|
|
Post by Penny on Mar 20, 2009 12:52:16 GMT
;D Those are so pretty everyone.  |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Mar 20, 2009 12:55:33 GMT
I've got a few daffs out in the garden now, not many really just odd clumps. I found the pot that had my Paperwhites in, there was a little bit of very poor green leaf showing and after having a root about I found the bulbs had been frosted  now in compost bin. Barbara I just love that pot with the smiley face on it  Mmmm labels ay Jasmine, you organised creature ;D I try but am a bit hit and miss with them. Love Rip Van Winkle Tig, mine haven't shown this year |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 20, 2009 14:18:28 GMT
It doesn't always work Chuckles - I am on the hunt for a marker pen that doesn't fade away and leave you with a blank label! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Mar 20, 2009 19:57:38 GMT
I am getting more organised - I have a rough idea where my tulips have been planted this year  But I noticed some other bulbs coming up down the bottom of the garden and for the life of me I haven't got a clue what they are, I will have to go back through what I've bought and see if anything springs to mind  Have you got leaves and no flowers on the RVWs Chuckles? I have some in the largish grey urn type containers and they have mutliplied tremendously over the years. I'm happy to dig a few out once they have flowered and send them on? They could do with thinning! I'll take a piccie when the flowers open, they are quite short ones .. x Tig |
|
|
|
Post by Ladygardener on Mar 23, 2009 7:11:43 GMT
JAsmine and Tig, I love the look of those bridal crown and rip van winkle, just beautiful. All mine are the bog standard big yellow ones but they're blooming and that's the main thing. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 23, 2009 7:36:02 GMT
The bridal crown were free LG and they have a lovely smell. Our local GC is not known for its bargains but every now and again they do a really good voucher and that was one of them. Bridal crown have a lovely smell too.  I just think it is the splash of yellow that is so cheery in spring - whatever daffodil is doing it! |
|
|
|
Post by Auricula on Mar 28, 2009 23:57:13 GMT
All my yellow daffs have now finished flowering but the white narcissi ( free with a mail order,order ) are still going great guns Now comes the difficult part......stopping my itchy fingers from cutting back the foliage for 6 weeks |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 29, 2009 6:34:04 GMT
...that's the only down side isn't it - dead collapsed leaves - not a good look.  |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 29, 2009 6:53:39 GMT
A lot of people here plait them or tie them into a knot but as far as I know you aren't even supposed to do that, are you??
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 29, 2009 6:57:11 GMT
I've read that you should just leave the leaves alone as the plant needs as much light as possible on its leaves to do the food storing scientific bit for the bulb. I suppose it makes sense from the basic biology I remember. My Mum used to use the rubber bands the postie dropped to tie them up in neat little parcels but she is very tidy my Mum! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 29, 2009 7:08:23 GMT
My Dad used to tie them in a knot - they always looked rather nice somehow.
I stick to the 6 week rule although here in Germany they don't know it and gardeners here always say that you should leave the leaves until they are totally yellow.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 29, 2009 7:24:59 GMT
I leave my daffodil leaves until you can just pull them away from the bulb. I also read that you should close up the hole where the leaves have been so that narcissus fly can't get to the bulb easily and lay its eggs. I've never done that and don't think I've had trouble with narcissus fly although something dug up 2 bulbs the other day that had been eaten away inside.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 29, 2009 7:28:45 GMT
I didn't know that at all Jasmine, thanks. My OH tends to do them but his is so impatient that often when he thinks I'm not looking he does a quick tug to try and get the leaves off before they are ready.
If I am going to be truthful I prefer the small daffs, such as tête à tête - they don't fall over, the leaves aren't so long and tend to die down a little quicker perhaps.
Could just be that I am getting lazy in my old age!!
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 29, 2009 7:34:06 GMT
I prefer the little ones - they don't get so bashed about in the wind but there are some stunning taller daffodils. The little daffs look more delicate too, some of the tall yellow daffs are quite a presence!
OH has mowed over the daffodils in years gone by so he gets nagged at til June to avoid the daffodil clumps and take care - I think it is the taking care bit he finds tricky!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 29, 2009 7:39:57 GMT
Well that made me laugh - I know what you mean though. If there is only one plant in a square meter you can guarantee that my OH will thread on it.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Mar 29, 2009 8:10:40 GMT
I do like the smaller ones if they are in large drifts, otherwise the yellow gets lost in the garden. The large ones are more 'showy' colourwise. I see the doubles are starting to bloom now, like Minnow I think that is the right name x Tig |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Mar 29, 2009 8:13:24 GMT
I love to see these double daffs etc but they always end up face down as they are just too top heavy - shame really.
