Galanthus disease

[jomowi]

I have several large colonies of Galanthus 'Fred's Giant'.  In recent years, usually as the leaves emerge from the growing sheath they get covered in white mould (Botrytus ?).  The flowering stem rots and dies. The problem does not relate to overcrowding or recent lifting of the clumps.  I have tried planting the bulbs in sharp sand without success.  This year most clumps were above ground two weeks ago and looked well.  When they emerged from the latest 10 days of snow again I found many 1 cm high rotting masses.  The bulbs are unaffected but without their leaves for several years they will eventually die.  My only answer is to drench with systemic fungicide ('Fungus Fighter'), if I get the timing right I have even saved leaves.  I think the infection starts from the growing sheath.  I am reluctant to drench in the absence of infection.  Any suggestions appreciated.  Only 'Fred's Giant' is affected

[Armin]

Brian,
sadly you have such troubles.
Photos would be be helpful for further judgement.

[mark smyth]

A guy in America with a big collection of snowdrops had problems with snow destroying emerging snowdrops. I cant remember what happened to the plants. He now grows his under cover of some sort

[johnw]

A guy in America with a big collection of snowdrops had problems with snow destroying emerging snowdrops. I cant remember what happened to the plants. He now grows his under cover of some sort

I've never witnessed anything like that over the years.  We've had winters with snowcover from November till April, even a freak late May snow and snowdrops have never been bothered by any of it.  Puzzling.

johnw

[Sinchets]

I'd be pretty shocked too if the snow was the problem given that many Galanthus species grow wild in areas with considerable snow cover in winter. Maybe it is just this cultivar and it is time to move on and replace it. It would certainly be better than dousing the whole area with fungicides!

[mark smyth]

I'm only telling you what he told me. I'll be speaking to him soon and ask him what actually happens

[Maggi Young]

Roma will be able to refresh our memories of this, I'm sure.... but wasn't Fred's Giant originally growing (found?) deep in the Cruickshank Arboretum?
My point is that perhaps it really prefers the deeper cover of a woodland setting 
(where it will be kept drier) and is not tolerant of the extra damp from the type of wet snowy winters we have been experiencing lately?

[Alan_b]

My remedy for sick snowdrops in small numbers is to dig them up, clean them up, spray them with whatever fungicide you have available, pot them up in large pots, isolate them in another part of the garden and keep the pots in shade during the summer.  This has proved to be surprisingly effective.

If you listen to today's (7th Feb) Gardener's Question Time, Bob Flowerdew puts forward a treatment for botrytis you could try if your garden is not too exposed!

[mark smyth]

Oh, yes. wee touched on that already

[Maggi Young]

Oh, yes. wee touched on that already

[annew]

My remedy for sick snowdrops in small numbers is to dig them up, clean them up, spray them with whatever fungicide you have available, pot them up in large pots, isolate them in another part of the garden and keep the pots in shade during the summer.  This has proved to be surprisingly effective.

That's my option too, unless I feel I can bin them.

[jomowi]

Tried the dig, clean and replant in a clean place option, even separating the damaged plants from the others, work well, couple of years at least trouble free.  Then more problems.  Sorry no photos, I have already treated them with fungicide and saved many plants.  I am going to try a prophylactic treatment with good old Cheshunt compound i.e. copper fungicide, its cheap and still available.  Maggie if you recall our garden is rather shady, and very rich in compost/ organic matter, just a very good woodland soil.  'Fred's Giant' does very well and can multiply very fast, thence the need to lift regularly.  Snow in itself is not the cause, this year it just hid the onset of problems.  Never seen the problem on any other snowdrops.

[jomowi]

2 photographs of infected 'Fred's Giant'.  They have been treated with systemic fungicide and some have produced healthy looking leaves.  The white fungal fluff can be seen round some stems.

[Paddy Tobin]

Brian,

What is the drain cover in the background of the photograph? If, by chance, it is part of your sewage system there is the possibility of some overflow onto the ground around the bulbs and this could certainly lead to fungal infections.

Just a thought.

Paddy

[jomowi]

Paddy, not a drain, just a slate stepping stone.  No drains in the back garden at all