Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => NARCISSUS => Topic started by: mark smyth on July 11, 2007, 08:18:31 PM

Title: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: mark smyth on July 11, 2007, 08:18:31 PM
Out of interest how does the Bulb Master explain this? I was knocking bulbs out today to get some chipped and found this Narcissus Cedric Morris. No others had roots
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 11, 2007, 10:15:51 PM
No doubt the Bulb Master will have a good explanation Mark but from this end of the world, I'd suggest it's simply because `Cedric Morris' is very early compared with other trumpets. It flowers here May-June (Nov-Dec for you) so stands to reason it will root early too, especially if you've had it anywhere where it was getting some moisture rather than bone dry. Narcissus will start to root with even a little fog in the air, as distinct from rain or watering.

Likewise, the early frits and juno irises root very early - just when I'm about to start to repot them - if there's even a suggestion of dampness in the air.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: mark smyth on July 16, 2007, 09:09:52 AM
looks like Ian is ignoring me  :'(
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Ian Y on July 16, 2007, 09:36:47 AM
Ingnore you Mark?
How could I. ::)
I have just been busy re-potting with occasional breaks to watch Le Tour.
But today it is pouring down with rain so I am at the PC for a while writing the Bulb Log.
Lesley has given the answer it is all to do with moisture.
Many bulbs will produce roots at any time if moisture is present and especially some Narcissus may never be fully dormant if moisture is around.
You have also been having very hot weather in Ireland and the bulbs will think they have had their summer so if the temperature falls and there is moisture they think it is autumn.
I am also finding odd roots on the narcissus where the pots have not dried out completely.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: mark smyth on July 16, 2007, 10:10:17 AM
so I have to keep this one moist until the autumn?
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Ian Y on July 16, 2007, 11:08:35 AM
That is a good question, if it were mine I would plant it in the garden where it will stay moist.
If you are putting it in a pot then yes you need to keep some moisture there so he roots can survive.
If it gets bone dry and the roots die off it may produce some more roots in autumn or it may not - the bulb should survive what ever.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 16, 2007, 11:13:45 PM
It will do better in the garden anyway Mark. Bulk up more quickly and be generally stronger. Don't forget a little something to discourage both vine weevils and Narcissus fly, sprinkled when you plant it.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: mark smyth on July 16, 2007, 11:54:33 PM
killed about 10 Vine Weevils tonight. Do you use Vinil?
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 17, 2007, 12:18:07 AM
I don't know that. I use SuSCon Green (yes, it's written like that) a pinch sprinkled among the bulbs or roots of a plant when it's potted/planted, not sprinkled on top.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Maggi Young on July 17, 2007, 10:07:46 AM
I hope you are wearing gloves when you are handling SuSCon Green, Lesley, it is a powerful poison and will kill more than vine weevils. :-\
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 17, 2007, 10:44:05 PM
No I don't Maggi. I know I should but potting, planting small things with gloves on (I mean, when I am wearing gloves) is just too fiddly. I do always wash carefully afterwards though.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: bettyclark on July 19, 2007, 04:47:01 AM
To all interested in Galanthus reginae olgae : I have grown it against a concrete terrace where it does get the damp but facing north her Min has finished flowering in May very early but it does produce leaves very quickly
 I have been told that it is not correct but it is nothing like the ones grown in ChCh which look very straggly tall and interested. As for those with early roots on bulbs Cedric morris along with n.minorwhich I sure is correct and has the correct measurements given in the 1966 American Jounal  Mine already up with a grey green leaf 15cm ribbed and 12mm wide As far as I can make out used to be called nanus.  Another way to handle suscan green is to pour it into a condiment shaker the small one with the fine sieve on top with screw lid and you dont need to handle it at all. I also mix it into the soil  not under the bulbs.Betty Clark     
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Paddy Tobin on July 19, 2007, 07:16:34 PM
Betty,

After reading your posting I immediately had a mental picture of someone sprinkling SuSCon Green on their dinner. What does it taste like?

