Growing Bulbs for showing - advice needed

[Helen Johnstone]

I have ordered some bulbs with the intention of hopefully having some to show (narcisssus, tulip, iris etc).  I intend to grow them in pots but have questions

How many bulbs is it approprite to plant in a 19cm pot.  I of course appreciate that it depends on the size of bulb. The show schedule for AGS states one plant per pot but presumably this doesnt relate to bulbs?

Also I am thinking about plunge beds as I understand they help distribute the moisture.  However, I don't have an alpine house so the plunge beds would be outside, does this work? Would I need to provide some form of cover at some point. 

Is there anyone I can advice from on this such as a book - I want to know when to start watering, when to dry out, feed etc

Sorry about the simplistic questions but I am an enthusiastic newbie  who has a lot to learn

Thanks
Helen

[Maggi Young]

Many bulbs like to grow in close proximity with eachother, so a full pot will likely grow really well and make a good show--- you may need to build up to that, of course.

Plunging pots  of bulbs is a good way to keep them and yes, this can be done in an open frame outside. It may be appropriate to give cover from excess wet in winter and possibly in summer too,  depending on the wonderful British weather. 

In Ian's Bulb Log, there is now over ten years' worth of notes on the growing of bulbs - many of which are readily available and which make great show plants.... it's a good place to start for potting mixes, feeding regimes etc s they work for us here.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/index.php?log=bulb  is the main page
 and here is an index from 2003v to 2012 http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/index.pdf

We first water the potted bulbs thoroughly on 1st September each year - for some frits this is a bit later ... you'll find it all in the Logs.

If anything isn't clear, just ask away......

[Helen Johnstone]

Thanks, I have been reading Ian's Bulblog for a few months.  Excellent lunchtime reading.  I will do some back reading

[Maggi Young]

Books   5203  4704  808  4708  5008  5110  0412  1312
Compost 4906
mixing (cement mixer) 3105
mixture 405
test, sand based 3405
Concrete slab bed construction 1907
Feeding    5209 4910
Loam receipe 3204 105
Loam-free potting mix 2405
Plunge sand 305
Potting compost receipe 2607
Potting mix, loam-free 2405
September 1 watering 3606
Sulphate of potash 705
Surrogate bulbs 3005
Watering
September 1 3606
timing 3703
Winter tips 209 3110


Len Rhind's index of the Bulb Log  is very helpful  - the above refer to  pointers for your questions.

[Helen Johnstone]

Thank you Maggie you are a star - that should keep me quiet a while

[Gene Mirro]

With tulips, be careful to keep air temperature cool after they start growing in Spring.  8 - 13 degrees C might be OK.  If they get too warm, the stems will elongate, and the flowers will look terrible.  They need a lot of light.  They need good ventilation, or you may get botrytis.

[David Nicholson]

I have ordered some bulbs with the intention of hopefully having some to show (narcisssus, tulip, iris etc).  I intend to grow them in pots but have questions

How many bulbs is it approprite to plant in a 19cm pot.  I of course appreciate that it depends on the size of bulb. The show schedule for AGS states one plant per pot but presumably this doesnt relate to bulbs?

Also I am thinking about plunge beds as I understand they help distribute the moisture.  However, I don't have an alpine house so the plunge beds would be outside, does this work? Would I need to provide some form of cover at some point. 

Is there anyone I can advice from on this such as a book - I want to know when to start watering, when to dry out, feed etc

Sorry about the simplistic questions but I am an enthusiastic newbie  who has a lot to learn

Thanks
Helen

Yes, you'll learn loads from Ian's Bulb Log Helen. You don't live all that far away from Diane Clements and I'm sure she would have a lot of advice to offer you especially in respect of showing. Diane would probably start to water a little later than does Ian (for example I don't start to water now until the beginning of the third week in September) as Ian's autumn starts a little earlier than than us south of the border.

