Snowdrops in February 2012

[Mavers]

If I was expecting a snowdrop scatigaz, I'd plant it in a pot of well draining gritty compost & keep it frost free until better weather. Last year I kept all my new acquisitions in pots protected from frost on the shady side of my bungalow & then planted them out in July when they were dormant bulbs. They had formed lovely firm bulbs as the protected environment helped them retain their foliage much longer than being out in the garden.

As soon as I unpack snowdrops I dip them in diluted Canna Rhizotonic root stimulator & Growth Technology 'SuperDrive'. I also water them in with the same solution. These are both expensive but a little goes a very long way & if I'm planting a £50 snowdrop I like to think I'm giving it a little kick up the behind........ From experience I've found it seems works.

 

[snowdropman]

That's scribbled in there too along with various other stuff I have learnt along the way.   

Perhaps we should have a new thread

[Brian Ellis]

A better picture of G.'Corrin' - I can't tell you how many attempts I have made

[snowdropman]

A better picture of G.'Corrin' - I can't tell you how many attempts I have made

And well worth all of the effort - lovely markings

[johnw]

I have a snowdrop coming today from ebay but the ground is rock hard. What would be the best thing to do? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Number one hope they don't freeze in the mail, always a big concern here shipping anything before late March.  Otherwise pot and await a thaw.

I agree with Martin, the snowdrops will be fine. In mid April 1981 we had -7c after a very early Spring, +20c even in February that year.  That was highly unusual, friends were in Edinburgh that same day - the end of the AGS Tours - and they too had an extremely bad frost the same night, whacked all the new growth on the rhodos. The evergreen azaleas were showing colour in late March here and then bam.  The snowdrops were long over and were not at all affected by the strong frost.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

That's scribbled in there too along with various other stuff I have learnt along the way.   

Perhaps we should have a new thread

Could do, Chris..... if you'd like to help by assembling  a note of the posts referring to such things?

[Brian Ellis]

And well worth all of the effort - lovely markings

Cheers Chris, I could see that it was worth it from all the viewings it has had - I expect Rannveig will be knocked over by all the requests

[ichristie]

Great pictures everyone as usual. I cant believe we have snowdrops with open petals today the ground is frozen solid with bright sunshine I suppose this opens the flowers. I am posting a few from the garden one is a Castle no 14 2011 collection which is very scented a heavy honey like smell very powerfull, cheers Ian the Christie kind

[chasw]

Ian I am growing Baylham here also ,do you have any idea where it originated....................I was thinking Norfolk (Brian?)

[Martin Baxendale]

Castle no 14 2011 collection which is very scented a heavy honey like smell very powerfull, cheers Ian the Christie kind

That's interesting, Ian. I find that plicatus and p. byzantinus generally don't have a very sweet honey scent but a mustier scent, not unpleasant but not as strong and sweet as the typical nivalis honey scent.

[snowdropman]

Ian I am growing Baylham here also ,do you have any idea where it originated....................I was thinking Norfolk (Brian?)

These 3 links should help

http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2931.msg70297#msg70297

http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2931.msg70267#msg70267

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1498.15

[ichristie]

Hi Martin the G plicatus Castle 14 is in a pond basket so brought it in to photograph it is very strong would not want to live with it all the time a very neat snowdrop only 10cm high just now suspect it will get taller, cheers Ian.

[chasw]

Thanks Chris

[mark smyth]

Martin I went out a had a sniff of my plicatus 'drops. None were musty

[Martin Baxendale]

Martin I went out a had a sniff of my plicatus 'drops. None were musty

Maybe musty is the wrong word. I find the plicatus scent is quite different to the honey scent of nivalis but it's difficult to describe it. Certainly not sweet.