Bulb frame

[hadacekf]

I have a bulb frame already some decades in my garden. Its purpose is primarily to keep the bulbs quite dry in summer and rather dry in winter.

Corydalis popovii is one of the most eye-catching- and fast growing bulb in my frame. 
Iris histrioides  loves the sunny, dry place in the bulb frame.

[tonyg]

Great Darren and thanks for sharing these pictures and thoughts with us.  It has reinforced my idea to convert one of my pot frames into a bulb frame such as yours.  I have seen similar at Alan Edwards and the Wallis's in the distant past.  I'm not so handy with woodwork though ... do you and Susan fancy a holiday in sunny Norfolk?

[ArnoldT]

There are lattice baskets available that are used by folks who grow plants in ponds.  Good for preventing the bulbs from wandering and yet you can pull up the pot to inspect the bulbs.

[Maren]

Hi,
can you show us a picture of the lattice basket, please? I wonder if we can get them here. I have been looking for something like that but all I can find is pond baskets.

[Gerry Webster]

Hi,
can you show us a picture of the lattice basket, please? I wonder if we can get them here. I have been looking for something like that but all I can find is pond baskets.

Maren - Pond baskets are ideal. Most garden centres have them in a range of sizes. I prefer them with a rather open mesh but I know people who use the ones with very small mesh.

[ArnoldT]

Marren:

At work and limited internet access.  I'll dig up some images when I get home.

[ArnoldT]

Marren:

Here's a look at some.

http://www.coastalpond.com/plant-accessories-plant-baskets-c-12_71.html?zenid=a28e73fa4f19adf706dcce60ee5079f6

[Maren]

Thank you for the picture link, Arnold, very kind of you. Of course, now that I see the picture I know what it is.

Regards from Maren (with one 'r')

And thanks to Gerry, too.

[Maggi Young]

Hi,
can you show us a picture of the lattice basket, please? I wonder if we can get them here. I have been looking for something like that but all I can find is pond baskets.

Maren - Pond baskets are ideal. Most garden centres have them in a range of sizes. I prefer them with a rather open mesh but I know people who use the ones with very small mesh.

We prefer the ones with smaller mesh grid because of the capacity of some bulbs to make their escape through larger grids!

[annew]

Often, the holes on the bottom of the basket are blocked, and need drilling out. Also, I put a layer of small gravel in the bottom, to make sure no water stays too long at the roots.

[Gerry Webster]

Hi,
can you show us a picture of the lattice basket, please? I wonder if we can get them here. I have been looking for something like that but all I can find is pond baskets.

Maren - Pond baskets are ideal. Most garden centres have them in a range of sizes. I prefer them with a rather open mesh but I know people who use the ones with very small mesh.

We prefer the ones with smaller mesh grid because of the capacity of some bulbs to make their escape through larger grids!

In my experience "some bulbs" are tulips. I've never had problems with any others ( not even Erythroniums which like to descend when left to their own devices).

[Darren]

Cor, this thread has been busy since I last looked!

Your frame looks great Franz. I am going to put my Corydalis popovii out in mine this summer - schanginii does well in the frame and my popovii do very poorly in a pot.

David - I will put some more pictures and details of the top assembly together when I'm next home in daylight...

I can confirm that I use pond baskets also. Finding nice square ones which don't taper too much toward the bottom was not easy.

Tony - never been to Norfolk!  Thanks for the flattery but Susan would happily tell you that I am rubbish at DIY. I guess with important things (i.e. plant related) I take more care than I do with stuff around the house 

The design of the top has had to be altered once as I found that polycarbonate flexed enough in high winds to wriggle its way out of the frame. No such problem since I changed the design.

[Gerry Webster]

This is my bulb frame made many years ago. The base, 60 cm high, is constructed of concrete blocks - my handiwork (as revealed by a measure  of subsidence at the far end. The timber & polycarbonate top was made by a local handyman; since the top never comes off, all watering is done by hand. The mesh frames on the front are to keep out cats & similar vermin; they can be replaced by glass or plastic in really bad weather.
The frame is divided into compartments, only one of which is currently filled with compost (25 cm over 30 cm of rubble) & used for growing  Sternbergias & a few crocus. The remaining compartments are filled with sharp sand & used to plunge pots. They also seem to accumulate junk.

[ChrisB]

Cor, I've never thought about putting bulbs into pond baskets in the garden to keep them together before, I shall have to try this out.  Thanks for the details Gerry....

[gote]

I keep my more precious bulbs in place in the opposit way. I put a basket on top of them. This is to keep mice out and applies to planting in the open ground. It is nearly a necessity when growing Corydalis cultivars. One corm: 15x15cm of metal net 5mm opening or so. Bend down 5cm all around. Put the resulting basket upside down on top of the corm WELL BELOW SOIL SURFACE.
This will keep mice out and corm in. 4 corms means 20x20cm and 5cm bend down. I did this originally to keep the mice out but the side effect is that I always find my bulbs again. If the top is 2 cm down, the 5cm edge will keep my mice at bay. If the top comes up in soil level, the plant will try to grow underneath and that does not work too well. I do this opn all smaller bulbs/corms except amaryllidaceae. since these are not palatable to mice.
Cheers
Göte
Still 20cm of snow but the day mean temperature is creeping up above zero C°.