Our new raised bulb bed

[colin e]

Thanks David we just have to hope the bulbs like it.

Colin

[colin e]

Hi Arnold,
The simple answer is Paul’s back is not up to doing any heavy lifting. So if we want it done I have to do it.

Colin

[colin e]

Hi Stefan,
Yes it is exciting because we have no idea what will actually grow and survive. Yes there will be some things that we expect to do well, but there will be a lot that we just do not know. Paul is keeping a list which I think he will put up at some time.   
If I remember correctly - for a Fritillaria Group post or somewhere - you showed a picture one of your frames under snow? It looked to be low to the ground so I have a couple of questions please: what about drainage and are your bulbs in pots or in the open ground so to speak? 

Colin

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Colin,
what are you planning to do with all the space you'll be creating in the glass-houses?
cheers
fermi

[tonyg]

Looks superb.  I'll be following the news of how the bulbs do with interest.  A project for me in the future I think.

[colin e]

Hi Fermi,
Well I have actually had to put another plunge up in my greenhouse to take last year’s seedlings. But next year when I will be releasing some more Frits into the bulb bed I may have some space and I am sure I can find something to fill it up!
Colin

[colin e]

Hi Tony,
Thank you. We have put some things in which we think are unlikely to make it (mainly some of Pauls South African bulbs) but if you do not try you do not know.
Colin   

[fermi de Sousa]

... I may have some space and I am sure I can find something to fill it up!
Colin

Paul may have some ideas too - going by the thread he has started about one of our Aussie plants
cheers
fermi

[sokol]

Hi Stefan,
Yes it is exciting because we have no idea what will actually grow and survive. Yes there will be some things that we expect to do well, but there will be a lot that we just do not know. Paul is keeping a list which I think he will put up at some time.   
If I remember correctly - for a Fritillaria Group post or somewhere - you showed a picture one of your frames under snow? It looked to be low to the ground so I have a couple of questions please: what about drainage and are your bulbs in pots or in the open ground so to speak? 

Colin

Hi Colin,

you remember right with my snow covered frames. My frames are all at ground level because of our low winter temperatures. They are all filled with sand and the pots are plunged in it. The frame with mainly Fritillaria is south faced and I have to shade it from april on. Otherwise it becomes sometimes too hot and the plants start their summer rest too early.

Completely out are Fritillaria acmopetala, amana, camschatcensis, drenowskyii, elwesii, graeca, gussichiae, kotschyana, michailowskyii, montana, mutabilis, pontica, thessala, ussuriensis and for sure some others that I have forgotten. Of course the big ones like Frit. imperialis, raddeana and persica are outside.

Stefan

[colin e]

Hi Fermi,
Paul has two greenhouses to my one so I get first choice which he says is fair but he is very good at negotiating otherwise.

Colin

[colin e]

Hi Stefan,
Thanks for the information especially the list of what you grow outside. It will be interesting to see if I can also grow all of these outside as well in our climate.
Like you I have to shade my greenhouse to keep things going and it does make a big difference to the plants. Paul’s South African house, which is next to mine, can easily be 5c warmer than mine when my shading is on and that is taking the temperature under the plunges out of the sun. After they have died down I also put polystyrene on top to help them (picture attached.)

Colin

[colin e]

We decided to top up the bed a bit by using the remaining gravel with some sharp sand which we normally use for our plunges (mix 60% sand 40% grit as before). This took the level to pretty much where we wanted it but not quite and that took the total of bulk bags used to fill it (without the topdressing) to 7. The gravel for topdressing turned up the other day so I have put that on (picture 1). Yes we have already planted quite a bit; most of what has gone in so far are spare bulbs and are flowering size, though not all. We also have ordered some bulbs to go in which have yet to turn up. The last 3 pictures are of the bulb bed from different positions to show how it ties in with the rest of the garden. 

[bibliofloris]

It looks gorgeous! I have similar temperatures here, though much drier in summer, so I’m very interested to see what does well.

Plus, I do love a good experiment.

[Paul Cumbleton]

Thanks Kelly,
As for the experimental aspect, we have now planted a selection of my South African winter-growing bulbs in the bed. Selection was mainly a case of whatever was truly spare and which therefore do not matter if they don't make it. It has to be said, most of these were planted much more in hope than expectation! Even those that prove hardy in the winter may succumb to a moist summer when most of them will be expecting a totally dry dormancy. But it is fun to try and I'm sure a few will surprise us and flourish. So, here is a list of the South African's planted so far:

Bulbocodium komsbergensis, Cyanella orchidiformis, Daubenya stylosa, Daubenya zeyheri (Jacob’s Bay), Geissorhiza corrugate, Geissorhiza inflexa, Geissorhiza splendidissima, Gethyllis roggeveldensis x villosa, Gethyllis verticillata (Vanrhyns Pass), Gladiolus alatus, Gladiolus uysiae, Gladiolus watermeyeri, Ixia viridiflora var. minor, Lachenalia matthewsii, Lachenalia viridiflora, Lapeirousia oreogena, Massonia citrina (Rooihoogte Pass), Massonia hirsuta (Kirkwood), Massonia jasminiflora (Smithfield), Massonia longipes (George), Moraea polystacha
Oxalis flava 'Golden Cape', Oxalis versicolor, Polyxena corymbosa, Spiloxene canaliculata, Spiloxene capensis (Rawsonville), Spiloxene serrata (Saldanah), Strumaria karooica (Komsberg), Strumaria karooica (Meintjiesplaas).

One of these is already in flower - Strumaria karooica, pictured below. Ian Young also pictures this species in his latest bulb log: http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2018Aug221534930320BULB_LOG_3418.pdf

Paul

[sokol]

Did you plant out the bulbs freely or did you put them in baskets or pots? I'd fear that they mix, especially when the have very similar bulbs like Fritillaria.

Will you put other plants in this raised bed, that are flowering when the bulbs are dormant? They could reduce the summer moisture.