Paddy
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 19, 2007, 11:58:00 PM
I doubt if Betty knows the answer to that Paddy and neither do I but I'll ask the next (dead) vine weevil grub I see. The salt shaker idea is an excellent one, which I'll put to use immediately. The instructions say not to apply to the surface of the pot (ground) but to mix it in and I mix some into my potting mix itself before potting, or I mix a little into the soil when planting. But I also sprinke a little onto the surface which the bases of the bulb will touch (and where the roots will form), in cases where the plants are particularly susceptible to the varmints concerned. Especially to Narcissus, Galanthus, all Saxifragaceae and Primulaceae, all of which suffer badly from either Narcissus fly or vine weevil. SuSCon Green is apparently not lethal for earthworms (according to the manufacturers) or I wouldn't be using it
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: David Nicholson on July 20, 2007, 09:09:32 AM
It's not available to amateurs in the UK-maybe another EU ban. It would be interesting to know if friends in other parts of Europe are able to use it?
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Gerdk on July 21, 2007, 08:06:03 AM
David,
The broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide Chlorpyrifos, which is the chemical contained in Suscongreen is also a content of "Nexion Neu".
Nexion Neu is avaiable  in Germany  against grubs on cabbage, carrots and onions (only allowed for this indication).

Gerd Knoche, Solingen
Germany
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: derekb on July 21, 2007, 05:52:03 PM
David, Re Suscon Green Monro sell it down your way it costs about £140 for 10kg, I could get it for you from my old wholesaler but how to get it from Sussex to you, I am still using what I had before moving. It needs to be in the compost before the eggs are laid.
  Derek.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: David Nicholson on July 21, 2007, 08:48:20 PM
David,
The broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide Chlorpyrifos, which is the chemical contained in Suscongreen is also a content of "Nexion Neu".
Nexion Neu is avaiable  in Germany  against grubs on cabbage, carrots and onions (only allowed for this indication).

Gerd Knoche, Solingen
Germany

Thanks for that Gerd, it does not seem to be available here.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: David Nicholson on July 21, 2007, 08:53:01 PM
David, Re Suscon Green Monro sell it down your way it costs about £140 for 10kg, I could get it for you from my old wholesaler but how to get it from Sussex to you, I am still using what I had before moving. It needs to be in the compost before the eggs are laid.
  Derek.

Derek, I think 10kg would be enough to see out my active gardening life-span! ;D as well as enabling me to buy far fewer square plastic pots! I think I shall continue to use one or other of the  Provado lines as my all purpose insecticides. If I get 'bugs' that survive Provado I will have to learn to live with them.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: mark smyth on July 21, 2007, 08:54:03 PM
Chlorpyrifos is available in the UK, I have some
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: David Nicholson on July 21, 2007, 09:02:38 PM
Chlorpyrifos is available in the UK, I have some

Have a read of this http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts84.html#bookmark06

The words dust and bin spring to mind!!
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Lesley Cox on July 22, 2007, 04:04:07 AM
SuSCon Green is no longer available to the gardening public in NZ, hasn't been, for about 3 or 4 years I think. One has to be a registered agricultural contractor (with certificate to show you passed the training requirements) to purchase or use it. I have some left over from a 25kg bag purchased by my local alpine group and divided among those who wanted it.
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: jomowi on July 24, 2007, 08:36:53 PM
Narcissus aren't the only bulb to be rooting early, Iris winogradowii is getting roots as well.  I notice that my Narcissus are much smaller than last year because the hot April caused them to hay off before time.

Brian Wilson Aberdeen
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: Maggi Young on July 24, 2007, 09:07:50 PM
We find that Iris winogradowii and I. Katharine Hodgkin always start early into root. They spent little time "dormant".
Hope Maureen had a good birthday.... glad it didn't rain until the next day!!
Title: Re: Narcissus rooting now
Post by: mark smyth on August 25, 2007, 11:55:21 PM
While removing new tubers from Dactylorhizas I accidentally dug up more narcissus and Tulips that have rooted already. Both right under the Dactyls.

Maybe like Ian Y I have run out of planting space.
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