bulb experiment 2009

[mark smyth]

Next year I think, as does Ian, we should have a small experiement with flowering times of autumn flowering Crocus. It too late to do a spring experiment but we could do one in 2009. I or anyone else can buy c100 corms and distribute them to people up and down the country from David in Inverness to David in Devon. We could also take in Europe. Some will come to me and some to Paddy. We will have to plant the bulbs in the same mix on the same day as everyone else and treat them the same.

Are you in?

[dominique]

Mark
Very good idea. I am yours for this experience. It needs too the same shine exposition, protected or no from the wind...

[David Shaw]

'David in Inverness' is interested in giving it a go.
As Dominique says, the conditions of the experiment will need to be tightened up a bit but there is plenty of time to argue over details yet.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I will gladly ensure a Belgian participation !
 

[David Nicholson]

I'm in

[Thomas Huber]

Do you need someone in Germany, too?
Put me on the list!

[mark smyth]

good to have you all on board

[Anthony Darby]

Sounds like a good idea, but I could get different results in different parts of my garden. This means aspect would have to be an important criterion.

[Martin Baxendale]

I think the bulbs would have to be in pots under glass in full sun, to minimize the influence of variations in aspect, garden drainage and local weather (eg one region  could have an unusually dry season, and another an unusually wet and cloudy one, etc). You might even need to issue a set pot size and watering regime (eg so many cc of water after potting, then the same a month later) and whether to stand the pot on sand, in sand, on an impermeable surface etc.
 

[mark smyth]

Yes all that would be taken in

[Katherine J]

It sounds very interesting, but what would you like to see if all the conditions are the same? And really can you make exactly the same soil mix?
The content of the water is different too from a place to another.
Or is there something that I have missed?

[Ian Y]

I think the first phase of a trial like this is that we all start with the same clone of bulb, plant it on the same day and each grow it in our own way using our normal methods.
The results would show how much variation there could be of when the bulb flowers under the differing regimes.
To me the whole point is to see just how much influence the various local conditions have.

[mark smyth]

and the progress of flowers northward - I hope

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I agree - Planting them in the open garden seems more interesting than under glass I think.

[hadacekf]

Mark,
I think it is a good idea! I would like take part but  I grow all my bulbs in the open.