Crocus August 2009

[Janis Ruksans]

Should I plant autumn corms? We have dry summers.
 Thanks.

Every country is different. Here for autumn crocuses best planting time is August, for high mountain species even end of July, for low altitude species - end of August. But for Turkey? In any case to stay in soil is more natural way. I'm harvesting my crocuses and replanting them immediately (pot grown plants), only commercial stocks stay out of soil in bulb shed. Yesterday I finished replanting of all outside crocuses, too. At present from pot grown bulbs left only Alliums and Tulipa to replant, few Colchicums, too. In open garden there left Muscari, Ornithogalum, Allium, Colchicum, Tulipa and large frits.
Janis

[Lesley Cox]

Tony, I would have expected the Bavella minimus to be solid black with virtually no edging and was a bit disappointed when mine from Marcus had a distinct edge, as in the pic. But he sent me a note recently which I wanted to quote but I can't find it, to the effect that Alan Edward himself said there is variation among the corms in flower at Bavella, in which case, any collected there may vary but could still be called Bavella Form as they ARE from Bavella. I guess the thing is to propagate only the very best and as you say, corm division is perhaps too slow. Mine hasn;t set seed yet but the original single sorm is now about 8, in its 3rd year with me. Marcus's came from Alan E and I don't know whether he grows from seed or division.

[Arda Takan]

Should I plant autumn corms? We have dry summers.
 Thanks.

Every country is different. Here for autumn crocuses best planting time is August, for high mountain species even end of July, for low altitude species - end of August. But for Turkey? In any case to stay in soil is more natural way. I'm harvesting my crocuses and replanting them immediately (pot grown plants), only commercial stocks stay out of soil in bulb shed. Yesterday I finished replanting of all outside crocuses, too. At present from pot grown bulbs left only Alliums and Tulipa to replant, few Colchicums, too. In open garden there left Muscari, Ornithogalum, Allium, Colchicum, Tulipa and large frits.
Janis

Thanks for answer sir, I'll plant them before it is too late.

[Janis Ruksans]

Tony, I would have expected the Bavella minimus to be solid black with virtually no edging and was a bit disappointed when mine from Marcus had a distinct edge, as in the pic. But he sent me a note recently which I wanted to quote but I can't find it, to the effect that Alan Edward himself said there is variation among the corms in flower at Bavella, in which case, any collected there may vary but could still be called Bavella Form as they ARE from Bavella. I guess the thing is to propagate only the very best and as you say, corm division is perhaps too slow. Mine hasn;t set seed yet but the original single sorm is now about 8, in its 3rd year with me. Marcus's came from Alan E and I don't know whether he grows from seed or division.

I'm attaching a pair of pictures of my BAVELLA, it is quite lazy increaser but my experince is very short with this marvellous plant.
Janis

[udo]

after a strong rain yesterday, some flowers today:
Cr.kotschyanus ssp.cappadocius and
         ``               hakkariensis, all from Turkey

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice veining on C. k. cappadocius Dirk !!  

[Paul T]

Janus,

Love that bavella form of minimus.  Gorgeous combination!

Dirk,

The cappadocius is spectacular.

[Janis Ruksans]

after a strong rain yesterday, some flowers today:
Cr.kotschyanus ssp.cappadocius and
         ``               hakkariensis, all from Turkey

Dirk,
Is your hakkariensis from known wild locality? My looks something different. I got it as species from Turkey (very huge locality ) and named as hakkariensis for the very special wedge-shape of petals, but I'm not sure about identification. See attached picture.
Janis

[Paul T]

Another Cracker, Janis.  Love the veining and shape of the petals.

[udo]

Janis,
this Cr.kotschyanus ssp.hakkariensis is growing from wild coll.seed
on Mor Dag, SE-Turkey, border to iran.