Hello, so glad I've found you all :)

[ChrisD]

Planting Nivalis first, what an interesting suggestion. Why does planting a new bulb in a lattice pot help it establish better? I read earlier postings about lattice pots. Would you keep a new single bulb in a lattice pot set in sand rather than planting it in the ground?

I am learning from you all already ! Many thanks for your help.

Hi Bronwyn - Welcome from another "newbie". The lattice pot idea has a few advantages, some people use them to try and minimise the damage from soil insects but some of us use them to make sure the bulbs are in the best possible soil. The soil here is a rather cold heavy clay and I lost a few varieties before switching to lattice pots. So now all my new drops go into lattice pots in a mixture of garden soil:coarse grit:leaf mould at roughly 1:1:1.

The pots are then placed in a hole so that their tops are level with the soil. I replant the lattice pots each year and the idea is that when I have too many for one of these small pots I will try some in the soil and keep the rest as insurance in the pots.

I dont give these "lattice pots in the ground" any extra attention - I think John (Kentgardener) may not plant his lattice pots in the soil?

I hope this helps

Chris

[JacquelineJ]

Welcome Bronwyn!!

I must say that I'm feeling very fortunate after reading your post about losing your specials.

I planted Hill Poe, S. Arnott, Lady Elphinstone, Dionysus and Hippolyta last year and each one has appeared with a flower in sheaf.  I plant mine straight into the ground but have inherited very good soil.  My garden used to belong to the Church and was the walled vegetable garden so the soil has been well worked and cared for and enriched for many years.

Hope you can work out what you need to do, to have success next year with your 'drops.

[Casalima]

Hello Bronwyn! No Galanthus here, but just a quick hello from another Parrott I'm sure you will love this forum!

[RichardW]

Planting Nivalis first, what an interesting suggestion. Why does planting a new bulb in a lattice pot help it establish better? I read earlier postings about lattice pots. Would you keep a new single bulb in a lattice pot set in sand rather than planting it in the ground?

I am learning from you all already ! Many thanks for your help.

many of the drops I first collected went into a few beds that looked ideal, nice soil, shaded in summer, not too wet etc but nothing did well & although I only lost a few I decided they all had to come out, I then started using nivalis to plant new areas and if they thrived the specials went in a few years later, the original beds are now planted with bulbs in lattice pots with a good mix and doing fine.

I still plant some new specials straight into the ground in beds that have been successful but I wouldn't risk one again in a new area without using a lattice or trying with nivalis first, like Chris the soil here is cold heavy clay. Its not a fool proof system, I had to move Ketton several times before it finally settled down and is now clumping nicely but I think it helps reduce the risk of losing something new 

[Bronwyn Parrott]

Jacqueline your garden sounds heavenly, I'm sure it brings you lots of pleasure.

Thank you all for the invaluable advice. I have just come from the garden center armed with grit, sand and trellis pots. A few snowdrops planted in September are showing but looking a bit feeble, should I dig them up and give them the same treatment?

Bronwyn

[johnw]

Jacqueline - You mentioned earlier that you might purchase on eBay.  Just be warned that some sellers are out to scam you.  It is always a good idea to check on the forum about the seller in question before you take the plunge.  And it will be worthwhile to check the threads on eBay over the  past few years when you have a chance.

There are some very reputable sellers but I don't know their eBay names.  And not sure by what name Beth Chatto Gardens goes but forumists seem to be pleased with the bulbs.

Unfortunately I must sit back and drool over the offerings.

johnw

[Brian Ellis]

And not sure by what name Beth Chatto Gardens goes but forumists seem to be pleased with the bulbs.

Beth Chatto Gardens uses it's real name.