In a message dated 8/24/02 7:46:18 PM, batlette@cox.net writes:
<< All three look like they will be white >>
Green stem = white flowers, you can even tell as the bud is poking through
the ground as it is a pale yellow color, not at all like the purplish bud of
the others. Genetically, there appears to be a general (but not absolute)
linkage between all the non-pink colors (incl white) and at least midseason,
if not late, bloom. The early part of the season is always very depressing
as 99% of them are similar in color to the common old-fashioned type, making
one think that is all there is going to be, and that the bees got there
before I did when the crosses were made, as the pink appears to be quite
dominant.
Then the good stuff starts to come!
Most of mine are now picked by a flower wholesaler in the bud stage, so l do
not even get to see them, but I have designated a few areas to let bloom,
from these I dig out all but the very best while in bloom to sell as a
blooming bulb at the farmers markets, this way the customer knows precisely
what color and stem height they are getting, versus mixed unflowered bulbs.
I was just digging tonite in a spot where I had watered at least twice deeply
in June, and twice again since, and was amazed at the thickness and abundance
of the roots, and the amount of bloom in that area.
Today I even had a customer at one of the markets tell me she had bought mine
a few years back and planted them all along her lawn, so you can imagine how
much water they get. They were "blooming like crazy", she said.
I recall Fred Meyer telling me once about an old garden in Santa Barbara with
some very nice large tall hybrids in it, and he specifically said they were
getting watered all year and growing terrifically.
I am convinced! Ay least for my area. Possibly in really heavy soil one
would want to be more limited with the water, perhaps also in areas with
really warm summer soil temps. Here, where the days are not usually higher
than the 80's I know what I will be doing in the future--a good soaking once
a month whenever there is no significant rain, and twice a month where it
drains really well.
Best wishes,
Bill the Bulb Baron
William R.P. Welch
P.O. Box 1736
(UPS: 264 West Carmel Valley Road)
Carmel Valley, CA 93924-1736, USA
Phone/fax (831) 659-3830