HAVE YOU DONE your bulb procuring but? It’s ordering time each for fall-blooming treats like Colchicum, which you’ll solely purchase now should you hurry, and for the ever-wider assortment of fall-planted, spring-into-summer blooming species.
Ken Druse and I each have been making lists of bulbs we as soon as grew however not have and wish to replenish, or of ones we’ve got however wish to add extra to enhance the visible affect, and in addition some new-to-us goodies. Plus, we talked about when and the right way to divide these Narcissus that could be blooming much less lustily than they used to after a few years within the floor.
Ken is a longtime buddy and the creator of 20 backyard books who gardens in New Jersey, and he’s my co-host a number of occasions a yr in our Digital Backyard Membership collection of on-line courses. His intensive gardens are loaded with distinctive vegetation, together with a range of bulbs (we each love martagon lilies, as an example, like those at Ken’s, above).
Learn alongside as you take heed to the Aug. 26, 2024 version of my public-radio present and podcast utilizing the participant under. You’ll be able to subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
bulb procuring and dividing, with ken druse
Ken Druse: Hello, Margaret. Each time you say, “Oh, let’s speak about bulbs,” I find yourself doing some research, and I purchase the whole lot I see.
Margaret Roach: Are you charging me then? Is that what you’re attempting to inform me; you’re sending me a invoice?
Ken: No, no. That’s a good suggestion. You mentioned making a listing, and yearly I take into consideration making a listing and I actually don’t ever do it. However this yr, I took photos particularly to recollect I want to purchase that, or I want I had that, or I would like extra of that. So I really had a photographic checklist.
Margaret: Oh, that’s an excellent thought really, as a result of in sure areas, within the entrance of beds or borders, I might need a number of remaining of some little treasure that I had much more of years in the past, however the mattress’s gotten a bit wider and different issues in it have gotten larger, and the bulbs have possibly diminished. If I had taken an image, I’d know precisely the place [laughter] and what now, yeah.
Ken: Nicely, you fully set me up.
Margaret: Oh, sorry.
Ken: There’s a patch of Narcissus pseudonarcissus [above], which is a species that grows in Europe and it grows in England and in Wales. It’s the topic of, properly, it’s in William Robinson’s guide about wild gardening, and it’s in Wordsworth’s poem, “I wandered lonely as a cloud, beside the lake beneath the timber, fluttering and dancing within the breeze,” concerning the golden daffodils. It’s a small daffodil and it’s very early, it begins to bloom in March.
This yr, we had a cool spring, it went on for over a month. However I’ve observed that this patch, which used to naturalize, develop as if it was pure and bought bigger and bigger, hasn’t gotten any bigger. It’s doing O.Okay., however I planted it below a sapling of a weeping Katsura, which is now a big tree. Although it blooms and will get ripe just about earlier than the leaves come out, it must be divided to be extra wholesome and to unfold a bit extra. But additionally I would like to maneuver a few of it to a sunnier spot.
Margaret: Yeah, and even what you have been saying concerning the sapling became a giant tree, even root competitors can simply be this unseen one thing that’s outpacing the wants of the bulbs which might be among the many huge roots now, when it comes to for vitamins and moisture and no matter. Yeah.
Nicely, we’re going to speak about dividing for positive. I feel first, let’s perform a little digital procuring or lusting after issues. Whenever you bought to your home, if you guys began making the backyard there: What number of years do you might have that home now?
Ken: About 30 years.
Margaret: Yeah. I’m even a bit longer than that the place I’m. Had been there bulbs if you bought there? Had been there any that you just keep in mind within the present place?
Ken: It’s humorous, as a result of I do know we’re going to speak about some fall blooming issues quickly, however there have been hardly any bulbs. Then there was a shock [laughter] about this time of yr when the Lycoris … On this place, the individuals who lived right here final and earlier than them for years hadn’t executed something. This place was a multitude, however Lycoris [below], typically referred to as bare girls, or now they’re calling it thriller bulb or one thing, however they popped up: Shock! Pink flower lily-like flowers on lengthy stems. And we had them for a number of years after which they disappeared as a result of earlier than we raised the wall a bit bit, as you understand we had floods, and a variety of issues didn’t make it by way of, the vegetation.
Margaret: So the wall alongside the river or stream subsequent to you?
Ken: Proper, a quick department of the river, this backyard’s on an island in a small river, and we used to have plenty of floods twice a yr at the least. And a variety of vegetation don’t like that.
Margaret: Proper. Nicely, particularly bulbs that they wish to have often a dry relaxation interval throughout their dormancy. They don’t wish to rot throughout that point. It’s attention-grabbing that you just say that the shock lilies or no matter we’re calling the Lycoris, Lycoris squamigera is the species: That was what I inherited additionally. And there’s a clump within the yard on the hillside, and there’s a clump within the entrance yard. And yearly they nonetheless shock me as a result of I fully neglect as a result of they’re a kind of issues that has no foliage besides at a sure second within the lifecycle. You already know what I imply? A lot of the yr there’s no foliage, so it’s not such as you see the clump after which the flower arises from the clump, and then you definately all the time see the leaves after and you understand what I imply? [Photo above by Namazu-tron on Wikimedia Commons.]
Ken: I do.
