Corydalis 2010

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Maggi, I eventually figured it out but even so, the merged thread message was also saying "An Error....." I tend to get a bit paranoid when something isn't as I expect it to be.

Gosh, aren't those solidas of Janis just gorgeous, especially the last, dark and sombre one.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Maggi, I eventually figured it out but even so, the merged thread message was also saying "An Error....." I tend to get a bit paranoid when something isn't as I expect it to be.

Well, they do say that even if you are paranoid, there may still be someone out to get you..... it's why I always take care crossing the road 

Gosh, aren't those solidas of Janis just gorgeous, especially the last, dark and sombre one.

I'm really enjoying all the Corydalis and  all the solida forms, being such good garden plants here, are hard to beat. 

[cohan]

I'm really enjoying all the Corydalis and  all the solida forms, being such good garden plants here, are hard to beat. 

it remains to be seen how they are as garden plants here, but i have 3 little noses poking up from bulbs of C solida 'Munich Sunrise' which unexpectedly made their way to me last year from sweden; they are in a semi-shady bed which had not long been snow free when the first one appeared in the leaf mulch;
one alberta winter survived! (not a cold one, but early cold)

[Maggi Young]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your success with them, Cohan, for they really are an asset to the early garden.

[cohan]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your success with them, Cohan, for they really are an asset to the early garden.

thanks, maggi--i am hopeful, since a gardener in winnipeg on another list has had some success with them (when they weren't eaten by something- rabbits or deer i think it was!) warmer summers on average there, but just as cold or colder in winter
..i'd love to have some naturalised patches around the woodland edges i have so much of!

[Lori S.]

Corydalis solida and a number of other corydalis species, seem to be hardy here, Cohan.

[cohan]

Corydalis solida and a number of other corydalis species, seem to be hardy here, Cohan.

thanks, lori; i was just noticing kristl lists solida as zone 2 (wild collected in finland) i sowed some of that last year, along with nobilis, we'll see if i succeed with those seeds, if not i will try again... also have  a couple other species sown,  but have doubts about the viability of those, as seeds were not moist packed...
i think it was augis bulbs that lists some mixed solida seedlings-a large number for a very good price (pre phyto and shipping...lol)

[Janis Ruksans]

Corydalis bracteata between ordinar solidas in my perennial bed (perennials still underground). They are excellent ground cover early in season. By the way - they grow in full sun. On other two shots my Corydalis beds in full sun - nursery stocks. With me price for mixed solidas is 4,- Euro per 10, ordering 100 - 20% discount.
Janis

[Panu]

thanks, lori; i was just noticing kristl lists solida as zone 2 (wild collected in finland)

The northernmost population of C. intermedia is near the polar circle in Finland. Here´s the distribution maps of C. intermedia and C. solida. I´m sure many non-native species would do just fine even here.

[gote]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your success with them, Cohan, for they really are an asset to the early garden.

thanks, maggi--i am hopeful, since a gardener in winnipeg on another list has had some success with them (when they weren't eaten by something- rabbits or deer i think it was!) warmer summers on average there, but just as cold or colder in winter
..i'd love to have some naturalised patches around the woodland edges i have so much of!

The problem is mice who will try to dig out the tubers. I use metal net 5-6mm square in the soil. If the top growth is eaten, they will probably send up a second stalk.
Cheers
Göte

[cohan]

lots of interesting thoughts:
janis-full sun spots are at a premium here, though i do have many places that get sun part of the day while it is high in summer;
panu-always good to see things growing in a cold place 
gote-i don't have enough experience yet on this property to know what my animal problems will be--there is plenty of wildlife in the woods, but so far i have only seen signs of deer and moose coming to eat the shrubs in winter; i think as i have more species green when natives aren't, i might have more trouble..as for who will eat roots and bulbs, i will have to see how it goes--mice are abundant under the snow in winter, but i assume they cannot get into the soil at that time as it is frozen-maybe i am wrong and they dig right throught the frozen earth?
do you put the metal on the surface or all around the tubers?

[Janis Ruksans]

Few more C. solida cultivars
Christamas Day
 Louise Elisabeth
 Mordorland
Pink Smile

[Lesley Cox]

Gosh, I love 'Mordorland.'

