Galanthus Autumn 2010

[Paddy Tobin]

And here in Ireland there is one leaf showing on one G. reginae olgae so I am looking at all these postings and lovely photographs with great envy and longing.

I think I may have to start growing G. reginae olgae under glass. They simply do not do well outdoors here. Irish slugs are  particularly fond of these lovely plants.

Paddy

[alpinelover]

And here in Ireland there is one leaf showing on one G. reginae olgae so I am looking at all these postings and lovely photographs with great envy and longing.

I think I may have to start growing G. reginae olgae under glass. They simply do not do well outdoors here. Irish slugs are  particularly fond of these lovely plants.

Paddy

Many slugs here in Belgium too, Paddy. It's every year the same thing, and G. reginae-olgae subsp. reginae-olgae is a tastefull candy for the slugs.

[steve owen]

Paddy

I learned an expensive lesson planting some r/o in open ground. Slugs scoffed the flowers and then the bulbs disappeared in sympathy. I replaced the bulbs (at even more expense) but planted them in pots, and now have several healthy and flowering r/o varieties. The pots are not in the alpine house but on open staging. I may try putting one or two alpine galanthus varieties into pots next.

Meanwhile noses are up for Barnes, Donald Sims Early, Art Nouveau, Peter Gatehouse, and an early monostictus; also a pot of three Mary Hely-Hutchinson which I was given as allegedly-virused plants last year rather than see them thrown away. Its early growth looks vigorous too, but safety-first, the pot is well away from t'others. 

Whilst posting, can anyone suggest where I can obtain some tufa rock in which to try planting some primula allionii, reasonably cheaply? Will the rock sold in garden centres for fishtanks suffice or is that not the real thing?

Steve

[alpinelover]

Paddy

I learned an expensive lesson planting some r/o in open ground. Slugs scoffed the flowers and then the bulbs disappeared in sympathy. I replaced the bulbs (at even more expense) but planted them in pots, and now have several healthy and flowering r/o varieties. The pots are not in the alpine house but on open staging. I may try putting one or two alpine galanthus varieties into pots next.

Meanwhile noses are up for Barnes, Donald Sims Early, Art Nouveau, Peter Gatehouse, and an early monostictus; also a pot of three Mary Hely-Hutchinson which I was given as allegedly-virused plants last year rather than see them thrown away. Its early growth looks vigorous too, but safety-first, the pot is well away from t'others. 

Whilst posting, can anyone suggest where I can obtain some tufa rock in which to try planting some primula allionii, reasonably cheaply? Will the rock sold in garden centres for fishtanks suffice or is that not the real thing?

Steve

Hello Steve,

I don't know if you sometimes in Belgium, but here in Brugge (near the sea) there is a alpinenursery who has beautiful tufa rocks in all kind of sizes.
Check this out: www.alpenplanten.be

[Paddy Tobin]

Steve,

I certainly think I will have to grow G. reginae olgae in pots. They simply will not do in the open ground and it would be a pity to be without them.

Re. G. 'Mary Hely-Hutchinson - can you, please, please put my name on a bulb somewhere down the line. It's an Irish one but simply not available here, nor it is for sale anywhere that I know of.

Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

Dunblane is the slug centre of the universe yet my reginae-olgae have been flowering away for nearly a month with no addition of slug pellets. Too many other things for them to eat.

[KentGardener]

Hi Steve

Whenever I have bought tufa it has been from http://www.rotherview.com/ - they don't always have it in stock though so I would suggest a phone call before visiting.

[steve owen]

Hi Alpinelover and John

Thanks v much for the pointers re tufa. Paddy, I've PM-d to you.

Steve

[Paddy Tobin]

Dunblane is the slug centre of the universe yet my reginae-olgae have been flowering away for nearly a month with no addition of slug pellets. Too many other things for them to eat.

I cannot explain it, Anthony, but they don't do well here at all and, as I said, the first shoot is only now peeping above ground. Lesley told me he has the same experience in west Cork.

Any suggestions on an explanation, anybody?

Many thanks, Steve.

Paddy

[KentGardener]

It's the same in Kent for R-O's Paddy - only just through the ground in my garden.

[Paddy Tobin]

It's the same in Kent for R-O's Paddy - only just through the ground in my garden.

Now, I feel a little less deprived. Paddy

[Anthony Darby]

I suppose it's all to do with when autumn arrives? First weekend in August is regarded as the end of summer here in Dunblane, so after that it is autumn. Our spring and summer flowers are out later and our autumn flowers are out earlier.

[Brian Ellis]

It's the same in Kent for R-O's Paddy - only just through the ground in my garden.

Now, I feel a little less deprived. Paddy

...and I won't even mention my cold garden

[loes]

as they start growing when the temperature goes down and rains are starting,it is likely they flower early in colder aerea`s.In my Dutch garden I only have buds on the r-o and Barnes.Our summer last longer 
here are mine:
reginae-olgae ro
Autumn Beauty
Hiemalis Barnes

[Paddy Tobin]

That sounds like a sensible explanation, Anthony. We certainly have warmer temperatures for longer than you. Our first frost was on Monday last so the snowdrops will not have had the cold needed to prompt them into growth. Patience is needed.

Paddy