Observations and theory of Galanthus germination

[Maggi Young]

Quite a few types of seedlings do that, Tim - wise to have an anchor and something to feed the upward  growth

[partisangardener]

When they germinate they usually push down the young bulb first, before the leaf is growing upwards.  This might  give a additional push for the young bulb.
The primary bulb seems to be more frost sensitive than the older ones. I lost some hundred seedlings in a styrofoam box which froze through in February. The already grown leafs survived the frost but not for long without any bulb left.

[Jack Meatcher]

Slug-proofing seed pods during ripening. I tried used tea bags successfully. Dry them, cut one end off, empty the tea out, insert the seed pod, tie the end with a kitchen bag type paper and wire tie (or similar). Progress of the seed pod can be checked by undoing the tie and examining the pod. I got the idea some time ago from the SRGC Forum.

Jack

[Anthony Hawkins]

That sounds much too difficult for my 82 year-old fingers! I use ankle socks, secured with a twist of copper wire, which helps deter slugs. But beware fine materials which are very water repellent, coarser grade material is preferable.

[Ken Devine]

Recently germinated seedlings of an Irish snowdrop G. plicathus Woodtown. In the square pot front of picture 16 seeds were planted and 14 germinated. G.Woodtown is the most reliable snowdrop I have in the garden for producing viable seed.

[Leena]

Last spring I bagged snowdrop seed pods to catch the seeds. Yesterday I found one forgotten bag under Helleborus leaves where 'Wendy's Gold' grows, clearly I had missed that bag in spring, and it was partly covered with mulch.
There are four good looking seeds with two of them already growing root:).
I now potted them and I'm looking forward to seeing them grow the first leaf in spring.
I'm very happy about these seeds because this is the first time I got seeds from 'Wendy's Gold'.

[ashley]

That's a nice discovery Leena.  Seedlings from 'Wendy's Gold' are usually normal green plicatus but fingers crossed that you hit gold!