Shopping List for Summer 2011

Based on my observations below of my indoor bulbs and recent observations of my bulbs outdoors I have compiled a list of what I want to buy this summer to plant this fall.

fresh Tulips for outdoors

The tulips I planted a couple years ago that bloomed beautifully the first year did not bloom again this year or the few that did look quite poor. This pot of 8 to 12 (can't remember exactly how many I planted) only had 1 and a half blooms this year.

Carnival de Nice, Professor Rontgen, other parrot tulips? enough for 4 pots.

Bulbs for pots. Not sure yet what to plant in these, right. Last year I went too mad with the crocus so want to do something else. Might be nice to have some spare capacity for bulbs that might catch my eye at the garden centre when they go on display in August.

That one with the small holes and spent crocus still in it didn't work out very well. Not sure what to do with that. The large holed pot will have crocus but this time on top as designed. Will try the same with the small holed silver posy.

This new (to me) SylvaC pot with frogs and a newt?/salamander? I will plant probably some hyacinths in it.

Tulips for indoor forcing

I have been trying to accumulate vases that would be the right size for forcing tulips. A few pictured here I used for crocus last year but now that I have enough crocus vases I thought they might just be okay for tulips, especially the early small bulbs I used last year. I think white tulips would look better in some of these vases than red, although the red did perform well last year so probably 6 of each.

Delft Blue

The scent of Delft Blue has been fantastic and it's bloomed early. Although the colour is not as dark purple as some hyacinths I still think it's a beautiful colour. This variety is a winner - was my favourite before and it still is.

Lady Derby

The Lady Derby bulbs caught my eye as they were so large, although they were not prepared so I had to prepare them myself. Two of the three I bought are in bloom (1-1-2011, pictured left), looking quite nice and their scent is great. They are so pale pink they're almost white so a nice subtle colour with some contrast in the eye (? not sure of the terminology, will have to get out my Bulb book) so an interesting flower. Will definitely use these again.

The images I see on the web of Lady Derby are very pink and not at all what I have. There's a Pink Pearl in my picture left just coming into bloom and one can see the contrast with the much much paler Lady Derby.

L'Innocence

Although these were a bit hit and miss they are early and generally large flowers, reasonable scent, nice pure white colour so all in all worth using.

As of Dec 31st most are spent, see left, and one can see the flower stalks are a bit "leggy". If they were just tall that would be okay but some of the flowers were a bit sparse, especially compared with last year.

more Tulips

Must find more vases suitable for tulips! I'm pleased with this year's bulbs as I hadn't done them before but want to try more next year. These were the only vases I could improvise.

more miniature narcissus like this one

I must find out what variety this is. The size would be good for the Shorter and Son troughs.

2 a. prepare properly: acorns and Avalanche narcissus

I was supposed to put the Avalanche narcissus in the dark for a period of time but I didn't realize. They have never caught up and not sure they are ever going to bloom, see below. Next time I will make sure they get their cold period. Same with the acorns. They are not doing anything and I have read that they need a period in the cold so will try that next time as well.

Viking

As of 31-12-2010 only 1 (of 3) Viking bulbs was out of the cellar, pictured left, so rather late.

Only two of the three Viking bulbs bloomed, they were really late and nothing special with the flowers or scent so definitely not using this variety again.

Atlantic

Although it was early it was small and the scent wasn't very strong.

Atlantic hyacinths forced in vases

Pink Pearl updated 5-1-2011

If you read the comment here a few days ago it was incorrect. I got mixed up between Pink Pearl and Ann Mary. I didn't do Pink Pearl last year. Ann Mary was quite early last year but I decided I'd try a different pink one this year. As pink isn't even my favourite colour and it's not very early I won't do Pink Pearl again.

Pictured left are my Pink Pearl as of 31-12-2011. This also shows how the same bulbs, planted at the same time, given the same environment grow at such different rates. Below are some Pink Pearl I planted in a pot which include 2 failures.

Blue Jacket

The Blue Jacket hyacinths were variable. The final few were okay (see home page) but those left and below were not. This variety seemed more sensitive to temperature or as they are later they had more time to cook in the central heating that hasn't done them any good.

Fewer crocus in pots

I went a bit mad with the crocus and did too many pots. I didn't even have room for them all so I will buy fewer next year. This is only a selection of the pots I planted.

Greenfly on the crocus, tulips, narcissus

solution: treat with insecticide

How to grow bulblets

solution: in loam-based John Innes compost

How to force acorns, which end goes in the water? how long do they take?

1 solution: give them a cold period