Bulb frames - construction

[PeterT]

Hi Maggie

So in theory I could put a bulb plunge in my frost free greenhouse?  This would allow me more time to see if I need to buy/build an additional cold frame

Helen (confused of Malvern!)

This is why green houses work out cheaper than access frames!
Frost free is not a problem for most winter growing bulbs, erratic freezing and hot temperatures while still in growth are a problem,

[Helen Johnstone]

This is why green houses work out cheaper than access frames!
Frost free is not a problem for most winter growing bulbs, erratic freezing and hot temperatures while still in growth are a problem,

I was thinking of a cold frame as havent space for another greenhouse but anyway..
For some reason I think I read somewhere that spring flowering bulbs needed the cold of winter for some reason?

[Maggi Young]

Depends  to what degree you heat the glass house. If you only prevent the temperature falling below zero then they'll be fine. If you have the place heated to five or ten plus degrees C. then  that might be  too hot for  alpine show bulbs.

Mind you, there are those growers who keep their alpine houses 'frost free' so we'd need to hear from them what temp. they use and what effect it has..... .... anyone volunteering that info?

[Helen Johnstone]

Depends  to what degree you heat the glass house. If you only prevent the temperature falling below zero then they'll be fine. If you have the place heated to five or ten plus degrees C. then  that might be  too hot for  alpine show bulbs.

Mind you, there are those growers who keep their alpine houses 'frost free' so we'd need to hear from them what temp. they use and what effect it has..... .... anyone volunteering that info?

Oooo I dont want to start a heat or not to heat debate - I understand that is a subject that gets people heated!!

[Maggi Young]

Tee Hee!       And this on the day that the radio weather forecast  tells us will be the hottest of the year in the UK!

[Helen Johnstone]

Tee Hee!       And this on the day that the radio weather forecast  tells us will be the hottest of the year in the UK!

Think we have had our hottest day thank goodness - 32C on the day of the Tewkesbury AGS show
Interesting that there are no threads about keeping alpines cool in the hot weather aside from good ventiliation.  Could some be affected by extremes of heat?

[Maggi Young]

Certainly there are many alpine plants which are not keen on too much heat- especially in the confines of a frame or alpine house.  In such case forced ventilation by fans and with shading can help. It is not something which we in Aberdeen have to worry too much about. 

Even outside however, it does not take too much in the way of 'a decent summer' to dry out plants such as Ramondas and Haberleas.  These mostly re-hydrate quite well, even after being reduced to  what seems to be a lifeless crisp.  That is not to say that one should allow that level of drying out if one can possibly avoid it.

We have had very little rain here for some time. There are plants suffering greatly because of this (since it is not practical for us to water all the garden and our section that is served by a leaky ( perforated/soak) hose is out of order.  The gorgeous Corydalis Craigton Blue is  retreating weeks early to premature dormancy, Primula florindae are wilting and some  Rhododendrons are looking VERY unhappy. We are at least trying to keep the likes of the Ramondas a bit cooler and dampish. Roscoeas are going over at great speed this year.

If we still had any alpines under glass in this weather we'd have shading on ( something we never had to do in years gone by here) and have all the fans running and  most side panes of glass out of the houses.

[Peter Maguire]

As to the 'frost free' question, the nearest I get to that is when the weather forecast in winter shows an overnight low of -3C or lower predicted, I turn on an oil-filled radiator to it's 'frost' setting in the late evening and turn it off again before going to work in the morning. Fuel bills are therefore acceptable, even in the cold winter of the last two years.
The thermometer shows that it can get down to -5C occasionally, but nothing seems to have suffered. I've just repotted a potful of Lachanalia bulbs that have stood on the floor or the greenhouse, unplunged, for two years, and they're bulking up nicely. If they can survive, then I'm tempted to say anything can.
I tried cables in the plunge previously, but kept finding that I was digging down to the cables when plunging pots, so took them out. Now I can't face the disruption of taking alll the sand out to replace them.

[Lesley Cox]

Having sat here a few minutes, I can't think why I pressed "reply" or what I was going to say!. Happens a lot lately.

However - Peter, you will, I hope be pleased to know that your seedlings of Corydalis (henrikii and kuznetsovii so far) are coming though, their third showing. More soon I hope and yesterday there was a first seedling of Iris hypolyti, also yours.

Maggi, I have been given a little seed for you, of Mazus radicans. Robyn Abernethy (OAGG Sec) found a couple of pods on hers. She also gave me some layered bits so if they are of use to your requestee, just say. I'll wait a couple of days before posting the seed.

Oh yes, I remember now. It was to do with some bulbs coming through after extreme cold. I think it's already probably been said. It seems that dormancy is broken by cold and that perpetually warm bulbs don't thrive as well. I'm not sure about this as we in NZ don't really have that extreme cold that you in the north have. We've had a couple of snowfalls this winter and a few frosts but though it felt cold at the time, we didn't have more than --5C where I live and EVERYTHING has come through in abundance. All my potted Galanthus are up, most in bloom and the early Narcissus are nearly finished while crocuses are surrounding me, new ones every day. Likewise there are seedlings sown last year up to Dec, coming through now, Tulipa rosea from Kurt Vickery a special treat for me, and - at last - the first Colchicum luteum from Chris Chadwell. This after the initial germination which in the event turned out to be an Impatiens, all of which died (not bothered by that. Their seeds and those of the Colchicum are identical to the naked eye).

After one of the snowfalls, Susan M found that her Helleborus seeds from Barnhaven have come up like mustard and cress, once the snow was off them.

So while there's nothing up yet from new sowings, what was sown last year but not germinated, is starting and coming though like hairs on Marley's back. Bulbs, that is, little among the herbaceous plants yet.

I think all of this is in the wrong thread somehow. Sorry. Two nice pots of Iris reticulata 'Gordon' are fully out too.