Snowdrops

[Jasmine]

I have just received some snowdrops that I ordered and the instructions that came with them say snowdrops don't do well in pots. That's bad news as they were going to go into a tall planter with my Christmas Box so they were closer to nose height! Has anyone else got snowdrops in a tub or container that come up each year? This is actuallly the second time that I have heard that snowdrops prefer being in the ground and I don't know what to do with them now for the best.

[Ruthie]

Oh I haven't heard that. Mind you I've never grown them in pots so don't know how they would perform. I would have thought though that, if they're in a large deep pot they may well be OK as they'll "think" they're in the ground. If you make sure you water the pot regularly in the summer and don't have it too sunny a position you may get away with it. Snowdrops are best lifted and divided every 3 or 4 years (in the green at this time of year) so you may lose them eventually if you can't do that.

[Jasmine]

Thanks Ruthie, I was wondering how they could possibly know whether they were in the ground or a very large pot! The pot was going to be in the shade because of the Christmas Box and I would like it to be near the back door which is the shady side of the house.

[Rosefriend]

Sorry Jasmine - only just seen this. I had snowdrops in tubs years ago, simply because no-one said I couldn't or shouldn't.

With the garden experience that I have now I think that they do better in the garden than in tubs but I also think that Ruthie is right - if you can plant summer things with them perhaps so that everything is watered all through the summer and you are willing to split them every 2/3 years, I would definitely give it a go.

Let us know what happens.

RF

[Jasmine]

Still thinking on this one but will have to get snowdrops in soon otherwise they will dry out. I have done a bit more research and a few sites said they would be fine in pots as long as they were re-potted every year and they were watered well in summer (just like you both said) so I think I wil give it a go - I can always move them next year.

[Chuckles]

Jasmine I've had snowdrops in 4 small pots for 2 years now and they seem fine. The pots are only about 4" across and 6" deep and this year they have flowered better than last. All I do is keep them watered and fed just before growth, during and until the leaves die off then they are just pushed away at the side of the shed or GH till next year. I guess as my pots are quite small I will maybe have to pot them on next year as the bulbs multiply there won't be much room for them soon.

[Jasmine]

That's really good to know Chuckles - now I feel really happy to give it a go! Thank you!

[Chuckles]

Mar 5, 2009 7:15:58 GMT Jasmine said:

That's really good to know Chuckles - now I feel really happy to give it a go! Thank you!

Here you go Jasmine, freshly taken just now

[Jasmine]

Well, they look very happy and at home in their pots Chuckles!

[Ladygardener]

Chuckles those are just lovely.

[torontotrini]

I have never had any real success with wallflowers. I've tried them in different locations in the garden over the years, including at our previous house and the usual resul is some blooms in the year I plant them then the disappear the following year; no reseeding. Don't they do well in clay soil?

[torontotrini]

Ooops. I intended to post that one on the wallflower thread. ;D

Well, since I'm here I might as well note that I hope my snowdrops come out strong this spring. They seem slow in really taking off. This will be the third spring since I've started trying them. They haven't died; and they bloom a bit, but they're not really coming on strong. I'll see how they do this year.

[Jasmine]

When do your snowdrops flower TT? (A bit later than they do here by the sounds of it.)
I don't know very much about snowdrops (hence the question at the start of the thread!) but some varieties are slow to bulk up whereas some spread more quickly.

[Jasmine]

I got my free (just pay p&p) snowdrops from The Telegraph offer today. Think the offer was about 2 weeks ago. Have 20 more snowdrops to find a home for now!

[torontotrini]

Mar 5, 2009 21:41:36 GMT Jasmine said:

When do your snowdrops flower TT? (A bit later than they do here by the sounds of it.)
I don't know very much about snowdrops (hence the question at the start of the thread!) but some varieties are slow to bulk up whereas some spread more quickly.

