What is the chance of snowdrops in May

[bulborum]

Hello paddy

because I am selling bulbs too
and if people buy dry bulbs I like they look good

Roland

[Paddy Tobin]

That explains it, Roland.

Paddy

[Martin Baxendale]

Sometimes you can rub the dirty old tunics off snowdrop bulbs to leave a nice shiny pale brown new tunic underneath, but as often as not you'll find there is no clean shiny tunic, or that the dirty tunic will come off to reveal a white bulb. It often depends how the bulb has been grown - in a very well-drained compost in a pot = nice shiny brown tunic. In moist garden soil = dirty dark tunic that easily rubs off to leave a white bulb.

[bulborum]

Martin

Does this mean I can just grow nice bulbs in in a very well-drained compost in a pot
In my loam based garden soil they look terrible and matt

Roland

[Martin Baxendale]

I often grow them (especially seedlings and small bulbs from chipping) in pots of good quality compost with lots of added pumice grit to give very, very good drainage, and you do tend to get very clean, nice-looking bulbs that way, with little disease and very clean-looking healthy coats.

[bulborum]

What is pumice grit and do you collect the bulbs every year?
I harvest my snowdrops in pots every 2 year
but don't let them dry out completely

Roland

[Martin Baxendale]

Pumice grit is sold in the UK by one or two specialist horticultural suppliers and is quite widely used to grow high-alpines and orchids, as it has very good drainage qualities. It is grit made from volcanic pumice rock, graded into different sizes. I use 1mm-2mm size and 2mm-3mm mixed together with the compost. I repot every year, especially if the bulbs are young seedlings that I want to mature fast. I do let the pots dry out in mid-summer, as I find that they are less likely to develop rot if in very dry compost, but closely encased in compacted compost, not in loose compost.

[Martin Baxendale]

Sorry I missed this question back in the spring.

[mark smyth]

I was in a garden yesterday and say snowdrop leaves that havent died back

[bulborum]

What did you drink Mark.   

Roland

[mark smyth]

Only water yesterday

[scatigaz]

I have been keeping an eye on the very late snowdrop that i reported last year at Wentworth Castle Gardens. The same variety was still in flower this year on 1st April but very nearly over. Not as late as last year but still rather on the late side i think.

[Maren]

Hi Martin,

could you please tell us who the suppliers are for pumice grit?