Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: Alan_b on November 14, 2016, 03:44:00 PM

Title: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: Alan_b on November 14, 2016, 03:44:00 PM
The Plant Sales area of the Anglesey Abbey shop is selling small pots of Galanthus elwesii in flower at £3 per pot.  These are all monostictus but with a wide range of different markings and flower flower shapes.  They have a commercial standard illustrated elwesii label with a small paper label bearing the name 'Galanthus elwesii' and the code 25056.  These would be completely unremarkable in February but are a curious sight in mid-November.  I am tempted to think the bulbs have been forced to make them flower early, but if so how is this done?   
Title: Re: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: colineddie1 on November 14, 2016, 10:16:28 PM
I too would think its odd but I have this week Gal H. Purcell in full flower - since I bought it in flower last Feb/March I am more than a little confused as to why it has flowered now.
Title: Re: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: emma T on November 15, 2016, 11:01:26 AM
It's not been that cold , i guess watering them early might bring them into life a bit early ?
Title: Re: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: Alan_b on November 15, 2016, 12:39:07 PM
True, Emma, but they seem to have managed to sell the same thing each year for the last few years.  I bought an early snowdrop there at a similar time two years ago (but have lost track of what has become of it).  I'm wondering if some commercial company has found out how to bring-on elwesii snowdrops early?  Either that or they have a big stock of different Hiemalis Group types.
Title: Re: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: Alan_b on November 15, 2016, 01:33:44 PM
I bought this one because its inner petals had the fullest mark of all those on sale.
[attachimg=1]   
Title: Re: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: ruben on November 15, 2016, 06:11:28 PM
a very nice one alan! Hope is show the same next year!!
Title: Re: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: Alan_b on November 16, 2016, 11:01:07 PM
Yes, this one is a bit reminiscent of 'Peter Gatehouse' but that snowdrop isn't above ground here yet.  All my autumn snowdrops are much later than last year.  I imagine it was too dry in September and October and they weren't able to take in enough moisture to put on growth until the recent rain.
Title: Re: November Snowdrops on Sale at Anglesey Abbey
Post by: steve owen on November 17, 2016, 11:48:35 PM
Alan, yes, my earlies are a bit later than the last few years but maybe only a fortnight or so. Barnes, Rainbow Farm Early and Remember Remember are all flowering; Emmelina, r/o Eleni (in open ground) and Corcyrensis are going over; Peter Gatehouse, Mrs Mac, Godfrey Owen and quite a lot of others are showing.
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