do I start planting my fritillary seeds now and how do I care for any potential young shoot - in the greenhouse? All my previous snakeshead seeds did not grow at all. I cared for them in the greenhouse last late summer.
They definitely need a cold ripening period to initiate germination. Sow in deep pots and leave exposed to the weather. Protect from rodents and other pot diggers (We have trouble with birds going through seed pots) When they germinate (and only fresh seed will) do not prick out, rather feed them with half strength liquid feed a couple of times. Keep them growing as long as you can, but when they start to die down stop watering and feeding and left them rest. Again in a protected outside spot. They take about 3 years to reach flowering size. Do not let the bulbs dry out, that is death to them.
I am awaiting a fantastic 'harvest' from my fritillaria which I planted last week. We get lily beetles here too. The fritillaria I purchased at Highgrove House in the early autumn this year. Hopefully they will grow well and not dry out or anything like that!
A lovely picture of snakesheads, Nutcutlet. I will be 'nurturing' them. You mentioned not to put the bulbs in greenhouse?
We have Squirrels and protect with the chicken wire in the pots I leave the chicken wire in pots till the shoots come through a bit then remove from the pots as flowering starts across the different bulb types in the pot.
Posts
They're native hardy plants, don't put them in a GH, sow them and leave them outside.
In the sticks near Peterborough
They definitely need a cold ripening period to initiate germination. Sow in deep pots and leave exposed to the weather. Protect from rodents and other pot diggers (We have trouble with birds going through seed pots) When they germinate (and only fresh seed will) do not prick out, rather feed them with half strength liquid feed a couple of times. Keep them growing as long as you can, but when they start to die down stop watering and feeding and left them rest. Again in a protected outside spot. They take about 3 years to reach flowering size. Do not let the bulbs dry out, that is death to them.
Grateful for fritillary information and have planted bulbs as per instructions last week
Anne
Anne, this is the picture I couldn't get to load in the PM
In the sticks near Peterborough
VERY PRETTY.
THE PHEASANTS EAT MINE DOWN TO THE GROUND.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
Nothing has eaten mine yet apart from lily beetles a few years ago. Perhaps the local pheasants prefer other plants
In the sticks near Peterborough
A lovely picture of snakesheads, Nutcutlet. I will be 'nurturing' them. You mentioned not to put the bulbs in greenhouse?
Anne 299
Fancy the pheasants and the lily beetles getting at them!
hardy plants Anne, native to the British Isles. No GH ever required
In the sticks near Peterborough
We have Squirrels and protect with the chicken wire in the pots I leave the chicken wire in pots till the shoots come through a bit then remove from the pots as flowering starts across the different bulb types in the pot.