Saxifraga 2017

[ian mcdonald]

Gail, some of our native saxifrages have yellow flowers, S. aizoides and S. hirculus.

[Gail]

Ian, I am trying so hard not to get interested in yet another genera and that does not help 

[David Nicholson]

Ian, I am trying so hard not to get interested in yet another genera and that does not help 

But they're at their best when there isn't much else out............. go on, give 'em a try

[Gail]

But they're at their best when there isn't much else out............. go on, give 'em a try

A Japanese neighbour in the village was wondering what to grow in her shady front garden so I think a joint collection is a possibility....

[David Nicholson]

 

[Jan Tholhuijsen]

Last week, a received address from Gerrit, an ordinary plant nursery https://tinyurl.com/y7qxweea
Likewise, these saxifragas ordered.
I still have a nice shady place to plant them. As David says,

But they're at their best when there isn't much else out............. go on, give 'em a try

so I'm going to try it.

Saxifraga cortusifolia 'Beni Tsukasa'
Saxifraga cortusifolia 'Cotton Crochet'
Saxifraga cortusifolia 'Shiranami'
Saxifraga fortunei 'Gokka'
Saxifraga cortusifolia 'Cheap Confections'
Saxifraga cortusifolia 'Rokujo'
Saxifraga fortunei 'Gelbes Monster'

[Maggi Young]

Nice selection, Jan.

[Carolyn]

Jan,
Lovely choices! Most of these are ones I've been trying in the last couple of years. I think Shiranami is my favourite - sheer flower power! I made the mistake of planting Cotton Crochet out in the garden, only to discover that it is VERY late flowering. It is better grown in a pot in the greenhouse, so that you can enjoy the flowers in November while protecting them from the worst of the weather. The one I left outside has no flowers yet, the one I brought into the greenhouse a month ago has flower buds about to open. Maybe conditions are better for it in the Netherlands?

[Jan Tholhuijsen]

Jan,
Lovely choices! Most of these are ones I've been trying in the last couple of years. I think Shiranami is my favourite - sheer flower power! I made the mistake of planting Cotton Crochet out in the garden, only to discover that it is VERY late flowering. It is better grown in a pot in the greenhouse, so that you can enjoy the flowers in November while protecting them from the worst of the weather. The one I left outside has no flowers yet, the one I brought into the greenhouse a month ago has flower buds about to open. Maybe conditions are better for it in the Netherlands?

I first try them in the garden. (no place in my small greenhouse, too many other saxifragas) Next year I will see what happened. Thank you for the advice.

[David Nicholson]

Given that I'm probably getting on for 450 miles further South than Carolyn all of mine have been grown in the garden mixed in with a bed of small Rhododendrons in a raised bed.  The compost is 50% JI ericaceous and 50% composted bark with my fairly neutral garden soil probably a couple of feet deeper than the compost. I posted 'Shiranami' on 5 October in the early flowering stage and it is still flowering now as are the others. I'm just waiting for flowers to break on the remaining two clones.

You shouldn't have any trouble with them in your garden Jan although I think yours probably gets colder than mine.

[Jan Tholhuijsen]

Given that I'm probably getting on for 450 miles further South than Carolyn all of mine have been grown in the garden mixed in with a bed of small Rhododendrons in a raised bed.  The compost is 50% JI ericaceous and 50% composted bark with my fairly neutral garden soil probably a couple of feet deeper than the compost. I posted 'Shiranami' on 5 October in the early flowering stage and it is still flowering now as are the others. I'm just waiting for flowers to break on the remaining two clones.

You shouldn't have any trouble with them in your garden Jan although I think yours probably gets colder than mine.

Thank you for explaining, about the soil mix, David.
The Netherlands is generally Zone 7, in the south of the Netherlands it is more against Zone 8. (I think) So max between -7 and -17. But -17 has not been for a couple of years. Usually it is max -10 a-12 here.

[Jan Tholhuijsen]

The compost is 50% JI ericaceous and 50% composted bark with my fairly neutral garden soil probably a couple of feet deeper than the compost

Do I forget to ask, David, what is JI ericaceous?
I think that in the Netherlands is not for sale.

[David Nicholson]

Jan, John Innes is actually a recipe for a mix of compost more information on which is below (I hope you are able perhaps to translate this)

https://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/soil/john_innes/john_innes.php

As you will see the original recipe was based on loam and peat. Good loam is virtually unavailable in the commercial market these days and the use of peat for horticultural purposes is now frowned upon and all kinds of things, some good but most very bad, are used as substitutes. Most of the available commercially obtainable John Innes style composts are notoriously bad but some good stuff can still be found from small independent manufacturers.

[Jan Tholhuijsen]

Jan, John Innes is actually a recipe for a mix of compost more information on which is below (I hope you are able perhaps to translate this)

https://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/soil/john_innes/john_innes.php

As you will see the original recipe was based on loam and peat. Good loam is virtually unavailable in the commercial market these days and the use of peat for horticultural purposes is now frowned upon and all kinds of things, some good but most very bad, are used as substitutes. Most of the available commercially obtainable John Innes style composts are notoriously bad but some good stuff can still be found from small independent manufacturers.

Thank you David for the website info.
  I buy from a small grower regularly a few bags (he calls it) white peat / loam mix. I mix that by Japanese split (2-6 mm grit) and coarse river sand. That is good for most gentiana and daphne. Perhaps I have to do some extra peat for these saxifragas?

[Jan Tholhuijsen]

Saxifraga cortusifolia var. fortunei 'Black Ruby'.

Planted spring 2017, stands in the moraine, all day full sun, but with wet feet. Photo 1
September photo 2
Today photo 3 and 4