Hi Jasmine: They are among the first bloomers here, along with crocus, but I don't expect to see any in bloom before end of March thereabouts at the earliest. I don't have much experience with them; only put my first ones in about 3 years ago so I'm really not sure what to expect. I'll see how they do this year.

[Jasmine]

Good luck with them TT. All these spring flowers give real hope especially after an awful winter.

[Chuckles]

Jasmine,Ruthie,Rosefriend,Ladygardener,torontotrini,Geranium,Auricula,Jilly,Tig,Barbara,owdboggy,

Anything to confess Jasmine www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2925746/Bulbs-100-Great-Snowdrop-Rush-warmest-year-record-means-Britain-blooming-marvellous.html

While I'm here an update on the 4 pots of snowdrops I posted about in 4 Mar 2009, they are now at least 12 pots I've obviously potted them on as needed poss 3 times in 6 years. They still look good and are just coming into flower.

[Jasmine]

No your Honour! I just read about the sale in The Telegraph. Val Bourne, one of the gardening writers went.
Post a picture of your babies when they flower won't you Chuckles!

[Ladygardener]

Wow Chuckles, they certainly like their home with you. £100 per Snowdrop is way out of my league I'm afraid but it sounds like this is a good year for them.

I've not bought any but the ones Jasmine sent are up and seem to be doing well. Tig sent me some double ones a good few years ago and I'm hoping they'll come back up again as well.

[Chuckles]

Whoops I've fibbed just been up the garden to do the chickens and there are 18 pots of snowdrops not 12   just shows how quick they multiply

Next week I hope to bring them down near the house so I can see them so I'll take a piccy then Jasmine

[Jasmine]

That is some serious bulking up Chuckles!

[Missredhead]

Soooo....does this mean that if I dig up some snowdrops after they have died back I can put them in pots for next year?.......

I remember someone telling me they dont do well in pots so I never tried them....

[Chuckles]

These are a few of my pots, not good photos as taken through mucky window These I can see from the comfy of my sofa.





They do fine for me in pots Missredhead as you can see. You should move snowdrops when they still have their leaves on (in the green) and I can't see any reason why you couldn't dig up small clumps now and put them in pots as long as you don't disturb the clump or damage the roots

[Dutchy]

Ditto that Missy. split them after flowering when they are still in the green. They will do fine.

The pic of my snowdrop at Foliate shows they even don't mind starting out indoors. They were ones I bought for the house where they do not do too well. But then I chucked the pot outside and once the soil was soft enough to dig them in I topped them out and as they were dug them in. Lo and behold, this year they do very well indeed. I am going to do the same trick with the ones I had indoors this January.

[Missredhead]

I'll do that Chuckles and Dutchy.......I want to dig them up before the guy next door does something about the fallen fence, I dont want him or whoever does it trampling all over them.

[Ladygardener]

Those look great Chuckles, good to know they will do well in pots if planted in the green.

Missredhead perhaps folk ment they don't do well in pots if they're just bare bulbs bought in autumn and planted.

[Jasmine]

I picked some Galanthus S. Arnott and brought them indoors today - they really do smell gorgeous!

[Chuckles]

Thanks for the Nom LG, they last for ages s its nice to have them where I can see them.

Feb 14, 2015 20:19:20 GMT Jasmine said:

I picked some Galanthus S. Arnott and brought them indoors today - they really do smell gorgeous!

What a good idea to pick some Jasmine and being scented is a bonus. They had some on Crocus but orders are for summer 2015, typical when they have 20% off until midnight 2mrw.

[Ladygardener]

This is one of some lovely double Snowdrops that Tig sent me quite a few years ago now. It somehow popped up in a different place to the one I planted it but I love it.

[Jasmine]

Very pretty Ladygardener!
There was a method to my picking madness Chuckles, I thought I'd muddled the labels on my Magnet and S. Arnott so I brought some of each clump into the warm to open so I could get a better look - I had muddled the labels but all is well now!