Galanthus January 2025

[Leena]

Hi Robert,
winter came here in the end of November, and ground started to freeze then. In December we got snow and coldest was -12C. Then after Christmas temperatures got warmer again, and some of the ground frost melted as well as snow. First part of January was cold again with snow, the lowest -14C (these are not very cold here) and the last week of January was much warmer than usual, and snow melted away and most of the ground frost also melted. Now it will be at least for the next two weeks nights below freezing and days around 0C or little below so ground will freeze again when there is no snow. So this winter has been up and down all the time. Long term forecast says it will be warmer than usual, but still probably at least some of the time below freezing day and night. I think the worst for plants will be if ground is frozen and it will rain and water then freezes above ground (because it can't penetrate the ground)  to form an ice cover. That is what killed many of my plants in winter 2022. In winter 2020 was warm like now, or actually a little warmer. Snowdrops were well advanced by this time, but they were not harmed by couple of weeks cold period later in February. Ground frost melted then in early March, but of course there were nightly frosts until mid April (days above zero).

There is not much I can do now, but I have tried to protect the plants I think are not so hardy with dry autumn leaves and spruce branches, though of course I can't cover the whole garden. Most of the plants will have to cope with this, and it seems this has become more usual with climate change.
It is also an apportunity to learn if there are differences in snowdrops (or other plants - for instance I am a bit worried about autumn flowering crocuses which have grown leaves now, those I have tried to protect more), if some can take this type of weather better than others. For sure I can say 'Mrs Macnamara' will come through well. I have had it now for more than 10 years with several this type of winters, and it starts to flower early, and then after the cold period it is like nothing has happened and continues to flower. I have had some nameless G.elwesii which have suffered and even died, and at the same time some others from the same bulk bulbs have been ok.
When I started with snowdrops, at first I tried to concentrate to late flowering ones, which would be underground in this type of winter, but soon discovered than some or even most of the early or midseason ones will be fine, too.
Still, winter for me is easier when there is not much snow, and heating doesn't cost so much when it isn't so cold. Also spring will probably come earlier, and I am very much looking forward to it.

[Robert]

Hi Leena,

I cannot thank you enough for all the information you shared in your last posting. For me, learning about plants and gardening is limitless. There is always something new to learn and our gardens continually evolve.

I will be reporting on current weather trends and plants in our part of Northern California in about a week. There has been an extended anomalous wet/dry swing in our weather since early January. This is not unusual for our region; however, I tend to get concerned during long dry periods during our "rainy" season. Too often, the extended dry periods will continue into drought. So far this season the precipitation totals are hopeful and the plants are doing well. Snow levels and amounts in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are troubling, but I will report on this in more detail with my next report.

I look forward to learn how this winter's weather will impact the plants in your garden. There is always something new to learn, and I for one, benefit greatly from the information that you share.     

[emc]

I am a completely novice Galanthophile. I've got some G nivalis 'Trumps' in the green coming after a trip to Cambo Gardens.
I want to put them in an alpine trough I am  going to plant up this year. I was thinking of growing them in a pot this year and planting them in the trough after flowering next year. If this is not advisable what is the best way to keep them until I'm ready to plant up the trough?
Any help gratefully received.

[MarcR]

Alan,

Thank you!

[Gail]

I am a completely novice Galanthophile. I've got some G nivalis 'Trumps' in the green coming after a trip to Cambo Gardens.
I want to put them in an alpine trough I am  going to plant up this year. I was thinking of growing them in a pot this year and planting them in the trough after flowering next year. If this is not advisable what is the best way to keep them until I'm ready to plant up the trough?
Any help gratefully received.

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snowdrops!
Your Trumps should be fine. Don't keep them in too small a pot in case they dry out too much in the summer but depending on when you plant your trough you could put them in while dormant, or as you say after flowering next year (probably most of us do split snowdrops in the green, although you will inevitably get a bit of root damage while doing so). Trumps is a good vigorous cultivar so should build up quickly for you.

[emc]

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snowdrops!
Your Trumps should be fine. Don't keep them in too small a pot in case they dry out too much in the summer but depending on when you plant your trough you could put them in while dormant, or as you say after flowering next year (probably most of us do split snowdrops in the green, although you will inevitably get a bit of root damage while doing so). Trumps is a good vigorous cultivar so should build up quickly for you.

Thanks so much. They are now in a nice large pot!

[Mariette]

Leena, it´s good to see Your snowdrops are on the way - I´m looking forward to see them in full flower!

Stefan, I like Your seedling of ´Rosemary Burnham´even better than the parent! Nice to have such offspring!

A visit to Kalmthout last Saturday allowed to meet friends and to acquire a snowdrop which was on my wishlist: G. woronowii

´The Naked Truth´

[Herman Mylemans]

Leena, it´s good to see Your snowdrops are on the way - I´m looking forward to see them in full flower!

Stefan, I like Your seedling of ´Rosemary Burnham´even better than the parent! Nice to have such offspring!

A visit to Kalmthout last Saturday allowed to meet friends and to acquire a snowdrop which was on my wishlist: G. woronowii

´The Naked Truth´

Mariette, I was also there. It is a pity we didn’t meet eachother. The garden was also beautiful, with a lot of Hamamelis.

[Mariette]

Oh yes, that´s a pity! After all, it has been the first time for many years that we visited Kalmthout - I was keen to enjoy Wim Boens´ talk. He always presents plants one hasn´t yet dreamt of, but also many sound choices for less ambitious gardeners. Indeed, the weather was far better than it is today over here, and the parc with its hamamelis collection was at its best.