RF
|
|
|
|
Post by Ladygardener on Mar 29, 2009 9:54:52 GMT
I did'nt know that about covering the holes Jasmine thanks for the tip. I love the little daffs too, I had paper whites one year but never saw them again. I think the clay soil and so much rain just rotted the bulbs. Here in NI people either tie the daff leaves or put an elastic band around them too. I usually do as well but I've never been good with daffs and this is the best year i've had for them so I think I'll give them liquid feeds and leave the leaves as long as I can before doing anything with them. |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 29, 2009 13:14:44 GMT
I get to the point were I just want to clear all the leaves away but I have to firm with myself. It always looks so tidy once you can though.  Some more diddy daffs - narcissus sailboat. They should get to about 10'' tall according to the packet but neither of my clumps are as tall as that. |
|
|
|
Post by Ladygardener on Mar 30, 2009 5:04:36 GMT
Those are lovely Jasmine and is that new growth on a rose I see behind them? |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Mar 30, 2009 6:54:03 GMT
Yes, that's one of my Winchester Cathedral roses. I have 2 because I thought my first one had died and not realising you have to be a bit patient with gardening at the time I rushed out and replaced it! Rose leaves look so healthy at this time of the year - why can't they stay like that?
I didn't realise how badly the grass needs its first cut - it is nearly as tall as the daffs! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Apr 3, 2009 11:24:39 GMT
I literally snapped this today (trying to pull out more weeds and trod on it!) However I hadn't noticed it was having a colour crisis   x Tig |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Apr 3, 2009 12:18:16 GMT
Your own special daff Tig! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2009 12:59:21 GMT
Im very dissapointed with my Daffs this year just one flower and loads of leaves from 20-30 bulbs mostly in containers, maybe i should had fed them Wont get caught next year |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Apr 5, 2009 17:48:24 GMT
I bought these bulbs last autumn and they have done quite well although the leaves look a little sorry for themselves. Narcissus Mrs Langtry - they are about the size of tete-a-tete.  |
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Apr 12, 2009 9:52:58 GMT
The feeding bit is important Steve especially with potted stuff, I've learnt from my mistakes  I saw on GW they did a bit from the big bulb company in Lincolnshire, name has slipped my mind already The fields full of Daffs looked fab and I always thought that Narcissus where different to Daffs for some reason, not sure how but he said there was no difference, they are the same thing. I'm now looking for bulbs of 'Fragrant Breeze' supposed to smell like freasias (sp). Never knew that you could have Daffs flowering for 5 months of the year either. |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Apr 12, 2009 9:58:48 GMT
Chuckles - you can get Fragrant Breeze from www.bulbs.co.uk/1/default.asp They have a really good selection and you can choose by height, flowering period etc... I suppose you could have 5 months worth of daffs, Cedric Morris is one of the earliest and can flower at Christmas time and some are only just coming out in my garden - Silver Chimes, Mrs RO Backhouse... 5 months of dead leaves though as well! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Jasmine on Apr 12, 2009 10:00:29 GMT
The site I mentioned above is Walkers Bulbs - don't know why they don't use their name in their web address.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chuckles on Apr 12, 2009 10:11:57 GMT
Chuckles - you can get Fragrant Breeze from www.bulbs.co.uk/1/default.asp They have a really good selection and you can choose by height, flowering period etc... I suppose you could have 5 months worth of daffs, Cedric Morris is one of the earliest and can flower at Christmas time and some are only just coming out in my garden - Silver Chimes, Mrs RO Backhouse... 5 months of dead leaves though as well! ;D You are a  Jasmine, you should be the Daffodil Queen I reckon ;D Mmmm you have a point about 5 months of leaves. I'd just like a few more clumps about the garden so would probably cope with the leaves. Thanks for the link I'll be looking at that site as soon as I've hung some washing out, we'll call it an early T break ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Apr 13, 2009 6:30:32 GMT
I took a fancy to these although they look a little odd.  RF |
|
now in compost bin.
Mmmm labels ay Jasmine, you organised creature ;D I try but am a bit hit and miss with them. Love Rip Van Winkle Tig, mine haven't shown this year 
But I noticed some other bulbs coming up down the bottom of the garden and for the life of me I haven't got a clue what they are, I will have to go back through what I've bought and see if anything springs to mind 
