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Today's Topics:

1. Houston bulbs (Jane Sargent)
2. Re: Houston bulbs (Mary Sue Ittner)
3. Re: Houston bulbs (Carlo A. Balistrieri)
4. Re: Houston bulbs (Lee Poulsen)
5. Too late to plant seed of summer growers? (Nicholas plummer)
6. Re: Too late to plant seed of summer growers? (Jim McKenney)
7. Re: Too late to plant seed of summer growers? (Robert Lauf)
8. Re: Too late to plant seed of summer growers?
(Carlo A. Balistrieri)
9. saffron (EJ)
10. Re: saffron (Tim Eck)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jane Sargent <jane@deskhenge.com>
To: pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 09:53:40 -0400
Subject: [pbs] Houston bulbs
I was asked what pretty bulbs could be used for landscaping in Houston, TX
and had no idea. Can someone help? The place sounds like a hot swamp. Would
Megaspekasma erythrochlamis grow there?

Sent from my iPhone

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mary Sue Ittner <msittner@mcn.org>
To: Jane Sargent via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 07:44:52 -0700
Subject: Re: [pbs] Houston bulbs
We once had a topic of the week, bulbs for Texas. You can see some of
the posts here.

https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbslist/2003-June/…

On 7/23/2020 6:53 AM, Jane Sargent via pbs wrote:

TX and had no idea. Can someone help? The place sounds like a hot swamp.
Would Megaspekasma erythrochlamis grow there?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Carlo A. Balistrieri" <carlobal@gmail.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 11:08:47 -0400
Subject: Re: [pbs] Houston bulbs
I highly recommend reading “Garden Bulbs for the South” by Scott Ogden
(Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas TX). It’s been a go-to resource for me
since moving to SC and is entertaining to boot.

Carlo

Carlo A. Balistrieri
262.490.6163
IG: carlobalistrieriphotography
http://www.carlobalistrieri.com/ <http://www.carlobalistrieri.com/>
http://www.botanicalgardening.com/ <http://www.botanicalgardening.com/>

pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lee Poulsen <wpoulsen@pacbell.net>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 11:57:54 -0700
Subject: Re: [pbs] Houston bulbs
I second this recommendation. Ogden lives and gardens in the
Austin/Central Texas area.

A second really good book that often gets recommended along with Ogden’s
book is “Bulbs for Warm Climates” by Thad M Howard (University of Texas
Press, Austin TX). Howard published many bulb species from all of his plant
hunting trips in Mexico. I believe Howard lived and gardened in the San
Antonio TX area.

Since I grew up in Austin TX, and my siblings still live in the area, and
it’s where my plant interests began, I maintain an interest in all things
plant growing in the region, especially since my sister is always calling
me up to ask about growing something or another.

Here are a few, maybe less-well-known, books on bulb growing in Texas:

“Heirloom Bulbs for Today” by Chris Wiesinger and Cherie Foster Colburn
(Bright Sky Press, Houston TX)
“The Bulb Hunter” by Chris Wiesinger and William C Welch (Texas A&M Press,
College Station TX)

Wiesinger is the owner/operator of Southern Bulb Co. between Dallas and
Tyler, Texas.

“The Complete Guide to Growing Bulbs in Houston” by Sally McQueen (Bayland
Publishing Inc, Houston TX)
later revised to:
“A Gardener’s Guide to Growing Bulbs on the Gulf Coast” by Sally McQueen
Squire (River Bend Publishing Co., Houston TX)

M. erythrochlamis (which I don’t think is a bulb) will love the summers
there, but won’t survive any but the very warmest of winters there unless
it’s planted in very protected locations. I think Houston is Zone 9A,
except right along the coast where it’s 9B.

--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena, California, USA - USDA Zone 10a
Latitude 34°N, Altitude 1150 ft/350 m

pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote:

(Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas TX). It’s been a go-to resource for me
since moving to SC and is entertaining to boot.

pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote:

TX and had no idea. Can someone help? The place sounds like a hot swamp.
Would Megaspekasma erythrochlamis grow there?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nicholas plummer <nickplummer@gmail.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 15:36:57 -0400
Subject: [pbs] Too late to plant seed of summer growers?
I just received seed of various summer growing species (Gladiolus,
Crocosmia, Hypoxis, etc) and am trying to decide when to sow. I have a
heated greenhouse, so I could either sow the seed now and try to keep it
growing well into autumn, or wait and sow it in early spring for a head
start on next year. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards the latter,
because then the change in day length would be in my favor.

