Crocus November 2011

[Gerry Webster]

I have a very  few 'wild-origin' C. ligusticus derived from seed collections made in Liguria by David Stephens and Peter Bird & Mike Salmon. Although I grow these in pots,  the pots are kept in an open plunge all-year round.  The corms survive & flower regularly but seem not to increase vegetatively. They rarely set seed.  To my annoyance, the last seed I sowed was apparently killed by the cold last winter - nothing ever appeared.

Some years ago Alan Edwards gave me a couple of corms he had collected in Liguria but unfortunately these did not survive. I don't know whether Alan still has these plants - I imagine David S would know.

As regards the trade form of C. medius/ligusticus, this was virused when I first obtained it some 30 years ago.  I have often wondered about its origin or whether it could be a hybrid but no one seems to have any information. For no very good reason I suspect it could be a van Tubergen plant.

[Martin Baxendale]

Yes, we should really be using ligusticus, not medius. I'm afraid the new name still does not come naturally to me.

[udo]

Correct name for Crocus medius is C. ligusticus. Would be nice to use this one, although medius is far more common and traditional. Only few companies offers it under correct name (between them Peter Nijseen from Holland).
 It is very strange species. Must be easy and I was growing commercial form for several years outside. Not very happy it was, but alived and sometimes even bloomed up to I find that commercal stock is virus-infected. The same happens with stock named as 'Millisimo'. But I have problems with wild stocks - all got by me were more beautifull, large flowering, but disappear... Why? I can't understand. This autumn I got few new corms. One formed beautiful first flower and... rotted. Will alive others? - I don't know. When I wrote to Erich Pasche - he replied that with ligusticus he has same problems. When he grew them outside under Thymus everyrthing was OK, but in pots he allways lost this species.
Similar problem species with me is Crocus carpetanus.
Janis

With me there grow Cr.ligusticus of NW Italy
(Bignone, Ceppo) and ligusticus 'Millesimo'
on a patch side by side without problems.
With Millesimo the foliage is 5 cm long at the moment,
with other 1 cm.

[Tony Willis]

First of my spring crocus out today. has flowered as early as mid December before.

Crocus graveolens

[Lesley Cox]

When he grew them outside under Thymus everyrthing was OK, but in pots he allways lost this species.
Similar problem species with me is Crocus carpetanus.
Janis

I like to grow crocuses in the garden so far as possible and if they are under a mat of something it doesn't matter if they get watered through the summer as the mat, of thyme or whatever, soaks up the excess moisture and the crocuses remain safe. I find all the species I grow do better in the garden than in pots but of course we have very mild winters compared with many Forumists. As well as thymes I look for rather loose mats. Campanula 'Mist Maiden' is a favourite for crocuses, or CC. arvatica and raineri.

[Lesley Cox]

A question for Tony G. Is it too early to send crocus seed to David S? I have some cleaned and ready to go, too late for Society/Club lists but if I keep it here it will likely get lost in the mists of a generally over-filled (untidy) house. It would be safer if sent off. If OK can you send me the right address please.

[Gerry Webster]

When he grew them outside under Thymus everyrthing was OK, but in pots he allways lost this species.
Similar problem species with me is Crocus carpetanus.
Janis

I like to grow crocuses in the garden so far as possible and if they are under a mat of something it doesn't matter if they get watered through the summer as the mat, of thyme or whatever, soaks up the excess moisture and the crocuses remain safe. I find all the species I grow do better in the garden than in pots but of course we have very mild winters compared with many Forumists. As well as thymes I look for rather loose mats. Campanula 'Mist Maiden' is a favourite for crocuses, or CC. arvatica and raineri.

That would be fatal here Lesley. Are there no slugs or snails in NZ?

[Lesley Cox]

Gerry there definitely ARE slugs and snails in NZ and in the billions in some parts but I am truly blessed that they are not with me. I saw a slug last week in a lettuce I bought at the market and it was quickly shunted down the sink with hot water. I haven't seen a snail for years except one that Teddy brought home from somewhere and chomped - though didn't eat. I had no snails in my last garden either but a very few slugs which frogs dealt with. Before that I had a garden so thick with snails that I used to throw them out on the road as I weeded (the garden sloped to the road) until I realized the traffic killing them was making the street smell of rotten meat after a while so I had to resort to buckets of briny water.

[tonyg]

A question for Tony G. Is it too early to send crocus seed to David S? I have some cleaned and ready to go, too late for Society/Club lists but if I keep it here it will likely get lost in the mists of a generally over-filled (untidy) house. It would be safer if sent off. If OK can you send me the right address please.

No and Yes in that order    I sent you a PM with address.

[ArnoldT]

I have this labeled as Crocus laevigatus 'Fontenayi', but not completely sure of the ID.

[Gerry Webster]

Arnold - it looks like the one I have under that name & in flower now but I suppose that doesn't mean much.

[ArnoldT]

Gerry:

Thanks, that makes two of us.

[udo]

My first spring Crocus today,
Cr. imperati from Italy.

[tonyg]

My first spring Crocus today,
Cr. imperati from Italy.

It will be my first spring one too, but not yet!  Very early, but not so unusual for this species which I have had in flower before Christmas on several occasions.

[mark smyth]

Janis was over here today - brilliant lecture.

He showed some photos from his Crocus breeding programme  wonderful things to come in the future