Crocus October 2008

[Gerry Webster]

Here is crocus medius as supplied by a British nursey though probably not grown on by him. Can someone let me have their opinion as to whether this is virused? It does seem to have the tell tale marks

Ian - looks to me as though it might be. You would be doing a public service (to us & the nursery itself) if you named the source. 

[tonyg]

Here is crocus medius as supplied by a British nursey though probably not grown on by him. Can someone let me have their opinion as to whether this is virused? It does seem to have the tell tale marks

Ian - looks to me as though it might be. You would be doing a public service (to us & the nursery itself) if you named the source. 

Probably not necessary to name them.  ANY nursery supplying C medius is likely to have sourced their stock either directly or indirectly from the same, virused, dutch industry stocks.  Anyone with good clean stock is likely to advertise the fact and probably charge a bit more for it!
I find that this crocus is very virus prone or perhaps it is just very quick to show the symptoms.  I have had clean stock twice in the last 10 years only to lose it quickly to virus.  Martin B sent me some.  I planted half in the garden and half in a pot, hoping that at least the open garden stock might be safe however this year I am doubtful even of these
(Thomas - so far the 4 corms that you sent are OK and I am keeping them away from the main collection.)

[Gerry Webster]

Sorry to disagree Tony but I think it is useful to name the source since  it's not clear that all C. medius comes from Holland. A few years ago Kath Dryden distributed the 'Oliver Wyatt' form & this seemed to be virus free. Last year I obtained some plants from Hythe Alpines (possibly the same form & relatively expensive) & these also seemed virus free in their first year; whether they are so this year remains to be seen.
It does seem that 'trade' C. medius has been virused for a very long time. It was the first crocus I ever grew some 30 years ago & those plants were virused though I didn't realise this at the time; I just thought that their ugly appearance was an indication that  they didn't like the conditions I gave them.

[tonyg]

Hmmm ..... Yes the Oliver Wyatt form is the one which does still get passed around but only by the smaller 'independant' growers.  And the relevant word is 'grower'.  These people are sadly few and far between and as you note the corms are likely to be relatively expensive.
I do know of a well known bulb supplier who has had virused (ex holland) stock on their nursery.  I pointed this out to them of course but the owner is a friend and I don't want to name them.  I don't really feel comfortable naming and shaming although I have been drawn into such discussions before. 

[mark smyth]

"Anyone with good clean stock is likely to advertise the fact and probably charge a bit more for it!"

Charge for them!? I want them back!

[tonyg]

I did not ask for any of your very fine medius Mark as I have such a poor track record!  I'm trying to get any that I do grow to set seed but even the OW form is reluctant to set any .... even when crossed with other forms from TH

[tonyg]

I should have added that Philanthropy begins at home

[ian mcenery]

Thanks for all your comments re the Medius. It was probably my own fault as I know there is rather a lot of virus about  in  Medius and although I have a couple from grower sources and hopefully some 2 year seedlings I just wanted a quick fix for this year. I will not name the nursrey as I think the nurseryman is a responsible one and my own preference would be that I would rather point this out in a less public way.

Can you please advise should these be disposed of or can they be kept in isolation whilst flowering?

[tonyg]

The purist would say don't risk it but if you keep it isolated you should be OK.  It occurred to me recently that the practice of removing dying flowers to avoid botrytis risks may aid the spread of virus so beware any contact.

[olegKon]

Some crocuses this weekend
1,2 Crocus speciosus albus (bees if sleepy are still at work)
Can anyone help with the ID of this

[Gerry Webster]

Obviously everyone is entitled to their own views on "naming & shaming" but I think there are occasions where it is a public service. I remember a fairly critical thread on Miniature Bulbs earlier this year.

[tonyg]

Gerry (and others) I am happy to share my info on bulb supplier/s privately through PMs, just don't want to go public on someone who has a justifiably good reputation for almost all they do.

Here are a few that flowered in last weeks sunshine ... there are lots right now but I don't want to repeat plants that have already had good exposure here!
Crocus gilanicus 'dark form' - well its not as dark as the last time it flowered but it is more coloured than the usual form.  It is also smaller flowered, quite different in shape.  Not sure what to make of it but this is a little grown species and the wild variation may be much greater than that seen in cultivated plants.
Crocus cancellatus - form used to be distributed under the name Cilicicus (please correct me if I have mis-spelt this).  Very large flowered and nicely marked outside.  I have grown it for years but it does not increase much.
Crocus hadriaticus ssp parnassicus - White with a white throat.  Ssp hadriaticus has a yellow throat.
Crocus serotinus ssp salzmannii - some new seed raisings are flowering now.  Very similar to each other they all present good sized mid lilac flowers.  Good to have clean, healthy stock of a taxa which has been decimated by virus here in recent years.  ALL suspect plants are quarantined away from the main collection now.  This means any with deformed or mis-shapen flowers.  Any with yellow blotches/streaks in the leaves are executed immediately,  no quarantine for them.  Mis-shapen flowers can be just a seasonal blip so I quarantine these to watch for developments.


Finally for now Crocus pallasii, a gift from  Franz.  Thanks Franz!  The narrower petalled forms often seem to be the most generous with their flowers while the broader petalled one that I have raised from seed is beautiful but has fewer flowers.

[Thomas Huber]

After a long break due to bad weather, I was finally able to make some new photos in the last days,
Enjoy it!

[tonyg]

Magnificent as always Thomas

[Tony Willis]

We had a couple of hours of sun and it brought out a few crocus