Crocus October 2007

[Boyed]

Tony
saying tender I meant that they have very thin tubes and petal constitutin and can be easily damaged from winds and rains.
Anyway, I see that there is something wrong with my crocus kotschyanus, as their surface of petals is not smooth. Maybe it is caused by wrong cultivation; who knows? (excessive moister in summer or whatever).

Winters are quite cold here and sometimes prolonged. The temperature in February can get even below 25 C for a short period of time. But I keep my crocus pots under cold glass or on the window seal of an unheated room, where the temperature during winter doesn't get below 0 C (from +2 to +5).

[tonyg]

Aha! Now I understand.  Thanks for clarifying that - I should have remembered where you grow your crocuses as I think I have been told before

[Boyed]

Tony,
Actually most of the autumn crocuses do well in our climate. But there are three reasons that I prefer growing them in pots and keep them during winter under cold glass:
1. I plant them in a rich leafy soil and they considerably increase their rate of propagation;
2. they are protected from unfavourable weather conditions (rain, wind), and so I enjoy the blooms as much and as long as possible;
3. the species and cultivars, I have few, are isolated from bees and so the risk of catching virus is minimized.

Though some, which are enough propagated, are grown in the garden without any problems.

[Andrew]

Crocus cartwrightiamus 'White Form'.





Crocus tournefortii.





The oldest flower has a darker style.

[mark smyth]

up to the last few days I was quite worried that my Crocus were going to skip a year. Many are now up and flowering or have noses pushing through

This pulchellus 'Albus' has very small anthers that are only just visible to the eye. I've said it before , I think white Crocus are lovely

Is it too early to give them a general purpose liquid feed?

[hadacekf]

Crocus speciosus is a very lovely autumn flowering crocus and it is also one of the easiest in my garden.

[Paul T]

Franz,

Love the electric contrasts in the second last photo.  The strong orange/red styles always look so good, whichever species they're attached to!   

[Armin]

C.goulimyi ssp. goulimyi opened today.
It was sunny but not so warm (+4°C morning, +13°C afternoon).

Thanks Thomas for this tiny present!

[Thomas Huber]

Mark, perhaps some insects have chewed the anthers of your pulchellus?

Franz - impressive speciosus lawn!!

Some more photos from my garden after a wonderful sunshine-weekend:

[Thomas Huber]

And some single plants:

- Crocus cartwrightianus cretensis - the Cretan form of this variable species.
- Crocus hadriaticus chrysobelonicus, the most beautiful form I have, thanks to the beautiful York-Lady!
- Crocus thomasii from Gargano/Italy, received as longiflorus, but I'm pretty sure it is thomasii!
- extreme long style on a speciosus hybrid

[Andrew]

Is it too early to give them a general purpose liquid feed?

I would say 'Yes', wait until the leaves are growing well.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very impressive scenery Thomas !

[Michael]

Wow! Thomas! I dunno what to say!!! You live in a Crocus paradise!!!

Those gigantic rocks!! When you bought your house, they were already there or you ...?

[David Nicholson]

Just catching up after a few days away. Some gorgeous pictures posted of some (all!) beautiful plants.

[Thomas Huber]

Mike, the rockgarden is handmade by myself!