Bulb pests
Jane McGary (Sun, 20 Jun 2004 12:41:32 PDT)

Rodger wrote, >We have a great many feral narcissus here and they host
narcissus

I was told this many years ago and it seems to work for me, too -- plant
narcissus in shade. I have colonies of naturalized cultivars of various
kinds that have not diminished in almost 20 years in shade. However,
certain kinds, such as 'Ice Follies' and the 'Little Beauty' early
miniature types also persist in full sun. I think the latter may ripen
their foliage early, since they are early bloomers. I've been told that it
is either the color or the scent of the withering leaves that attracts the
bulb fly, and I've never seen bulb flies here until quite late in spring,
since the soil remains cold most springs. Curiously I did not see (or hear,
which is how one usually spots them) any bulb flies around the frames this
year, but I bet they were out looking at some point.

The past couple of years I've been covering my more precious pot-grown
bulbs -- not just narcissus but also Sternberia and Galanthus -- with
Reemay (nonwoven row cover) after flowering. This product is very cheap and
can be tucked around the edge of the plunged pots. You could also use it in
the garden with metal pins, though it would be unsightly. This prevents the
flies from landing on the plants and laying their eggs, and doesn't require
a pesticide applicator's license, either.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA