Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Crocus => Topic started by: Guff on December 14, 2006, 09:58:03 PM
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Hello everyone
I was wondering if Specie Crocus "Snow Crocus" and Crocus Vernus "Giant Crocus" cross to each other?
I did try crossing these last spring, not sure if my "hand pollinated" attempt worked, but I did get seeds. I did find that the Giant Crocus did better making seed pods. I only collect a handful of pods from the snow crocus.
I have around 700 crocus around the yard in different spots. Just your normal everyday type from mail order catalogs. Next fall I will be purchasing 1500-2k snow crocus, 100-150 each of each form I can find for a good price. These will be planted in a sand/compost bed for bulb and seed production. I figure in 3 years I should have enough to start the smallest of my three grass banks, and work from there. Growing from seed takes 3-4 years to flower from what I have read, so I would like to get a good start this spring and next.
Is there a link I could be pointed to, that tells what can be crossed with what forms? Or maybe that tells which are sterile pollen/pod and which are not. I don't want to get caught up trying to cross things that won't work.
Thanks.
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Guff, Thomas and/or Tony will have views on this. They'll get the email query and will reply in time. Welcome to the forums
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Hello Guff and welcome to the SRGC Forum!
No, you can NOT cross Snow Crocus (C. chrysanthus/biflorus) and Giant Crocus (C. vernus)!! The seeds you have are surely Crocus vernus, but they may be hybrids of different vernus variants.
You only can cross different chrysanthus and biflorus cultivars like Ard Schenk, Goldilocks, Blue Pearl... Some of these variants have defective anthers (Aubade, Cream Beauty, Dorothy, Elegance, Fuscotinctus, Ladykiller, Moonlight, Prins Claus, Romance, Snowbunting, Skyline, White Triumphator) which means, they can not be pollinated with their own pollen but with healthy pollen from other variants. I have a good seed set on the following: Ard Schenk, Cream Beauty, Princess Beatrix, Skyline, Zenith, EP Bowles, Herald, Jeannine and all vernus cultivars, and in my impure crocus lawn lots of beautiful Hybrids appeared in the last years.
You could cross C. tommasinianus and C. vernus, but this is not easy, as the tommies are very early in the year and C. vernus are always the last crocus that get into flower!
In trade you can also buy some C. sieberi cultivars, which also can be crossed - exept Hubert Edelsten, which is sterile.
If you want to avoid selfpollinating of the plants you have to cut the anthers!
Hope this helps!
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Welcome to the forum Guff,
As you can see from the comprehensive repy above from Thomas we have experts in all fields.
Can I ask that complete your signature strip so we can know your real name and where you are in the world. We try to keep the forum friendly and personal and if you will add that information to your profile we will all be better off, a picture is nice as well.
Keep posting and enjoying the site.
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Hello, "Guff", glad to have you with us! Thomas, who has replied to you, and Tony Goode are our main Crocus experts, and leaders of the "Croconuts" here. Tony has a great site which you may access from the links pagge or from the globe icon on any of his posts. Might I also suggest you take a look at the many crocus pages on the old SRGC froum, now archived,(Main pgae here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi ) which will show you just how fantastic these plants can look when grown naturally in the garden... it will surely inspire you to be patient for your seed programme to come to flower!! Another of our Forumists, Franz Hadacek, has a stunning meadow with all sorts of bulbs naturalised and looking truly spectacular... his photos are a joy to see. Have fun with your project, we look forward to seeing how it comes along.
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Welcome to the forum Guff,
It is a good idea to grow crocuses grown in a grass bank. Many crocuses will there grow happily, if the grass does not become too close and high. They look most natural in this setting. In any case the bulbs should be carefully labelled, and similar ones not put next to each other, so that you know what is what. In the grass one loses easily the overview where the species stand.
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Thanks for the welcome.
Hello Mark, Thomas, Ian, Maggi, Hadacekf
This is my second try posting, my first attempt said I timed out and did not save what I had wrote. I hope I can remember everything again.
I'm pretty new to crocus, I have had some here and there in spots. Added another 200 Giant Crocus this past fall. Most of my time has been spent trying to get a sea of cyclamen growing. Now that I have had some success, I hope " first winter" seedling have been planted out, it's time to move on to a sea of crocus. Thomas, I have seen your pictures on your sea of crocus lawn, beautiful. I'm not sure if I like them more mixed or grouped like yours are. Maybe I will try both ways.
I have 3 large grass banks, that I would like to fill with crocus. The smallest is about 20 foot x 15 foot slope bank, the other two are much larger 60+ x15 foot slope. I plan to start with the smallest and work my way to the next, and so on. I'm not really sure how many crocus I will need, but I have a feeling the number is big. I also have daffodils and snowdrops growing from seed, so I may or may not add these in time.
Thomas, very interesting information, that is going to help me a great deal. Now that I know what will work and what won't, I should have many more seeds this spring and next, thank you.
So I can cross Tricolor and Firefly both sieberi and c. Tommasinianus to any Giant Crocus "c. Vernus", or just certain forms?
Very interesting about the "antlers" that does explain why I had so few seed pods grow on the snow crocus. When I purchase my snow crocus next fall, they will be planted in groups. It will then make it easier for me to dap pollen from form to form.
Can crocus pollen be frozen for later use and put into the freezer? I do this with daylily pollen, and it works out well. I store the pollen in Microcentrifuge Tubes.
When I plant my snow crocus next fall, would you suggest I plant them 3 or 5 inches apart? Digging and replanting isn't a problem, I figure that every 2 years I would do this and make another bed. I do know some forms multiply very fast. This fall, I could see one crocus that came to the surface, it turned into 6.
Maggie, thanks for the link. I have looked over all the crocus thread there. Lots of information and great pictures. Yes I have also looked at Tony Goode site as well. Lots of information there. I also have ran across Hadacekf site.
Hadacekf, very nice web site. I ran across your site about one year ago, maybe two, I forget. I was looking for information about cyclamen.
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If I were you I would buy species Crocus to plant on your banks. If you look at the Crocus per month on the old site and buy what you like you could have 6 months of Crocus in flower http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/5012/5012.html?1163445358 (http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/5012/5012.html?1163445358)
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Mark, 6 months of crocus flowers would be awesome sight. I don't think my neighbors would like the high grass, if I didn't mow.
I plan on ordering from John Scheepers and K.Van Bourgondien & Sons. They seem to have the best price on crocus , that I have come across.
If these links are not allowed, please edit them out.
http://www.johnscheepers.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=Crocus
http://www.kvbwholesale.com/wholesale/crocus/specie-crocus/index.html
At K.Van Bourgondien link, they have some crocus left and they are real cheap, most are 50% off. I'm tempted to order some at those prices.
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Guff, Is this your real name?, your grass will not be long as it will have slowed down by the time the first Crocus are up and wouldnt be too high by the time the Crocus are dormant again.
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Mark, Guff is fine, it's part of my last name.
I'm in the USA, so I had thought maybe you meant flowering from Spring to Summer. I didnt think you meant from Fall to Spring, my mistake. Looking at that way, your right the grass wouldn't be a problem.
