On 3/6/12 1:27 PM, Higgs Boson wrote:
On Mar 5, 7:20 pm, "David E. Ross" wrote:
On 3/5/12 6:21 PM, Higgs Boson wrote:
On Mar 5, 9:45 am, "David E. Ross" wrote:
On 3/5/12 12:00 AM, Higgs Boson wrote:
A while back I requested ID on this plant:
http://tinypic.com/r/214wmjm/5
and response was Tulip.
It is doing well in pot, and producing what look like seeds. I am
collecting these, and before I put time into growing them out, can I
ask: Does a bulb plant like Tulip produce viable seeds?
Inquiring minds...
So Calif Coastal
TIA
HB
Yes, that is how new varieties are created.
Bulbs ususally form pods with the seeds inside. You should wait until
the pod starts to dry on the plant before havesting. You might better
wait until the pod starts to split. If you don't wait, the seeds will
not be sufficiently mature to sprout.
Only allow a very few pods to mature. Seed formation often weakens the
bulb and might inhibit next year's flowers.
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary
Thanks to you, too, David. Yes, I have been waiting till the pods
start to dry. Will keep an eye out for splitting, and not allow too
many to mature.
HB
In some cases, bulbs will actually reseed themselves. I have a bed of
grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) in my back yard under a peach tree.
***Surprised they would be happy under a tree which would shade them,
at least in summer before tree loses leaves. Have I misunderstood
something?
The flower stalks are short and very numerous, far too numerous for me
to dead-head them which would require me to go through the bed on my
hands and knees with my nose only inches from the ground.
Sounds like good exercise g
I now have grape hyacinth coming up in other places, even in the
decomposed granite
paths that wend through my garden.
***Now THAT is interesting!. Mind saying how many years this has
taken to develop?
HB
Yes, the grape hyacinths are under a tree, but it is not a large tree.
In the summer, I get much more sunshine and hotter weather that you do.
They seem to thrive with part shade.
They have been sharing space with primroses (Primula polyantha) for
about 35 years.
--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary