to add here & there, there won't be any issue of bulbs' energy
depletion as when narcissi are forced for nursery sales? Narcissus
varieties seem to take a couple years or never recovering from being
forced on production lines for pre-season sales, though the same varieties
do superbly if planted as bulbs in autumn. Is it the snowdrops' big root
system that makes them feel differently about being treated as
transplanted spring perennials?


I wish I could tell you the reason. I'm sure someone will! To be honest,
only you can answer as to the habits of your local nursery or gc and if your
snowdrops are flowering now, in pots, ask if they've been forced. We sell a
few in pots but they're outdoors all the time and never forced. I just can't
imagine why anyone would force snowdrops - can't see the need for it.
Other nurseries may have differing habits. However, even if the ones you
buy in a pot have been forced for this year, planting them 'in the green'
should still work for next year.
Ours come from a friend who is head gardener on a local estate. He is able
to dig up hundreds and bring them in to us for sale, in the green. I think
there are about 50 bulbs or so to a bundle and last year, we were selling
them for £1.50 but every nursery or gc will vary, both in price and
quantity.

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the 'x' to email me)