I don't have any fall flowering crocus, are they really crocus? I had thought they were something else, but were called crocus?
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The short answer is Yes there is aytumn flowering crocus. Have a look for example in Marks webpage.
And Yes there is a lot of calling Colchicum for "autumn Crocus". To add to the confusion there is spring and Autumn flowering Colchicums.
You might ge a more elaborated aswer by the more knowledged
Kind regards
Joakim
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Tony G or Thomas H will give you more accurate flowering times. They vary depending on where you live. Mine start in September and finish in March. Colchicums can be in flower from August to February. You can have small Colchicums planted with your Crocus on the banks
Crocus and Colchicums arent related. Crocus belong to the Iridaceae, Iris, family and Colchicums belong to Liliaceae, Lilies.
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Welcome Guff. All the advice so far looks ok. The 6 months of crocus talk is a bit over played! Here in SE UK I have two peaks of flowering, one autumn and one spring. Exactly when they occur is becoming harder to predict as the climate changes but October and February are the best months. Outside these peak times ther are just a few species in flower so it will be harder to achieve a bold show in the garden for the whole six months. I would suggest that you take a look at the Alpine-L archives as these will contain more references to growing crocus in the USA. The Pacific Bulb Society also have lots of info from gardeners your side of the pond and John Lonsdale at Edgewood Gardens has a great collection of crocus.
http://listserv.surfnet.nl/archives/alpine-l.html
http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Crocus
Good luck with your project ... we await the pictures of your successes!
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Hello Tony, you have a very nice web site. Thanks for the links.
I have many more questions about crossing different forms, so I will be asking more as they come to mind.
I went ahead and pickup some crocus at K.Van Bourgondien's. I'm alittle disappointed though, seems that that the ones they have listed as buy now, not all will come this year. But I did get the 50% discount. I messed up I should have gotten 10/100 of the mixed specie, maybe I will call monday and see if I can add one, to get another 9% off.
I was wondering over there are the crocus any cheaper or are they more expensive? The price listed below are 50% off normal catalogs price.
Heres what I picked up.
1. SPECIE CROCUS PRINCE CLAUS (CH (10331) Qty 1 (Bag of 100)
Price $7.50/each $7.50 Ships After 12/16/06
2. GIANT CROCUS SILVER CORAL (10016) Qty 1 (Bag of 25) Price $3.25/each $3.25
Ships After 09/12/07
3. SPECIE CROCUS MIX (10335) Qty 9 (Bag of 100) Price $4.00/each $36.00
Ships After 09/12/07
4. SPECIE CROCUS SNOWBUNTING (CHR (10334) Qty 1 (Bag of 100)
Price $4.50/each $4.50 Ships After 09/12/07
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Hi Guff!
Yes you can try a cross of sieberi Firefly and Tricolor, but you should use tricolor as "mother" with the pollen of Firefly - I can't remember having seeds on Firefly. Also "yes" to the vernus - tommie cross.
The question of planting them 3 or 5 inch apart is not easy to answer. If you plant them 5 inch apart they don't look well in the first year, but better when they have increased in the next years. If you plant them 3 inch apart they look well in the first year, but possibly they will be too close after a few years and you have to replant them, so you best try to get your own experiences. It is also depending on which species you use - some increase better than others and these could be planted more apart than the bad increasers.
Sorry, can't help you with the freezing question - no own experiences, but I hope the answer will be: YES!
The only autumn crocus I have on my lawn is Crocus speciosus. I would also recommend C. pulchellus, kotschyanus, banaticus, nudiflorus - these are leafless until spring which is very important for me, as I have to cut my lawn after the autumn flowering period in December - not good for the plants with leaves. Next cut will be at the end of May.
The prices for the out-of-season crocus are OK - most of the plants on my lawn were also bought in December. They will not flower very well in the first spring, but very well in the next season.
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I have read that it is possible to store pollen in the refridgerator. Complete anthers may be best and the tubes you use will be OK. I don't know about freezing it ... you could run an experiment and report on the results later!
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Thanks Thomas, Tony.
I will try freezing some pollen this spring. Daylily pollen last for more then a year frozen.
I found this link, they have more of the rare and hard to find forms. Are there any other places to pick these up?
I see they have mathewii listed. I also see its a fall flowering crocus. I had no idea there were any, let alone that many fall flowering crocus.
http://www.hillkeep.ca/bulbs%20crocus_autumn.htm
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How much do Crocus scardicus and Crocus pelistericus cost about? I would like to pick up one of each in the fall. I haven't found a source online, so if anyone knows a site/place. Thanks.
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I'm still searching for pelistericus and scardicus for my own collection!
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so am I. If/when I find them I'll post it on here
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Thomas, Mark I will keep looking. I saw a picture of Crocus x gothenbergensis, only way I get one of those is from seed.
I did find seed listed for CROCUS PELISTERICUS
http://www.jjaseeds.com/pac_productlisted.asp?maingroup=CROCUS&secondgroup=Eur%20W%20Asia%20N%20Africa
A couple more links with hard to find forms
http://www.odysseybulbs.com/springcrocus.html
http://www.odysseybulbs.com/fallcrocus.html
http://www.bulbmeister.com/flowershop/fso2006/page04.html
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I received CROCUS PRINCE CLAUS yesterday.
I had a surprise email today, seems they have sent out the 900 crocus mix and 25 Pickwick, which I didn't order. I guess they subbed them for the Coral. I also see, that they upped the crocus price, double what I paid. Glad I ordered when I did.
I should have a really good start this spring with these extra crocus.
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When you cross crocus, are the seedling pretty much the same, or are they different from each other? In daylilys, every seed will produce a totally different plant/flower, some so much different looking that you wonder how this could be.
I was also wondering about seed pods. I have only noticed 1 seed pod per corm. Is this the case, or can you have as many seedpods as there are flowers?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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When you cross crocus, are the seedling pretty much the same, or are they different from each other? In daylilys, every seed will produce a totally different plant/flower, some so much different looking that you wonder how this could be.
I was also wondering about seed pods. I have only noticed 1 seed pod per corm. Is this the case, or can you have as many seedpods as there are flowers?
Hello Guff,
As Tony and Thomas are probably recovering from too much turkey at the moment (I had mine yesterday), I'll jump in.
I have only just started growing crocus from seed, so that question will have to wait for them but as to seeds pods per corm you can get as many as there were flowers. This year I had five flowers on C. oreocreticus and there looks to be a number of seed pods. The diameter of the leaves/seedpods must be half an inch.
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Andrew, thanks. I thought maybe after a flower was pollinated, the rest would abort, thats is why I wondered.
I planted all my mixed snow crocus. The holding bed is about 6x6 foot maybe alittle smaller. I spaced them at 2 inches apart. I would have liked to put them at 3in, but I didn't have enough compost to make the bed any bigger. I added 4 bags of sand (50lbs bags) to about 25 gallons of compost.
Below are pictures of my holding bed and grass banks. Also a picture of some daffodils and tulips, I will be adding snow crocus to this spot at some point. Picture is from spring 06.
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I was wondering, since I'm mostly interested in good growing
crocus for the yard/garden, but want to try to get something different looking from crossing.
