Crocus October 2014

[ruben]

Crocus boryi reaches its flowering peak.

[Matt T]

1. Crocus laevigatus CEH612 is out here, a full 7 weeks ahead of last year!

2&3. Crocus longiflorus - does anyone else think these are virused? Not sure about the patchy colour and the petals seem to be a bit out of shape 

[Matt T]

Crocus pulchellus continues to take over my garden. 

What a nice plant to have as a 'weed'!

[ruben]

Crocus ochroleucus from Libanon in flower today!

[Maggi Young]

What a nice plant to have as a 'weed'!

Trust me, Matt - Roma has quite  few of these very high quality "weeds" -lucky woman!

[Roma]

What a nice plant to have as a 'weed'!

I like the flowers but the leaves can be a nuisance.  It also makes it difficult to find places to plant other crocuses where they will not be mixed up with pulchellus.

[tonyg]

2&3. Crocus longiflorus - does anyone else think these are virused? Not sure about the patchy colour and the petals seem to be a bit out of shape 

Could be virus.  More than 50% chance.  Old  flowers sometimes go mis-shapen before collapse but the uneven colour marking is more of a concern.  Are they all like it?  I'd probably quarantine it away from other bulbs and see what happens next season - save and plant any seed that is set.  Any doubts next year and it's curtains!  Others would probably say 'curtains' right now 

[johnw]

Roma  - Wonder if your pulchellas ever set seed?  We have tried to get speciosus going on several ocassions (Janis says to plant very deeply), it's not that winter-hardy but worse prone to flopping.

Here's a picture we took on Saturday at a friend's garden in Sackville, NB.  He found it on the beach and set it up the night before for his wife's birthday. 

johnw

[Matt T]

Could be virus.  More than 50% chance.  Old  flowers sometimes go mis-shapen before collapse but the uneven colour marking is more of a concern.  Are they all like it?  I'd probably quarantine it away from other bulbs and see what happens next season - save and plant any seed that is set.  Any doubts next year and it's curtains!  Others would probably say 'curtains' right now 

Thanks Tony,
All flowers are the same, even newly opened ones. My gut feeling was to isolate and pollinate it, harvest the seeds then ditch it. Don't want to take any chances of passing anything on to the rest of my plants but it would be good to recoup something if I can get seed. Cheers.

[Janis Ruksans]

I passed very dark but warm day. Yesterday we had only +4 C, today +14 but at Thursday supposed minus 10. Many crocuses still not started blooming. Surprisingly, but regardless of darkness today succeed to picture Crocus macedonicus. Two pictures of it attached here. Another one I posted something earlier.
Janis

[Roma]

John, Crocus pulchellus sets loads of seed which the ants spread all over the garden.  Crocuses are impossible to dead head
I think I still have some seed.  Pm me with your address if you would like some.

[Janis Ruksans]

Some seedlings of Crocus assumaniae clearly showing their hybrid origin - most likely with C. mathewii, may be some other, too. All grown up from open pollinated seeds of C. assumaniae.
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

Janis , you lament the disappearance  and authenticity of some older cultivars of Crocus speciosus  . I am fairly certain that my stock of. speciosus 'Aitchisonii' is true to name . I received it in 1961 from Wilhelm Schacht , Munich Botanic Garden .

Otto, I suppose that yours most likely is true because then commerce in Dutch bulb trade not overcome correctness and honest attitude to customer. Growers felt responsibility about plants sold by them. Then famous names such as Van Tubergen were not sold to businessman's who thought only about surplus income. Of course I estimate Dutch growers, but well knowing some underground of nowadays... Sorry...
Janis

[Janis Ruksans]

Tony, fantastic pictures of longiflorus. My stocks just started blooming and there are all types similar to your pictures. I like this species very much.

Kris - excellent pictures of C. veneris. Mine still not started blooming. Afraid what will happens with them as after tomorrow is offered minus 10 C. Today planted aroids, still left few Regelia irises and Juno, must to hurry tomorrow.

Dirk - your hyemalis is fantastic. Pity, mine not flower yet. Hope cold will not be too long and I will see flowers.

Janis

[Maggi Young]

Mmmmm, it's Wednesday  - there's a new Bulb Log online - Bulb Log43: http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2014Oct221413980514BULB_LOG_4314.pdf … crocus feature quite a lot this week  -now there's a surprise!