Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Ian Young's Bulb Log - Feedback Forum => Topic started by: David Nicholson on July 26, 2007, 04:25:27 PM
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As always Ian bags of good information presented in a clear and concise way, and vital for those of us who cling to your coat tails. Many thanks.
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My feelings also! There perhaps ought to be a book in there somewhere - a distillation of all the bulb logs - ah, I can just see it now! :)
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Come on Ian, Maggi will see to the re-potting, just get the pen out.
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I'm still a newbie here, and reading your comments above thought I should take a look at this famous bulb log so I did. And guess what, Ian is showing pictures of cyclamen. Serendipity. I was just in the greenhouse today, sheltering from the rain ... yet again ... and spotted the corms (just bog standard 'no name' ones you get at the garden centre six for five quid or whatever) and decided I ought to do something with them, so I repotted them, just like the BD says in the post, but only by luck am I doing the right thing. I've no experience with them at all. So here's hoping they survive. The roots certainly seem to be ok. However, my cyclamen mirabile, which failed to do anything at all last year in the shade sink (not even a leaf) has been potted up and I have used the rotted pine needles that Maggie said would help, but so far its just sitting there doing nothing at all. No sign of life, yet the corm looks firm and healthy enough. Anyone got any ideas about what else I can do to make it start to grow again?
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Just wait! It's not getting up time yet for C. mirabile! It will appear, flowers first, in the autumn. Keep the compost just damp.
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Well Anne and David all thanks for the kind comments on the bulb log.
As for a book I have been approached by a publisher and have had very positive discussions but they are on hold just now until we decide if there is room for another bulb book in the market and if I am willing to commit to such an undertaking.
Chris, just do as Anne says and keep it moist as long as the corm is alive it will make start to make roots soon and should produce leaves in the autumn. If it has been dormant for a very long time it might be a bit too much to expect many flowers this year but plants can always surprise us.
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:o It wouldn't be just another bulb book!!!!
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Too Right Anne (or should that be Wright :D)
There are books on 'Growing Bulbs' but none with as much practical, down to earth, based on personal experience advice. Martyn Rix book of around 25 years ago is interesting but some of the others are disappointing.
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And wonderful though the Ruksans and other books are, it would be great to have the photos of the corms/bulbs/seeds etc and info re planting depths and all the other (not at all) boring stuff that many readers of the pretty books gloss over, to their loss and cost.
You could call it the "The Really Practical, How to Grow, Nitty-Gritty, Down to Earth, Dirty Hands, Bulb Book."
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I'd prefer a more concise title like " A Despot's Tale "!
cheers
fermi
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Well, that has its points I guess. Maggi, here's the next competition. A suitable title for Ian's book. Prize? A copy of the book, obviously.
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"Twa' Corms and a Bucket o' Compost"
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Mmmm, I like that one. There may have to be several volumes :)
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I'll sit out all day and night to be first in the Q - how do ya spell Q. Will it hit the headlines like Harry Potter and the .....?
queue
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No publicity - it will have to be an underground publication.
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very good!! LOL
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GROAN!!!
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Ian,
I have been reading back over the past few bulb logs to check (again) on your bulb compost mixture ratios and hope you may be able to help with a difficulty I have with leafmould.
Over the years I have found that despite leaving my leaves to rot down for several years it will still have ash seed which germinate when used in potting compost or when added to beds in the garden. Obviously much of the leaves I collect are from ash trees as there is a line of them along one side of my garden. Any suggestions? Do you heat sterilise the leafmould, for example?
Although the ash seedlings are very easy to remove when young they are a nuisance.
Paddy
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Mark - QUEUE
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thanks Lesley
Paddy, Margaret Glynn's compost area has chestnuts growing in it. There are a few large Horse Chesnuts growing in her garden. Children no longer come to collect the conkers
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Steady on folks, don't go choosing a title until we decide if it will happen.
I am still not sure if I want to take on the mammoth task yet but thanks for your loyal support.
Paddy, I do not sterilise my leafmould as I do not have suitable equipment but more importantly I think that the sterilising process would also kill all the beneficial life forms in the leafmould.
I get lots of birch, rowan and cotoneaster seedlings which I just pull out.
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Ian just found this thread and it's funny as just the other day I was thinking all of those bulb logs could be the basis of a much needed book. I agree with everything most of what others have said there is a dearth of books on practical growing of bulbs they all seem a little to botanical rather than practical. The bulb books I have acquired just dont give enough detail about growing and I for one need all the help I can get as I am still making silly mistakes.
Hope you can find the energy!!
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I would be in the queue to buy one if it got published Ian! What is so terrific about the bulb log besides your sage advice is the photography. It is so hard to imagine what people are talking about when it is merely described, but a photo essay such as the bulb log is excellent, not as good as listening to your entertaining and informative lectures but the next best thing. Thanks for all the work you do, it is much appreciated by newbies like me.
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Ian,
Apologies for the delay in acknowledging your reply to my query re leafmould. Many thanks. It seems that seedlings are just a part of leafmould use that must be endured. Of course, the seedling do come out very easily if spotted when young.
Paddy