What forms/species should I get for next fall planting, for spring crossing 08.
I was thinking about picking up some of the different Crocus heuffelianus forms, and then cross those to sieberi Firefly and Tricolor, giant vernus forms and also tommie's. Edit, that is if heuffelianus crosses to the ones listed, I think I read its a vernus.
Thanks for the ideas.
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Hi Guff!
Crocus sieberi will not get crossed with tommies, vernus or heuffelianus.
You could try chrysanthus/biflorus cultivars that I've listed above!
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Thomas, thanks for clearing that up, I would have been trying to cross firefly and tricolor to the giant vernus and tommies with no luck.
About the heuffelianus, can these be crossed to the giant vernus and tommies?
I think in my mix lot there are Pictuatus "versicolor", can they be crosses to anything other then another versicolor form?
Thanks for info.
Thomas, Mark, I did write Mr. Ruksans, and he said he may have a few pelistericus and scardiucus for sale, but he won't know for sure until April-May. I think I'm going to hold off another year and pickup all his heuffelianus and vernus forms instead this summer. He sent his 2007 'word' catalog by email the other day, lots of choices.
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Yes, Guff, heuffelianus are exactly Crocus vernus ssp heuffelianus and can be crossed with tommies and giant vernus variants.
You can try to cross versicolor with imperati, corsicus, minimus - I havn't tried that so far, so good luck!
Didn't get the Ruksans catalogue so far, can anybody send it to me privately, please?
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Thomas, explain how I send it through here, and I will send it.
Or can you attach, attachments to posts? Then anyone that wanted it, could just download it.
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Guff, I don't know if you can attach files on this board,
but you can see my e-mail adress by clicking on my name!
Many thanks in advance!
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Thomas, says your email is hidden? Send me an email and I will RE the catalog.
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Uuuups, sorry! I have clicked "hide from public", but I thought
that members would be able to read it!
Ian, can you give some help, please?
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Guff, I've sent you a private message with my adress through the SRGC board!
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Make a personal message with Your email than it is easy to get and noone else sees it.
Maybe You fit the whole ocument in the message I do not know.
Kind regards
Joakim
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Ooops
You did it before I saw it :-[
Joakim
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Yes, I did it ;D
But it's good to know that there's help from
all over the world! ;)
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Thomas, sent, you should have mail it's about a 1 meg file.
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Maybe to late but it seems to be possible to attatch word files to a post. Maximum size of 300kb so any bigger has to be split up in several documents.
I have not tested it.
Maybe there is some one that will need to do that later.
Kind regards
Joakim
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Got it Guff - many thanks!
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Hi Guff or Thomas,
Do either of you have Janis Ruksan's Email address please? I tried to order a catalogue using an address that has worked before but this time came back as "undeliverable"
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Hi Guff or Thomas,
Do either of you have Janis Ruksan's Email address please? I tried to order a catalogue using an address that has worked before but this time came back as "undeliverable"
Hi David - in his 2007 catalogue, Janis gives his email address as janis.bulb@hawk.lv
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Hi Chris,
Thanks for that, I will give it a try.
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I was wondering if anyone has tried a double layer of crocus for an extended flowering period. I have been thinking about putting some giant crocus at 3.5-4 inches deep, then put a layer of species crocus at about 2-2.5 inches deep on top of the giant's. Curious if this would work well, or would they get over crowded too fast?
Thanks for info
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Can't hurt to try, Guff. I would go a little deeper than you suggest, by an inch or so. The main problem would be in the larger foliage of the giants swamping the little chaps.
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Maggi, I think I will try some in pots and a couple spots out in the garden next fall. I like to bring a pot of crocus inside to force flower mid Feb for some much needed color. Crocus outside don't start to flower until late March, early April here.
When you say deeper, do you mean the giant crocus should be planted deeper or also the snow crocus?
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I meant everything deeper, Guff, both types.
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Well, I ended up getting around 400 seeds, not as many as I hoped, maybe next year. I think I only found 1 seed pod from the giant Dutch vernus that I planted on the bank.
I ordered some crocus the other day, mostly vernus forms. Hopefully they all come, looking foward to crossing these in the spring with my others.
Crocus (spring) vernus 'Graecus' (6 corms)
Crocus (spring) vernus 'Haarlem Gem' (3 corms)
Crocus (spring) vernus ssp. albiflorus (6 corms)
Crocus (spring) vernus ssp. vernus var. heuffelianus (6 corms)
Crocus Vernus 'Negro Boy' (10 corms)
Crocus heuffelianus 'Dark Eyes' (2 corms)
Crocus vernus 'Tatra Shades' (2 corms)
Crocus vernus 'Uklin Strain' (2 corms)
Crocus 'Skyline' (2 corms)
Anyone have a picture of Haarlem Gem. Tatra Shades and Uklin Strain(picture also), these two I assume are forms of heuffelianus with the dark V tips.
Thanks.
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Anyone have a picture of Haarlem Gem. Tatra Shades and Uklin Strain(picture also), these two I assume are forms of heuffelianus with the dark V tips
Sorry, Guff, can't help with those pix. Sounds like you have been having some pleasant retail therapy, by your list!
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Guff - here's what I think is Crocus vernus Haarlem Gem!
I received it as Crocus heuffelianus from Holland!
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Maggie, it wasn't too bad, $60 including shipping for all listed. With the extra genetics to play with, crosses can be almost endless.
Thanks, Thomas. Thats very nice. Looks alot like Vangaurd, but a different shade.
Thomas do you find that the heuffelianus forms group up faster/slower/same then the Dutch Giants vernus?
Thanks for info.
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Thomas,
Quite a nice colour and form to it, even if it isn't correct. Did you already have that variety?
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Guff, some heuffelianus have increased like weeds last year,
others were received as bulbils two years ago and have
still not reached flowering size - so there is no general rule, try it yourself!
Paul, I didn't have that variety before. And to avoid your next question:
No, it doesn't set seed :-\
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Thomas,
At least you got something you didn't already have. For reference..... I wasn't intending to ask about seed. I owe you and others quite enough already without asking for any more from you.
Also, with it looking like we're back into drought conditions and expecting little rain until next autumn I would be storing any unsown seed now anyway, until I have conditions where I can expect it to do well. This summer is not looking promising, despite great forecasts that we had in June for a wet winter/spring. Since June we've had very very little rain. :o
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Poor Paul - if only we could send you some rain.... we had gallons of it yesterday and today... :(
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Thomas, I found this on 'Harlem Gem', spellings different then what I purchased 'Haarlem Gem' are they the same crocus?
"Although crocus do not commonly interbreed, some hybrids exist, and the September-blooming vernus variety, 'Harlem Gem', shows distinct biscuit colours in its external petals, which originate from the genes of C. tommasinianus"
http://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/crocus.htm
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Guff, I have not seen this one from New Zealand, but I guess that's the same!
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I received my Odyssey Bulbs order today. Well some of what I ordered. I was looking forward to "NB", after seeing Thomas pictures, nice dark, almost black purple.