One of the problems I've found with planting bulbs in pots destined for the shows is flower timing and also getting even height in all the bulbs. Of course this may well have been poor cultivation on my part

[Helen Johnstone]

Yes, you'll learn loads from Ian's Bulb Log Helen. You don't live all that far away from Diane Clements and I'm sure she would have a lot of advice to offer you especially in respect of showing. Diane would probably start to water a little later than does Ian (for example I don't start to water now until the beginning of the third week in September) as Ian's autumn starts a little earlier than than us south of the border.

One of the problems I've found with planting bulbs in pots destined for the shows is flower timing and also getting even height in all the bulbs. Of course this may well have been poor cultivation on my part

Thanks David.  I have met Diane as I  helped with the seed distribution last year so when I next see her I will have to intrigate her fully.  This time last year I had only just discovered alpines but didn't know what I didn't know if you see what I mean.  Now a year later I have specific questions so I am now intrigating people at meetings and shows more!

[brianw]

In general when showing bulbs they should look as they are established in the pot, and display the skill of the grower as well as the quality of the plants. That is not equally spaced over the surface, but clumped as they would be naturally, with non flowering offsets or previous years seedlings. The late Kath Dryden would also argue that it was much more difficult to grow a single bulb well for showing than a pot full.

[Helen Johnstone]

In general when showing bulbs they should look as they are established in the pot, and display the skill of the grower as well as the quality of the plants. That is not equally spaced over the surface, but clumped as they would be naturally, with non flowering offsets or previous years seedlings. The late Kath Dryden would also argue that it was much more difficult to grow a single bulb well for showing than a pot full.

Many thank Brian that makes sense and also explains why some of the pots of bulbs I saw on Saturday had grassy seedlings.  Having spent ages removing old leaves off my allium I was surprised to see these but it seems more sensible.  I suspect Kath was right and a group looks so much nicer but some of the rules of showing seem slightly strange to me so I thought I would check

[Gerry Webster]

Helen - may I suggest you try & get hold of a second-hand copy of Kath Dryden's booklet Alpines in Pots (an AGS publication); it contains a lot about bulbs.
I grow all my potted bulbs in an open sand plunge. Frits & a few narcissus are kept there all year round. Other narcissus, crocus, tulips & sternbergias are kept under cover & completely dry when dormant. First watering is at the beginning of Sept. I don't think the composition of the potting mix is too important as long as it is well-drained; for most bulbs I use a mix of equal parts JI3 & 6mm grit.

[Helen Johnstone]

Helen - may I suggest you try & get hold of a second-hand copy of Kath Dryden's booklet Alpines in Pots (an AGS publication); it contains a lot about bulbs.
I grow all my potted bulbs in an open sand plunge. Frits & a few narcissus are kept there all year round. Other narcissus, crocus, tulips & sternbergias are kept under cover & completely dry when dormant. First watering is at the beginning of Sept. I don't think the composition of the potting mix is too important as long as it is well-drained; for most bulbs I use a mix of equal parts JI3 & 6mm grit.

Thanks Gerry - I will add that book to my list.  I get the impression that Kath was and is held in high esteem.

When you say open sand plunge do you mean open to the elements?
and when you say some are kept under cover and dry when dormant would sitting them in a garage be OK?

Helen

[Gerry Webster]

Thanks Gerry - I will add that book to my list.  I get the impression that Kath was and is held in high esteem.

When you say open sand plunge do you mean open to the elements?
and when you say some are kept under cover and dry when dormant would sitting them in a garage be OK?

Helen

Yes, open to the elements.
A garage would be fine.
I grow lots of potted bulbs & I have no alpine house - a device to protect the grower - just a large  home-made frame for when the plants are in flower

[Helen Johnstone]

Yes, open to the elements.
A garage would be fine.
I grow lots of potted bulbs & I have no alpine house - a device to protect the grower - just a large  home-made frame for when the plants are in flower

Excellent that sounds a lot less expensive

[Gerry Webster]

Helen - perhaps I should have added that I grow all my bulbs in clay pots. I have no experience with these new-fangled plastic jobs which maybe need different treatment.