Galanthus reginae-olgae

[snowdropman]

Anthony - hope that you survived the deluge! Happy New Year to you.

[Anthony Darby]

Further to the 'Tilebarn Jamie' saga. I transferred it to a pot and kept it in the greenhouse over the summer. In September I put the pot outside in a sheltered, uncovered bulb frame. It is flowering, but not yet open, now!

[snowdropman]

Anthony - as discussed last year, the only explanation I can think of for such a late appearance of the flowers on 'Tilebarn Jamie' is lack of moisture in the late summer/early autumn.

As the soil was so dry here in the south, in August/September, I watered my g. reginae-olgae and was rewarded by quite a good show - my 'Tilebarn Jamie' flowered in early October and stayed in flower until well into November.

I have put down a good mulch of coarse grit over the top of the bulbs, which I find helps to retain the moisture/keep the plant cool.

[Anthony Darby]

That fits exactly. Will try a third time with this plant and report in due course. Thanks Chris.

[snowdropman]

That fits exactly. Will try a third time with this plant and report in due course. Thanks Chris.

Anthony - look forward to comparing notes in, say, November this year!

[Tony Willis]

my reginae olgae finished weeks ago but ssp vernalis is now in flower. This is from Italy and the ones from Sicily are just about to open

[ian mcenery]

Hi Tony nice flower. I have reg olgae vernalis but mine just sulks. Under what conditions do you grow yours please?

[Diane Whitehead]

My brother-in-law has a few hectares in the middle of Sicily. He
is usually there in spring and summer, and I would like to go over
next spring to see some spring flowers and to collect seeds of some
fall-blooming ones.

When are seeds ripe for Sicilian reginae-olgae (and Narcissus elegans
and serotinus)?

[mark smyth]

Ian where are your's? Mine are out in the open in a raised bed

[Anthony Darby]

I don't know about Sicilian Galanthus but I do know that Narcissus serotinus pods ripen very quickly, within a couple of weeks of flowering.

[Brian Ellis]

I am sure you know Joe Sharman's views on cultivation of reginae-olgae varieties.  At his talk on Tuesday night he re-iterated that in the wild they grow in damp gullies where their roots are kept cool.  Mine will be moved forthwith!  I am pleased to say I had my first fix of the season as I was able to buy a couple that I had wanted to add to my collection.

[ian mcenery]

Mine are mostly in a raised and usually well drained bed (not last  year). I think I might try moving most of them later to a new location to see if I can get some improvement. don't suppose I would be as keen if I could get it right more often

[snowdropman]

I am sure you know Joe Sharman's views on cultivation of reginae-olgae varieties.  At his talk on Tuesday night he re-iterated that in the wild they grow in damp gullies where their roots are kept cool.  Mine will be moved forthwith!  

Brian - Joe is right (see my 2006 post on the previous page of this thread « Reply #27 on: December 31, 2006, 05:15:12 PM ») - I remain convinced that moisture, at the right time, is the key to good performance with r-o's.

[Tony Willis]

I grow all my bulbs pretty much the same way.In clay pots of John Innes topped with grit and plunged in sand beds built on the greenhouse floor.These never dry out which is a problem for some bulbs but I have to adapt to my conditions.I repot every year and almost never feed. The G. reginae olgae vernalis do well this way and ordinary r-o self seed in the sand. I cannot grow them outside because althogh the plants flourish the buds are always eaten by slugs(in the greenhouse also sometimes)

[ian mcenery]

Thanks all for your advice. I will try harder (and smarter)

Tony I too have had problems with slugs (or some pest) with Reg Olgae and Peshmenii but have found a place they don't frequent so much.  I wonder if they are more tasty than the others