Crocus Vernus 'Negro Boy' (10 corms) (Did Not Receive, Sold Out)
Crocus heuffelianus 'Dark Eyes' (2 corms)
Crocus vernus 'Tatra Shades' (2 corms)
Crocus vernus 'Uklin Strain' (2 corms)
Crocus 'Skyline' (2 corms) (Did Not Receive, Sold Out)
Well now my next question is, should I plant these out in the garden or pot them up? Mostly want the pollen for crossing come spring, so I may just pot them up in a nice leaf compost/sand mix, and some pebbles to help with drainage.
Now in the instructions for "pots" it says 1-2 inche deep, is that normal depth?
Thanks for info
edit, is September in New Zealand fall or spring there? I just assumed it was Fall.
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September is spring in NZ, Guff, so, at Thanksgiving, or Christmas time, when we are shivering and eating roast turkey indoors, they are outside having a barbecue on a great summer's day!
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Thanks Maggie, I think I will re-re-edit......lol
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Received my Bulbmeister order, received everything that I had ordered.
I will make sure to take pictures of each form(If I get flowers).
I planted the crocus today. I have 12+ squirrels running around the yard, so I didn't want to take any chances, Fort Knox it is.
Thomas, I was wondering if you could list which Tommies do/don't set seed. Thanks.
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Albus yes
Barrs Purple yes
Bobbo ?
Claret yes
Eric Smith ?
Lilac Beauty yes
Pictus yes
Roseus yes
Ruby Giant no
Wh Purple no
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Thanks Thomas.
I may try to order 100 each of Barrs Purple and Lilac Beauty. I had alot of the Roseus form in my holding bed, and very few of "BP" and "LB"
Also do you know if Twilight and Negro Boy are the same crocus?
http://www.johnscheepers.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Item&_recordnum=3123&_category=Crocus
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Twillight is not a registered name, according to the book "Checklist of Hyacints and miscellaneous bulbs" published in 1996.
I've also never heard of it, so I can't tell you anything about their origin. You should try to contact the supplier and ask him!
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Thomas, I emailed them and they said VERNUS TWILIGHT is renamed "Nergo Boy". I ordered 100.
Amazing what Bulbmeister is charging.
http://shop.bulbmeister.com/fall/flower-bulbs-detail/Crocus-Negro-Boy_0480-375-25
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Eric Smith ?
Never seen any seed on mine.
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Made one last crocus order KVB has there 50% sale going. Wondering about ISAURICUS SPRING BEAUTY, is this a biflorus, which I can then cross to chrysanthus forms?
http://www.kvbwholesale.com/wholesale/index.do
Item Number Description Quantity Price Status
12050 SPECIE CROCUS LILAC BEAUTY (TOMMASINIANU 4x(25) $1.25 4 units shipped on 12/12/2007
10335 SPECIE CROCUS MIX 10x(100) $3.50 10 units shipped on 12/12/2007
10015 SPECIE CROCUS BARR'S PURPLE (TOMMASINIAN 4x(25) $1.25 4 units shipped on 12/12/2007
12054 SPECIE CROCUS ISAURICUS SPRING BEAUTY 4x(25) $3.13 4 units shipped on 12/12/2007
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Guff, there is no official "Spring Beauty" registered at the KVAB!
The photo on the website shows Crocus minimus, but minimus
from Dutch trade was mixed up with more than 50% tommies
from all sources I have ordered.
True biflorus ssp isauricus is much more expensive - unlikely
to get the true species for the price you show!
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Hope the bulbs are better than their pictures - 2 of the 3 autumn crocus illustrated are not matched with correct names :(
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Thomas, Tony, thanks.
Bummer, was hoping I was getting something to cross with, I don't have any minimus. Did a google picture search.
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/925/716260.JPG
Last year the bulbs I received were very good. Hope for the same this year.
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Received my package today.
Heres "ISAURICUS SPRING BEAUTY" corms that I received, any ideas?
Thanks for info.
Guess I did ok if these turn out to be Crocus minimus
Brentand Beckys Bulbs
http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/spring/productview/index.php?sku=13-0162
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they don't look like biflorus type corm - should be papery with rings at the base. Those look more fibrous. Could be C minimus but if cheap they are more likely to be C tommasinianus. Show us a pic in spring.
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This is what Tony means - I hope
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Tony, Mark thanks.
I could pot a few up. How many weeks cold chill do they require to flower?
I did email KVB, but have yet to hear back.
Curious, can Garden Bulb sellers rename crocus whatever they want? I don't even know how naming crocus works, do you pay a fee like when you register a Daylily?
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Guff,
Relating those vernus dark hybrids;
I ordered crocus 'Twilight' 2 years ago from John Scheepers. It was really very dark-colored vaiety with interesting blue tint (much darker than 'Flower record'. Unfortunately all samples were hardly infected with leaf mosaic. So I keep it to collect some seeds hoping to grow interesting seedlings. You should be careful with Dutch crocus stock, because as I see this kind of virus is widely spread among the Dutch plants.
I don't think that 'Twilight' and 'Negro Boy' are the same varieties. Anyway I managed to obtain some corms of 'Negro Boy' this fall and there will be the opportunity to compare those two varieties in spring. I'll keep you informed about that.
I attach the photo of my 'Twilight' after blooming, where you could see the virus mosaic symptoms on its leaves.
I plant all my new crocuses in pots for qurantine and keep them isolated from main collection until I make sure that the stock is healthy.
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Boyed, thanks for info. Did your "Twilight", have the silver edging? How well does it set seed, pollen also good?
Heres another link with "Negro Boy", Scheepers and Old House have the same date listed, and both description say it has an edge. Guess when they flower, I will find out.
http://www.oldhousegardens.com/bulb.asp?Cat=CR&page=1
I heard back from KVB, but they didn't say what it is, just gave me the product description.
Specie Crocus Isauricus Spring Beauty. A beautiful, large purple flame on the outside of white petals. They bloom Feb-Mar, hardy in zones 3-9 they grow to a height 4-6 inches, bulb size 5+ cm in cir. They take full sun to partial shade to full shade.
Guess I will have to wait until they flower.
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Is this chart accurate?
Would be really helpful when crossing if it is.
http://www.crocusbank.org/Index24En.htm
I do have some Picturatus, and going by this graph I could cross "Isauricus Spring Beauty", thats if they turn out to be minimus?
Thanks for info
Happy New Year!
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Is this chart accurate?
Would be really helpful when crossing if it is.
http://www.crocusbank.org/Index24En.htm
I do have some Picturatus, and going by this graph I could cross "Isauricus Spring Beauty", thats if they turn out to be minimus?
Thanks for info
Happy New Year!
Hello Guff,
I'm not sure what you mean by 'Is this chart accurate ?' It is the accepted classification of crocus into groups(series) based on similar features which could suggest they are partly related.
Certainly within the groups, hybrids have been known - scardicus + pelistericus = x gothenbergensis, speciosus and pulchellus make hybrids likewise reticulatus and angustifolius according to Janis Ruksans. I am sure I have seen somewhere a crossing in the Laevigatae group.
I do not know of any studies of hybrids anybody else ?
As Picturatus is a versicolor clone and if "Isauricus Spring Beauty" turns out to be a minimus selection (I see we are waiting for a picture) that could be a possibility but bare in mind as these are selections they might not be the best for hybrids.
