Crocus October 2009

[Gerry Webster]

Re: Crocus moabiticus

There is a photo in AGS Bulletin vol 63, no.4, p.389 (Dec 1995) of plants exhibited at Vincent Square by Kew. These look somewhat more like Oron's plants than Tony's. They are described as "basically off-white with a subtle hint of palest lilac...... outer segments sport a buff exterior.... each tepal .... lined.... lilac purple". The leaves are described as present with the flowers, though not fully developed, & they eventually lie almost horizontal "twisting slightly like a corkscrew". 

[mark smyth]

Armin how do you grow your C. sativus? I got a packet for 50p/50c this week. I soaked them in some water to get the roots active before planting them. I was amazed that after 10 hours all had root tips pushing through the tunics. 24 hours later they all had about 5mm long roots.

[Maggi Young]

Maggy, to me it is C. serotinus salzmannii without any doubt.
This year due to the drought, autum narcissus blooming is very bad, so probably its seed production (in few weeks) will be also very low...

Thank you, Rafa.

[udo]

in flower this weekend:
Crocus tournefortii 'Albus'
   ''            ''        x laevigatus, closed in the night
   ''            ''        x boryi, open in the night
   ''      veneris from Cyprus
   ''      hyemalis from Israel

[Gerry Webster]

Dirk - the hybrids of C. tournefortii are very interesting. Did you do the hybridising deliberately? I have plants very like yours which arose accidentally, presumably due to the activity of  bees.

[udo]

Gerry,
Cr.tournefortii x boryi is a culture-cross from a friend,
        ``        x laevigatus is a native hybrid from Crete

[mark smyth]

A few from me today. Bad weather has prevented photos all week

laevigatus with extra petals
an all white niveus - I hope it is
tournefortii

[Gerry Webster]

Gerry,
Cr.tournefortii x boryi is a culture-cross from a friend,
        ``        x laevigatus is a native hybrid from Crete

Thanks Dirk, the plant which I think might be  C. tournefortii x laevigatus is just coming into flower. I'll try & post some pics to compare with yours.

[jnovis]

Dirk- Lovely photo`s,does the hyemalis set seed?, James

[mark smyth]

Dirk does the white tournefortii retain some blue?

[udo]

James, it is the first flower from this species. I hope, he set seed.
Mark, this form from tournefortii is always white.

[Armin]

Armin how do you grow your C. sativus? I got a packet for 50p/50c this week. I soaked them in some water to get the roots active before planting them. I was amazed that after 10 hours all had root tips pushing through the tunics. 24 hours later they all had about 5mm long roots.

Mark,
as of now they are ahead of C. cartwrightianus, have longer and more leaves. I'm quite satisfied with the result in the first season.

[mark smyth]

In 'The Crocus' it says plant 18cm deep. Are yours deep or in a small pot?

[Armin]

About 15cm, in a basket.

[Armin]

Dirk, marvelous croci