Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: cheshirecheese on February 21, 2012, 09:02

Title: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: cheshirecheese on February 21, 2012, 09:02
I have two questions, both to do with bulbs:  the first concerns hyacinths, which I've had growing in succession in pots in the house since Christmas.  Now they're finished, what's the best way of keeping them?  Can I just put them straight into the garden, or will they be susceptible to cold temperatures as they've been used to central heating?!  We also have a greenhouse, but it's not heated - an alternative would be to put them in there till the spring, but do I keep them in compost or bare?

Secondly, I underplanted a group of shrubs with some crocosmia and small lilies a few years back, but for the last two years they've come up 'blind' - plenty of healthy looking leaves, but no flowers.  I'm presuming they've got some sort of virus?  If so, am I wasting my time digging them up and replacing them with new ones (i.e. will the virus remain in the soil and affect new bulbs)??

Any advice gratefully received - thanks!  :)

Title: Re: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: DD. on February 21, 2012, 09:07
As regards hyacinth, our spent ones go straight in the ground. We've got loads from over the past years.

You'll find that next year the flowers spike will be a bit sparse due to the lack of nutrients in bulb fibre, but over the years they pick up. The aroma in our back garden in spring is wonderful!
Title: Re: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: JayG on February 21, 2012, 10:16
Plant the hyacinth bulbs about 8" deep (i.e. completely different treatment from how they were grown indoors!) As DD says they take a few years to recover.

Being planted beneath shrubs I'm wondering whether your other bulbs are getting enough light - I've noticed that in my north facing front garden the daffs which get the worst of the light (which obviously isn't very good anywhere) rarely flower, whereas others of the same variety but in a slightly more open position do pretty well.

They all appreciate some feeding, especially if your soil is poor.
Title: Re: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: cheshirecheese on February 22, 2012, 17:01
Thanks - will plant the hyacinths straight into deep, enriched soil and see what happens.  As for the other question, these bulbs get full sun for the first half of the day, but I have to admit I haven't ever fed them so will give that a go this season and see if things improve!
Title: Re: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: JayG on February 22, 2012, 18:35
Whatever happens flower-wise don't forget to leave the foliage on for as long as possible (preferably until it dies away naturally) as that's how the bulb replaces its reserves to power next year's initial growth and flowering.
Title: Re: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: sunshineband on February 22, 2012, 19:43
You mght find that the lilies' buds are being eaten by slugs

OR it may be that they both need a good feed --- the shrubs will use up a fair bit from the soil
Title: Re: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: Trillium on February 22, 2012, 20:42
I immediately thought that the bulbs needed feeding. Especially if they're quite crowded. Perhaps a bit of thinning if this is part of the problem.

And both slugs and lily beetles will munch on lily bulbs. Darned squirrels run off with most of my hyacinth bulbs so we planted them super deep, about a foot and they're still there. The rodents are too lazy to dig that far down.  :tongue2:

Title: Re: A couple of questions about bulbs ...
Post by: Yorkie on February 23, 2012, 07:50
Everyone's mentioning feeding.  What's the best fertiliser?