[gote]

lots of interesting thoughts:
janis-full sun spots are at a premium here, though i do have many places that get sun part of the day while it is high in summer;
panu-always good to see things growing in a cold place 
gote-i don't have enough experience yet on this property to know what my animal problems will be--there is plenty of wildlife in the woods, but so far i have only seen signs of deer and moose coming to eat the shrubs in winter; i think as i have more species green when natives aren't, i might have more trouble..as for who will eat roots and bulbs, i will have to see how it goes--mice are abundant under the snow in winter, but i assume they cannot get into the soil at that time as it is frozen-maybe i am wrong and they dig right throught the frozen earth?
do you put the metal on the surface or all around the tubers?

For a single bulb I get a piece of metal net. 6x6" square, 1/4" mesh. It is best if the net is wowen so the wires can move. I bend down 2" on each side to form a kind of basket. The corners will form "legs" which I twist and sometimes cut off. I make sure the soil is loose to sufficient depth and plant the corm 1.5-2" deep with 1/2" layer of soil on top. I then press down the basket (upside down of course) so the net is at least 3/4" below the soil surface and fill in. This will prevent the mice from getting at the corm. It is important that the net is below soil surface at all times. A plant will easily get through below ground but will be trapped if the net is at the surface. The added advantage is that it is easy to locate the corm again. It will sit in the basket. Of course it is necessary to replant often. A Corydlis solida is likely to double each year and the basket will soon be crowded. However, if I have many, I sometimes do not bother with all of them. If I have more bulbs/corms of a kind, I make a larger basket. I try to do this for all precious bulbs/corms (that are not big and planted deep) except amaryllidaceae which are not eaten by rodents.
I have never noticed mice digging in frozen soil.
To keep the deer out I use a 6' net around the area. Chicken net on wooden poles 4 yards apart.  It is rather flimsy (and ugly  ) but the deer do not bother since they can feed in other places. Outside of the fence I sometimes put a piece of chicken net over plants that I want to save. Ugly but it works.
Cheers
Göte
PS
I train shrubs and climbers to the fence so the ugliness is somewhat hidden. 
   

[cohan]

For a single bulb I get a piece of metal net. 6x6" square, 1/4" mesh. It is best if the net is wowen so the wires can move. I bend down 2" on each side to form a kind of basket. The corners will form "legs" which I twist and sometimes cut off. I make sure the soil is loose to sufficient depth and plant the corm 1.5-2" deep with 1/2" layer of soil on top. I then press down the basket (upside down of course) so the net is at least 3/4" below the soil surface and fill in. This will prevent the mice from getting at the corm. It is important that the net is below soil surface at all times. A plant will easily get through below ground but will be trapped if the net is at the surface. The added advantage is that it is easy to locate the corm again. It will sit in the basket. Of course it is necessary to replant often. A Corydlis solida is likely to double each year and the basket will soon be crowded. However, if I have many, I sometimes do not bother with all of them. If I have more bulbs/corms of a kind, I make a larger basket. I try to do this for all precious bulbs/corms (that are not big and planted deep) except amaryllidaceae which are not eaten by rodents.
I have never noticed mice digging in frozen soil.
To keep the deer out I use a 6' net around the area. Chicken net on wooden poles 4 yards apart.  It is rather flimsy (and ugly  ) but the deer do not bother since they can feed in other places. Outside of the fence I sometimes put a piece of chicken net over plants that I want to save. Ugly but it works.
Cheers
Göte
PS
I train shrubs and climbers to the fence so the ugliness is somewhat hidden. 
   

i will keep this in mind, and watch to see where i will have problems.. so far i have not thought of protecting roots/bulbs from above-we don't have true moles, but we do have pocket gophers that i worry about, which come from below...
there are fences available here specifically to keep deer out, but of course expensive over a large area.. there are some bits of wire fence around the property that i will use around some vulnerable spots-esp the veg garden for now-they are not really high enough to keep deer out (the deer fences seen around here look like stiff metal, and i think they are over 7 feet) but i think it can discourage them, when they have lots of natural habitat around to feed in...