Any help ?
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Hi Guff!
Just a short addition to Andrews great comments:
Generally it might be possible, that versicolor and minimus
can hybridize, BUT the trade forms of minimus and versicolor
Picturatus do NOT set seed. Only once I found seeds on my
Picturatus, when it grew near some imperati.
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Andrew, Thomas, thanks for the info.
About being "accurate" I was just asking if I could go by this chart to cross different specie's. Never seen a chart like this.
I recall Picturatus had pollen, so if "Isauricus Spring Beauty" turns out to be minimus, I will try crossing them. No seed, no foul.
I'm not worried if they did/didn't turn out to be nice seedling forms, I just want as much seed as I can get/make. More seed, more corms, the faster I get a sea of crocus flowers on my banks.
I was wondering come spring, if someone could start a thread on about how to store crocus seed, and then how to germinate them(if potted for growing indoors). Normally I just stick the seeds into the ground as I collect the pods. But this year I think I'm going to have alot(hoping anyways) and I would rather plant all seed collected at 1 time instead of over many weeks. Also I want to save some select crosses for indoors growing this year. Thanks.
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Hi Guff,
a good reference for storage and germination of crocus seed is Ian's bulblog...
Check the bulblog index pages (pdf) for "seed". There are many good hints.
One example:http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2006/061206/log.html (http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2006/061206/log.html)
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Aruby, thanks I will try that. I hope to get alot of seed this year.
I was looking a couple weeks ago, where I had planted the crocus seed this past summer. There were a few seedlings poking up out of the soil.
Ordered some crocus for fall 08. Wanted to make sure I get 'Carpathian Wonder', 'Albus' and 'Pictus' this year.
1 of heuffelianus 'Carpathian Wonder'
1 of heuffelianus 'Wildlife'
1 of vernus 'Michael's Purple'
2 each of tommasinianus 'Albus'
2 each of Crocus tommasinianus 'Pictus'
1 of tommasinianus 'Eric Smith'
2 each of Crocus etruscus 'Rosalind'
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I didn't do too bad this year with crocus seed germinating(first picture) Hard to see, but theres probably around 300 seedlings.
Second picture is some second spring seedlings, any chance I may see some flowers spring 09, or do they usually take 4 springs?
Thanks for info.
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Still have around 15 pods to collect from Chrysanthus and tommasinianus forms, below(picture) is what I have collected so far from them. Wondering if anyone has had any huge tommasinianus seed pods, I had around 5 pods that had 25-30 seeds in each pod.
I did get two pods to set on the Uklin Strain, using Tatra Shades pollen for a total of 16 seeds.
My Dutch giants vernus did awesome this year, looking to collect 60+ pods in the next few days.
Thanks Thomas for all your help, finally a bumper crop of seed.
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My pleasure, Guff!
I didn't have many seed pods on my vernus-cultivars this year ???
But biflorus/chrysanthus cultivars set many pods with a good
chance of hybridisation.
Good luck with yours!
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Collected the last of the giants vernus seed pods today.
Very happy, may have tripled last years harvest.
Thomas do you collect the seed pods from the common crocus and replant, or just the rare forms? Just wondering what you do with all the seed, you must get tons.
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That is indeed a harvest to be proud of, Guff. If they all grow you will be kept very busy planting out your garden!
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Collected the last of the giants vernus seed pods today.
Very happy, may have tripled last years harvest.
Thomas do you collect the seed pods from the common crocus and replant, or just the rare forms? Just wondering what you do with all the seed, you must get tons.
Guff, I try to collect all the seeds from the big vernus-monsters to avoid their spreading in my lawn - then I sow them in the local park.
The chrysanthus/biflorus cultivars are not as easy to find in my lawn, from time to time I collect some, but it doesn't matter, if they spread.
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Maggi, thanks. It will be intersting to see how many germinate, hopefully at least half do. I collected the Dutch giants seeds and Chrysanthus and Tommasinianus seeds in different cups this year. The one bed of the Twilight, Blue Pearl, and Firefly, has to be redone. I shouldn't have mixed them all together. The vernus Twilight blocked all the sun from getting to the smaller crocus. So learning from that mistake, I will plant the giant seeds separate from the Chrysanthus and Tommasinianus.
Thomas, thats a great idea, any flowering size? Would like to see some hybrids pictures of the giants.
I hand pollinated all the dutch giants with pollen from Roseus, Lilac Beauty, Barrs Purple and Tatra Shades. It will be interesting when they are flowering size.
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Thomas, thats a great idea, any flowering size? Would like to see some hybrids pictures of the giants.
I just made a few photos, but here they are:
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Nice pictures Thomas.
This is not crocus crossing but self pollination I am writing about. I have only one clone of crocus scardicus purchased as a single corm in 1996 from Pilous which is now up to six.Two flowered this year and my understanding is that they would not self pollinate but I worked hard at the pollination.Both have produced a seed pod with a total of seven seeds which ripened today and look plump and viable( the day before we leave for France which is good as they would have been lost)
They are sown and I now wait to see if they germinate next spring
Guff the only hybrids I have are chrysanthus,biflorus natural hybrids so I think they are quite straightforward to produce.
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Tony, do you grow Crocus pelistericus near the scardicus pot?
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Thomas yes I do but the pelistericus were not in flower this year at the time scardicus flowered and I moved the pot in to the greenhouse to keep the flowers fresh.They were not pollinated by pelistericus.If they had been in flower I would have been doubtful and thought they may have crossed.They grow outside all year in an open plunge and last summer I let them get a bit too dry and it messed up the flowering times.
I have three years of seedlings from 05,06 and 07 of both scardicus x pelistericus and pelistericus x scardicus and also an 07 sowing of straight pelistericus. I am hopefull the 05 sowing will flower next spring
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I am hopefull the 05 sowing will flower next spring
Good luck with the 05's!!! I'm waiting for photos next spring :o
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Thomas, very nice giants.
Well I dug up the bed with the Twilight, Blue Pearl, and Firefly's today. I only counted the Twilight's corms, 192 total. Not too bad almost doubled from the original 100. They look nice and big, can't say that about the Blue Pearl, and Firefly's though, lots of tiny corms, which I had expected.
I did pack them in, just didn't feel like making another bed. I figured next fall 09, I may start on my grass banks anyways.
Question, after I took the picture, I covered them up with 4 inches of the same soil, compost/sand. Should I water them in or just let nature and the rains do it?
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Planted the crocus seed, hoping for lots of seedling come spring.
I left room for the seeds at the top of my new Hellebores bed, that I planted last month. There are 15 plants, 3 each of 5 different colors of the Lady series. Should be an interesting spring.
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Wish I had as much space as you have, Guff! Great job 8)
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Thomas, I'm slowly running out of spots/space for full sun plant types, but have lots of room still left for spring woodlands types plants.
I'm very happy, lots of crocus seedlings popping up. If I can get this many or more seedlings every spring I will have my banks covered in no time.
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Chrysanthus and tommasinianus seed. Still need to collect the Dutch Giant's, only have 30 or so seed pods from them this year.