Nick Plummer
Zone 7, North Carolina, where the first Lycoris radiata var pumila are
starting to bloom

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jim McKenney <jamesamckenney@verizon.net>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 19:41:38 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [pbs] Too late to plant seed of summer growers?
Nick, if the plants in question are winter growers in the northern
hemisphere (i.e. plants from southern Africa) I would plant now and expect
to have to grow them under glass.
Jim McKenney

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert Lauf <boblauf@att.net>
To: Nicholas plummer via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 21:00:59 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [pbs] Too late to plant seed of summer growers?
Nick,
This might not be completely pertinent to your problem, but I collect my
Eucomis seeds late summer and sow immediately (in perlite). They germinate
in a few weeks to a month, and when they're a few inches tall I transfer to
pro mix and move to the greenhouse. They grow all winter and just keep
growing in the spring, when I move them to 3-4" pots and move outside for
the summer. The bulbs at that point are bout the size of a marble. They
reach blooming size in three years, sometimes two.
The greenhouse has gas heat and I try to adjust so it comes on around 55,
but while things are stabilizing in fall, and during cold snaps, excursions
below 50 are not uncommon. Daytime temps when sunny (even in very cold
weather) are very pleasant. The greenhouse is mostly orchids, bromeliads,
ficus, and some dormant tender bulbs and none mind the cool temps.
Hope that helps. Let me know if you'd like some Eucomis for your garden!
Bob LaufOak Ridge, TN where we are finally getting some rain!
On Thursday, July 23, 2020, 03:37:18 PM EDT, Nicholas plummer via pbs <
pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote:

I just received seed of various summer growing species (Gladiolus,
Crocosmia, Hypoxis, etc) and am trying to decide when to sow. I have a
heated greenhouse, so I could either sow the seed now and try to keep it
growing well into autumn, or wait and sow it in early spring for a head
start on next year. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards the latter,
because then the change in day length would be in my favor.

Nick Plummer
Zone 7, North Carolina, where the first Lycoris radiata var pumila are
starting to bloom
_______________________________________________
pbs mailing list
pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Carlo A. Balistrieri" <carlobal@gmail.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:07:05 -0400
Subject: Re: [pbs] Too late to plant seed of summer growers?
And I sow spring/summer bulbs (including Hippeastrum, Zephyranthes, etc.)
as soon as ripe. I’m in SC and have seedlings of the above and Crinum going
nearly constantly….

Carlo

2 6 2 . 4 9 0 . 6 1 6 3
SC New York NJ

http://www.carlobalistrieri.com/ <http://www.carlobalistrieri.com/>
IG: carlobalistrieriphotography

pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote:

Eucomis seeds late summer and sow immediately (in perlite). They germinate
in a few weeks to a month, and when they're a few inches tall I transfer to
pro mix and move to the greenhouse. They grow all winter and just keep
growing in the spring, when I move them to 3-4" pots and move outside for
the summer. The bulbs at that point are bout the size of a marble. They
reach blooming size in three years, sometimes two.

55, but while things are stabilizing in fall, and during cold snaps,
excursions below 50 are not uncommon. Daytime temps when sunny (even in
very cold weather) are very pleasant. The greenhouse is mostly orchids,
bromeliads, ficus, and some dormant tender bulbs and none mind the cool
temps.

<pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: EJ <elainej@gmail.com>
To: pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:41:46 -0700
Subject: [pbs] saffron
Hi Tim,
A Big Thank You! to you and your friend for sharing the saffron bulbs!
:-) they look like a good size, and I hope I can get them to grow and bloom.
Seems like they are a fall bulb and some say plant immediately.
Although they came from an in-ground bed, I’m thinking of planting them in
a deep at least 6” pot with the 2 parts horticultural sand, 1 perlite, and
1 compost (tho Jane McGary recommended forest humus and coarse sand). Plus
sand and granite below for drainage. Would that work?
Question for all is: should I plant and water it now ?
I’m in SF Bay Area, probably a zone 9b. With Very dry summers, no rain
till late October and I’m afraid of critters eating them up.

Much thanks,
-Elaine.

saffron
Tim Eck via pbs (Wed, 01 Jul 2020 14:54:27 PDT)
All,
A friend is going to take out a saffron bed and I will plant them but I
should be able to spare a few hundred offsets for the BX if there is any
interest. (That's meant as a question)
tim

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tim Eck <timeck17582@gmail.com>
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 07:06:04 -0400
Subject: Re: [pbs] saffron
I think the critters are your main worry - voles in particular. Voles are
quite capable of entering pots through their drain holes, so maybe cover
the drain holes with aluminum window screen or quarter inch hardware cloth
and enclose the top. I believe saffron is fairly forgiving wrt soil type
but don't have much direct knowledge. I have heard they grow fine in clay
soil with a slope for drainage, but no personal experience.
The voles care nothing for the flowers and foliage. Only the bulbs. With
this in mind, I have had success planting the bulbs 3" or more deep and
embedding half inch hardware cloth over the soil so it extends a foot or so
past the bulbs in every direction. The flowers and foliage seem to find
their way through the hardware cloth just fine and the method should
protect other similar bulbs with fine foliage too. Note, I use half inch
hardware cloth embedded in the soil or quarter inch above ground. Either
seems sufficient.
As far as planting time, I can't recall the exact date they will start
growing but they will bloom (at least the larger ones) sitting on a shelf
if you don't plant them in time and they will be pushing leaves at the same
time. I will plant mine toward the end of August to be safe.
Tim

On Thu, Jul 23, 2020 at 8:41 PM EJ via pbs <
pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
wrote:

bloom.

in

and

Plus

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