>Arnold and I are in agreement with the exception that he has better weather
>than we so if he is not happy about viewing snowdrops in New Jersey, I know I
>am never going to be an aficionado.
>Maybe, Paul, you would tell us at what temperatures they bloom for you and
>how much winter chill (again temp.) is needed.
Howdy All,
The above was sent to the Bulbs-Images list on yahoogroups, but as we're
not supposed to have discussion on there I figured it best to address this
here. This was a response to some pictures I posted of the Double
Galanthus 'Lavinia' and a brief discussion of finickiness of Galanthus.
The following is my response to the above message. I just wanted to
explain why this has "appeared" on this list.
***********************
Claire,
Here in Canberra I get nothing like the weather you guys probably get. We
don't get Snow except on very odd ocassions. To us, it is still cold in
winter, but to some of you out there we're probably tropical . It is
all in the perspective.
We get down to at least -6'C each winter here. Some years there are only a
couple, whereas others like this year there have been a whole string of
cold nights, with down to -8'C already experienced. This winter is colder
than a lot of recent ones as a lot of plants previously unaffected by cold
have been hit this year.
I honestly don't know how much winter chill is needed, just how much we get
here. IT works for us, so it can at least give you some idea of what works
here. All my Galanthus are grown unprotected from frost with some in the
full open and others under shrubs etc. Some of the varieties are actually
out in full summer sun (one of these was an accident as the cover plant has
taken so long to grow and still hasn't shaded it.... yet the Galanthus is
flowering now for the third year running, having experienced all day summer
sun into the high 30s ('C). I mention this just to show that not all
Galanthus require the cool and shadey aspects. Some definitely prefer a
drier summer, while others cannot tolerate it. It depends on the species
involved.
I find that if the Galanthus get a lot of sun when in bud they tend to have
short stems (I have been suffering that this year as we've had very cold
nights but rather warm days as well. Some of my favourite cultivars have
started flowering on 2 inch stems, somewhat disappointing.
I grow my Galanthus in both pots and the ground. They tend to shoot and
flower earlier in the pots than the ground, although that is not always the
case. Obviously the soil temperatures in the pots rise quicker than the
ground, so I don't know what actually stimulates the growth. I find that
just about everything I have flowers (obviously not every bulb every year,
but a reasonable amount). The only clump I don't have flower is one in
very heavy shade. It has failed the last 2 years since a shrub has taken
off. I will be moving some of it this year to try to get some flowers next
year. They seem to grow happily in the shade, but they just don't flower.
This particular species is G. plicatus which is a good flowerer normally
(and is in bud in other parts of the garden and in pots).
OK, without rambling on any further is that what you were wanting to know?
I am certainly no expert on Galanthus, but I'm happy to share experiences
with others if it helps them to grow. I must admit that it is easier to
grow them in pots as you can lift them to look at the flowers. As Arnold
has said... in the middle of winter it is a pain to get down to look at
them. Much easier to lift and look at the flower instead of getting down
to it .
Can I add anything else here to help?
Cheers.
Paul Tyerman
Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9
mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au
Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus,
Cyrtanthus, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything
else that doesn't move!!!!!