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That's quite a crop of seed! 8)
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Maggi, thanks. Now if I can double it next year..........LOL
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No Picture but I have a little Crocus crossing victory to report.
After 15 years of growing a single clone of Crocus cyprius and getting seed just once (5 seeds :() in 2007 I begged a few corms of different clones from a fellow grower. This year I had several fat pods and the seed count is 62. I did assist by hand pollinating the plants which were grown under cold glass. Now if I can raise these to flowering size I should be able to make more seed and perhaps corms available for other growers.
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Congratulations, Tony. Always nice to have a win like that. I bought a Crocus cvijicii this year to try to get seed in the future as mine came from a friend who grew it from seed years ago and it is self-infertile. I'd like to get a few more of them but it is very very slow to multiply. Fingers crossed that I can get them to flower together one of these years and carefully cross them for some seed set. Not that important for others, but would be wonderful if I could do it. So I can understand to a degree just how happy you must be having been successful. 8)
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I only have 2 or 3 corms of each variant, your 2 cvijicii will be enough if they flower at the same time (given the usual need for luck and the weather.) I should have added that this first seed set is hopefully going to give me more plants to enjoy. If I am successful then the next generation should provide a good surplus ;)
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Congratulations Tony -very impressed and pleased for you ;)
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Spotted my very first crocus seedling with a bud today. I think it is a tommy, this is my 3rd spring seedling bed. Can't wait to see it open, looks to be a purple/blue.
Thanks everyone, I'm on my way to a sea of flowers on my grass banks.
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well done!
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It is so satisfying when you begin to see the fruits of your efforts, isn't it?
Happy days, Guff!
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Mark, Maggi thanks.
I will see if I can get a good picture when it opens. I took 5 and that was the best of the bunch. My camera has a tuff time focusing at times.
Yes Maggi, this one seedling was worth the wait. I was going to be bummed if I didn't have one seedling flower this year.
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I was wrong, it's a shade of pink. Not sure if it will open today, suppose to be chilly next few days.
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Update on second spring seedlings. Lots poppng up, I also noticed some that must have germinated this spring.
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All those new green seedling crocuses, isn't that a satisfying sight :) I'm growing my first lot of wild crocus seed and can't wait fro germination - no sign yet ::)
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Best picture I could get. Flower is tiny, maybe 1/4 the size of roseus.
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Pictures 1-2 Second spring crocus seedlings, update
Pictures 3-5 First spring crocus seedlings. Very happy.
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It wasn't a good year for Tommy/Chrysanthus seed. The Dutch Gaints did better this year.
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Have some first time flowering Tommies to show. Mouse or vole ruined some buds that were about to open.
The first Tommy has 8 petals and 4 anthers, maybe it will put up another flower.
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Some seedlings that I didn't get around to posting. Spring 2012 should be fun.
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Yes Guff, it seems that 2012 will be an exciting year for your "babies" ..... we will look forward to seeing more of them then.
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1-7 Crocus seedlings
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1-Seedling
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1-Seedling
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2013 seedlings
1-5 crocus seedlings
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2013 seedlings
1-5 crocus seedlings
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2013 seedlings
1-3 crocus seedlings
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I haven't found any dark mark tips seedlings yet, but did find these lighter tips this past spring. These two have big Dutch type flowers.
1-2 crocus seedlings
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I haven't found any dark mark tips seedlings yet, but did find these lighter tips this past spring. These two have big Dutch type flowers.
1-2 crocus seedlings
Like seedling A
Janis
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Thanks, like that one also Janis.
Didn't get around to taking many pictures this past spring of seedlings, but did take a few of my grass bank project that I have been working on for the past few years now.......
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This summers project was to dig half of the bank and replant crocus bulbs. Seeds will be sprinkled on the other half of the bank.......
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Starting to see some flowers.
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Seedling
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Lovely start to the season, Guff. When did you lose the snow?
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Thanks Maggi, in a few years it should look nice. Still lots popping up, the squirrels seem to like pulling the flowers off.......
Had snow on Easter, second picture is a white tipped.
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It's hard not to think that squirrels and birds will behead flowers "just for fun" - whatever the reason it is a disappointment when it happens.
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White tipped seedling, could be the same crocus I showed in post #125.
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Seedlings.
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Few more seedlings. Always had hoped some white tommies would appear.
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Spring 2016, grass bank and seedlings.
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You must be pleased with how the banks are coming along, Guff ?
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It's getting there Maggi! I'm still tossing seeds on the other half of bank. They do germinate, but I think some of the seeds may be washing away. Probably after sprinkling seeds, I should put down some compost. Did do that one year, have gotten lazy....
It was a bad year for crocus, it was very warm, then a long cold period. Most never opened.
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Spring 2019
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Hello Guff- welcome back! Great to see how your crocus bank looked this Spring.
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Maggi, thanks.
Been tossing seeds on other half of bank every Fall. Had a few flowers pop up, so hopefully many more show this Spring.
I dug up maybe 1k crocus seedlings a month ago, that I had in another bed and added them to the other half of grass bank. The bigger seedlings were planted with a screwdriver at the very top of the bank. I had a ton of small bulbs, so I dug another spot, 1 ft wide path and replanted.
This years seed, I decided to use a screwdriver and plant the seeds one by one, 2 1/2 in deep. Took forever to plant a couple thousands seeds this way, just trying to get to flowering size faster. Compost was put down and raked to fill in the screwdriver holes. Still need to plant grass seed. I had to remove a thick layer of moss that killed the grass
.
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Just a waiting game now......
Hedge of Tree Peonies planted at top of bank. Very pretty in May.
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Update.
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Starting to see flowers. Weather is suppose to be 60's this weekend.
Picture is of the second half of grass bank, which I had planted one by one with a screwdriver
Last year was a bad year and I didn't even bother taking any pictures. Most were ruined, by warm spell, then a very long cold chill.
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Hi Guff,
it is a pleasure to see the progress of your longterm crocus project!
The image looks quite promising ;D
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Armin, thanks.
Each year I see more flowers popping up, from all the seeds that were tossed over the years. I have one last crocus seedling bed that needs to be dug this summer and replanted. Bed was started 5 or so years ago, probably has a couple thousand bulbs.
First picture is where I had dug up a 1 ft or so section to plant all the tiny bulbs.
The main section were planted deeper, just starting to see flowers.
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Please take some close-ups of your favourites! I've been following this thread from the start, I can't believe it's ben 15 years already...
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These are crocus that I had bought a long time ago to make crosses with, but it really hasn't gone as planned. Not sure if the pollen is even good, haven't really seen any with dark tip marks from seedlings.
Left to right rows
Michaels Purple (no seeds) and Tommasinianus Pictus (no seeds)
Tommasinianus Alba (has seeds) and Haarlem Gem (no seeds)
Uklin Strain (only had one seed pod ever)
Tatra Shades (no seeds)
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Continued
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Grass bank was ruined last night..........all the flowers in last picture of bank are all gone
Seems deer like to eat crocus buds.
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Tommasinianus seedlings
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Grass bank was ruined last night..........all the flowers in last picture of bank are all gone
Seems deer like to eat crocus buds.
Oh my, that is really sad to hear.
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I had a quick look at the flowers that are left on grass bank, and spotted this....
Five or six years ago(or maybe 8, hard to remember) , I had a seed pod grow on my Carpathian Wonder. I had also used the pollen to make a couple crosses that year.
Maggi, going to have to make something next year to protect them. I think the deer have been eating them since I had started the bank, but it has never been this bad that I had noticed.
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Beautiful markings on this one.
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Hi Guff,
what a drama - you wait a whole year and then the buds are simply plucked off by an ignorant, hungry soul...
Fortunately, crocuses often have multiple flowers. That may allay your grudges...
Nice offspring of Carpathian Wonder.
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Jeff, Armin thanks.
I have an even bigger project planned, need all the crocus seeds I can get. Plus I finally wanted to see mass flowers on the bank. Upstate New York, the weather can change fast, and this has been the best year for crocus in a long time.
I have a lower woods, that I want filled with Spring flowers.
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Crocus on the grass bank
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Last seedling bed, will be added to grass bank this summer. Mostly growing in all shade, so they don't flower well.
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Crocus on the grass bank
The yellow seedling is a really nice one with that delicate pale yellow color. It reminds me of Midas Touch.
Poul
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Poul thanks.
Think it's a seedling from this crocus. Always have plans on digging the crocus up to see if can get it to clump up, but never do. Just been collecting seeds.
Found a second possible Carpathian Wonder seedling. No marking on the white outside.
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Update picture on special bed.
Wildlife (no seeds) in row with Tatra Shades
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Found another Heuffelianus type seedling on grass bank.
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Found three more, Heuffelianus type seedlings.
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Pictures that I didn't get around to posting.
Coum and Crocus mixed bed and a patch of Dutch Giants.
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Pictures that I didn't get around to posting.
Coum and Crocus mixed bed and a patch of Dutch Giants.
Thank you for posting these, they make me so wish for a garden again! Already have a very similar photobombing cat ;D
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Arisaema, hopefully next year will be even better. Probably going to put up some temporary posts, then bird netting and wire to keep the deer out. Might work.
I have to see about digging up my last seedling bed and replant soon. Problem is, I have Tree Peony seedlings in the same bed, some even flowered for the first time.
I did collect a ton of seeds, even though lots of buds and flowers were eaten.....
Sure was starting to look good.....
[attachimg=1]
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Since I need to dig up these Tree Peony seedling to get to the crocus, have decided to extend my grass bank another 7 feet longer(7ft wide x 15ft area). I will be planting the crocus that I dig into this spot. I can plant another 5 Tree Peony at the top of the grass bank. At some point I'm going to clean up the rest of those shrubs and plant more crocus, (probably seed). Over the years the shrubs have over grown into the grass.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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Grass banks is 67ft(was 60ft) long x 16ft. I don't plant crocus at the very top 1ft, so I have room to walk. If I clear out the shrubs, probably adds another 20ft onto to the length.
[attachimg=1]
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Making some progress on getting to the crocus. Decided to extend the bank even more. Probably will be planting crocus seed also on the extended bank.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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Started screening crocus seedling bed today. Thought I would show how I screen the bed. An old standing fan screen is perfect, you can tape off how big/small you want to drop through. Since there are a lot of tiny crocus corms, I taped it very small. This will take longer, but I will get the tiny ones as well. Crocus are hard to see even after being screened. I pick out the ones that I do see, and dump whats still left in my screen into a bucket to look over again for the ones that were missed.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
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Crocus have been replanted and covered. Area dug is 10ft x 7ft and 2.5 inches deep. Didn't have enough crocus corms to fill the spot, decided to toss crocus seed in. The bare spot(was going to plant crocus seed there) will have to wait until next year. Will be putting grass seed down in a few days.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
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Was looking through pictures, few more.
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Continued
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Wonderful spring pictures:).
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Leena, thanks.
I will be doubling down on crosses this Spring, now that I'm starting to see some unique flowers. I did some select crosses this year, and planted the seeds in a seedling bed.
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I like the shape of this one, round goblet form. Now if I could get that in white with markings....
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I have been hybridizing different flowers over the years and move from one type to another.
I think I showed this rose years ago, but not the Daylily
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Was looking through pictures, few more.
It's looking good! worth the hard work.
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Yann thanks.
Will be starting on this bank after collecting seed this year. Making trenches this time and filling it back in with leaf compost. Making small holes to plant crocus seed didn't seem to work so well. Some seedling showed, but not like I thought it would.
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Starting to see flowers on bank. Suppose to get cold again, so most of these will be gone by the time it warms back up next week.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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Lynn
Good crocus display. pity you will not see them last for much longer.
I see that your thib plant continues to re appear, the battery does show just how diminutive the plant is.
Regards
Jeff
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Jeff thanks.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
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Winter has returned.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
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Damn shame it was looking so great.
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Hello Tony, you have a very nice web site. Thanks for the links.
I went ahead and pickup some crocus at K.Van Bourgondien's. I'm alittle disappointed though, seems that that the ones they have listed as buy now, not all will come this year. But I did get the 50% discount.
I was wondering over there are the crocus any cheaper or are they more expensive? The price listed below are 50% off normal catalogs price.
In my experience, K.Van Bourgondien does offer very reasonable prices on some of their offerings; but their products are not worth having at any price.
Heres what I picked up.
1. SPECIE CROCUS PRINCE CLAUS (CH (10331) Qty 1 (Bag of 100)
Price $7.50/each $7.50 Ships After 12/16/06
2. GIANT CROCUS SILVER CORAL (10016) Qty 1 (Bag of 25) Price $3.25/each $3.25
Ships After 09/12/07
3. SPECIE CROCUS MIX (10335) Qty 9 (Bag of 100) Price $4.00/each $36.00
Ships After 09/12/07
4. SPECIE CROCUS SNOWBUNTING (CHR (10334) Qty 1 (Bag of 100)
Price $4.50/each $4.50 Ships After 09/12/07
In my experience, K.Van Bourgondien does offer very reasonable prices on some of their offerings; but their products are not worth having at any price
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MarcR, that was a long time ago, those prices were cheap...........compared to today.
Jeff, most of the early crocus were ruined from winter and rain. Now the Dutch Giant crosses are popping up. Deer seemed to have finally found the bank and ate away last night. Mostly doing crosses with Heuffelianus type pollen on Dutch Giants this year.
Some seedlings.
Nice dark Heuffelianus type seedling. Tricolor seedling, didn't think that set seed, but must have at some point.
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I need to flag these and dig them up and replant in a new bed when they die down. Between the weather and the deer eating them it's very disappointing.
4 Heuffelianus type seedling.
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I'm sorry to hear deer have found your crocuses. Dark heuffelianus types are really nice!
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Leena, thanks.
Two more heuffelianus types seedlings.
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Have decided not to start on the small bank. Seeds will be planted on the big bank. Did some select crosses and some of my Heuffelianus type seedling hybrids did set seed . Made a new bed for those seeds.
[attachimg=1]
I did get around to planting these daffodils at the top of my small bank in front of my Tree Peonies. Was going to plant them in between each plant but that was going to be a pain, so I dug up the top 1.5 ft wide and the whole length of the bank and replanted.
[attachimg=2]
Logs are to keep animals from digging, until I can get grass seed planted. I'm hoping some of the Tree Peonies flower come May......
[attachimg=3]
Went the easy route this year. Raked out the grass, (moss likes to grow). Sprinkled the seeds, tossed some compost down and called it a day........
[attachimg=4]
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Coum and crocus bed, from 2013. That was a perfect Spring here for crocus flowers.
Can't wait until my grass bank looks like the video, one day......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDCSTRwqllk
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a crocus sea!
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A host of .....
Very natural effect.
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Starting to see flowers on my grass bank.
[attachimg=1]
Special bed
[attachimg=2]
Uklin Strain
[attachimg=3]
Michaels Purple
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
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Grass bank
[attachimg=1]
better picture of Uklin Strain
[attachimg=2]
Tommasinianus Alba
[attachimg=3]
Tommasinianus Pictus
[attachimg=4]
Tatra Shades
[attachimg=5]
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A stunning big welcome to spring.
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Really wonderful crocuses, I like most the dark tipped ones, but all are nice.
When you have so much of them, do they cross-pollinate each other and do they self-seed?
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Leena, thanks.
Uklin Strain, had one seed pod ever. No clue why I even had the one.
Tommasinianus Pictus, no seeds
Tatra Shades, no seeds
Michaels Purple, no seeds
I do collect the pollen and put them all into a cup and mix. Pollinating some select tommy's, and all the Dutch Giants I have each year. My Heuffelianus type seedling hybrid from past years are big flowers and flower the same time as Dutch Giants. I rather have later flowering crocus, due to weather here.
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Today was 45, with full sun and it wasn't warm enough for them to open. According to the weather app, it will be two weeks before it's sunny and in the 50's. Thinking by then most of these will be eaten, or past their time and flop.
[attachimg=1]
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Wonderful view.
I've never had seeds from my C.tommasinianus, either. Last autumn I planted more and different ones, if that was the problem.
Or maybe it is still too cold when they flower here (not yet).
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Lena,
Most members of the genus Crocus prefer to multiply vegetatively [by bulb offset] and set seed sparsely, if at all.
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Marc
Daffs are the same, never understand why.
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That didn't take long.
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Going to finish up the last section on the grass bank this Summer. Few years ago I screened this bed, so the plan is to screen it again. Last year there were alot of Dutch Giants hybrids in this bed as well.
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Guff,
Just curious. Where in New York are you? That grass bank doesn't look like New York City except for parts of Stattan Island.
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Wonderful view.
I've never had seeds from my C.tommasinianus, either. Last autumn I planted more and different ones, if that was the problem.
Or maybe it is still too cold when they flower here (not yet).
Do you get seed on your other Crocus Leena? C. tommasinianus generally seeds prolifically in gardens here, but then you have a slightly colder climate than us! ;)
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Guff,
My experience with K Van B is thaty they ship stuff that is true to type but poor in quality.
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Guff
By screening do you mean digging up the bed and then sieving to catch the bulbs?
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Jeff, yes. I should have enough to finish the bank.
Special bed update
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Love this one. Probably going to have to get my camera out. Taking pictures with iphone isn't the greatest, too hard to get in focus closeups.
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Guff, your crocus bed is very lovely!
Do you get seed on your other Crocus Leena? C. tommasinianus generally seeds prolifically in gardens here, but then you have a slightly colder climate than us! ;)
Tristan, I have never gotten seeds from C.tommasinianus. :( For a longer time I have had 'Whitewell Purple' and 'Barr's Purple' (and I can't see any difference in them, maybe I don't have the right cultivars), 'Roseus' and 'Ruby Giant'. Can it be that these cultivars are sterile? Last autumn I planted several different cultivars of C.tommasinianus from Augis bulbs, and I hope some of them will be fertile. I also have seedlings from white C.tommasinianus (germinated this winter), and they should be fertile, when they grow up. :)
It may be that our springs are too cold, and I have only once gotten seeds from my C.heuffelianus, and once two seeds from C.sieberi 'George', though I have also other C.sieberi.
This Crocus heuffelianus was sown from Vlastimil Pilous seeds 2019, and it flowered now for the first time in my polytunnel (last night was -17 outside and -12 in my polytunnel so I think that was too much for the flowers). It is very beautiful, and darker than any of my other C.heuffelianus growing outside.
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Wildlife
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Another heuffelianus type hybrid.
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Heuffelianus type hybrids
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Like the cup shaped bloom structure along with rounded petals, sorry if this is not the correct term.
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This is probably the last of the Heuffelianus type hybrids on my grass bank, deer have eaten most of the flowers. Between the weather and deer, it wasn't good year. Never seen coum flowers being eaten, but they did last night.
Pictures are of the same plant.
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Two more Heuffelianus type hybrids, last for this year.
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One last section for my grass bank, and I'm done. Next years crocus seed will all go in my lower woods for a mixed Meadow of Spring flowers.
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May have over done it with the crocus seed, but I didn't feel like digging anymore at the time.
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Started on the last section. Planted around 250 so far. Will work at it alittle at a time. Steep angle of the bank is a killer on my back and legs.....
Probably won't have enough to go all the way to the bottom, will plant crocus seed that was collected.
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Forgot to post this picture of the Daffodils that were planted at the top of my small bank. There was alot more of the mini's flowers, most were spent when this picture was taken. Can't wait to see what it looks like Spring 2024.
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Mass planting is the only way to go.
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It was starting to look so good with the warm Spring weather. Between the Deer and return to Winter, it wasn't a good year for Crocus. Need to put up Deer netting, so I can finally see masses of flowers. Only videos that were made, will try again Spring 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFE0_BanRHk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK1CS6rM4jg
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amazing, what a patch of colors.
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Grass bank is coming alive with flowers.
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https://youtu.be/IWXbSrU6UEM
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These two are probably Carpathian Wonder seedlings. Really need to dig up any unique seedlings on my grass bank and plant in a new bed. Every year, they are tagged, but never get around to digging them up.
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Some I missed, when I redid my special bed.
Michaels Purple
Tommasinianus Pictus
Wildlife
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Another picture of my Carpathian Wonder or Uklin Strain seedling.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW_1ggPuwzE
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Gyff,
VERY NICE!
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Guff, your bank is wonderful and there are so nice seedlings. Congratulations.
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Marc, Leena, thanks.
Well, it was starting out great.... Then cold, rain, and wind has flatten most of them. Plus the deer finally found them. Winter is returning with mid 20 temps at night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK7Ael3M-t4
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Heuffelianus Hybrids on bank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg2xi7SpUJU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gJ--A0_stE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvA-7BM8Ntk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X84w1vKX2rA
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A superb colur, must look impressive en masse.
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Have a few more Heuffelianus Hybrids to post, haven't uploaded yet.
Was pleased with my Daffodil flower show. They will all be dead headed, so they clump up faster. Started a new batch of seeds last Fall, tons popping up. Would like to do my big bank the same way. Would need a couple thousand bulbs..........too bad I didn't continue to grow more each year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juehsVHI0i4