Margaret: So it’s a shock. And so they’re simply so robust apparently, besides after they dwell subsequent to a river that floods [laughter]. So I didn’t plant them. And they also’ve bought to be at the least 35-plus years previous and who is aware of. So it’s fantastic, and pink is just not one thing I might’ve chosen, nevertheless it makes me glad. I simply snicker each time: Up they arrive and there they go, and I take pleasure in them. And it’s in August often, so enjoyable. I used to be simply saying-
Ken: It’s like, sorry, you talked about that you just don’t see them, and also you don’t give it some thought, which makes me consider the Colchicum, as a result of I do see these within the spring, as a result of they’ve such huge thick leaves and so they’re in the way in which.
Margaret: Proper. So that they do. And so Colchicum, though we name them autumn crocus, they’re not a crocus. They do appear to be a giant crocus, however they’re not. Crocus are within the iris household, Colchicum are within the lily household. So that they’re completely different despite the fact that they appear the identical, which tells you why we shouldn’t use frequent names, despite the fact that we are able to’t pronounce the Latin ones more often than not [laughter]. And so they’re each corms, not bulbs, in order that they’re simply confused, besides they’ve this very completely different behavior. You get a variety of huge low-to-the-ground foliage in spring, however no flower then that fades away, that withers and you chop it again or no matter. [Above, ‘Waterlily’ Colchicum.]
After which abruptly, any day now at my place, I feel any day now, subsequent week, month, no matter, I’m going to begin seeing these purple or white crocus-like flowers, however the flowers have extra petals or regardless of the components are, and there’s extra to them. It’s not like a person flower or two out of every corm. It’s extra like teams. And so they’re fantastic and they’re, once more, a shock as a result of there’s nothing there marking their place from late spring till bloom time.
Ken: Nicely, the massive trick I feel, or the factor to consider horticulturally, is what you plant them subsequent to or with since you need possibly hostas or one thing that comes up late within the spring since you wish to disguise that foliage. It’s not the nicest foliage.
Margaret: Within the, yeah. And it’s, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly a variety of foliage.
Ken: Proper.
Margaret: And that’s one that you could solely plant it within the early fall. You’ll be able to solely plant it or get it, get them organized, round this time of yr. And I noticed a variety of locations are already promoting out. So it’s one thing if you wish to get the Colchicum, the so-called autumn crocus, you actually should do it summer time or proper now on the newest as a way to benefit from their season. They’re not one thing that’s bought in a while.
Ken: Proper. And I did [laughter]. That’s the factor.
Margaret: Yeah. Oh, so now you’re charging me for that. O.Okay. Put it on my invoice.
Ken: I’ve some double white ones coming, I feel.
Margaret: Oh, good, good, good. Yeah. So we’ve all had successes and failures and so forth, and even once more, with out flooding and stuff, do you might have one factor that you just’d identical to to rapidly identify as your largest bulb of success, one that you just do rather well with? Is there something like that? Mine is Eranthis [above], the winter aconite.
Ken: Oh, I’ll say.
Margaret: Which was my least profitable to start with. And I believed, “What have I executed? Why isn’t it rising?” And this goes again a long time. And it was like I had two after which I had three. After which for now I’ve tons of and tons of and tons of and tons of and tons of as a result of they like to, as soon as they’re glad, they self-sow themselves a lot better than if you plant the bulbs. The success price from these self-sowns is simply so a lot better than if you put the bulbs within the floor. So now I’ve these mature swaths of them. So yeah, so I’d say Eranthis is my most profitable. I simply puzzled should you had one that you just assume, “Oh, we’ve executed rather well with these.”
Ken: Nicely, you’re going to have to assist me with the pronunciation.
Margaret: Oh, good luck with that [laughter].
Ken: Nectaroscordum.
Margaret: Yeah, you bought it. Nectaroscordum. Proper, proper.
Ken: And it was Allium bulgaricum.
Margaret: Proper, precisely. And now it’s Nectaroscordum siculum [above]. Sure, sure.
Ken: Proper. Nicely, they’re simply glad all by themselves.
Margaret: They’re. That’s a enjoyable one.
Ken: Generally pop up within the place you didn’t know, as a result of this can be a shady place. They don’t often have straight stems. They’re humorous like snakes. First they crawl alongside the bottom, then they arrive up.
Margaret: Oh yeah. They like extra solar to be erect and maintain up these trusses of flowers. Yeah.
Ken: However there’s one other species that’s rising right here, and it was actually costly. I don’t know if it nonetheless is, however is Nectaroscordum tripedale [below from Ken’s].
Margaret: I’m wondering if it’s pronounced tripedale. I don’t know. I’m simply making that up.
Ken: Yeah, see, I instructed you I didn’t realize it.
Margaret: Yeah, no, it’s O.Okay. It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t a spoken language, botanical Latin, proper?
Ken: These individuals are lifeless, all these people. Have you ever ever seen that Nectaroscordum?
Margaret: Sure.
Ken: It’s attractive. Oh my gosh.
Margaret: Proper. Stunning. O.Okay., in order that’s one other one. So talking of successes, failures. I can’t develop crocus due to the animals. Simply neglect about it. And tulips equally, I’ve given up on, as a result of it was simply all the time having to guard them and no matter. It was an excessive amount of of a ache within the neck. However yeah, crocus I don’t do properly with as a result of they’re identical to sweet for all of the animals.
Ken: And there’s a number of, there’s really fairly a number of fall-blooming crocus.
Margaret: Oh, and do you might have any of these? Are you rising any of these?
Ken: Nicely, I do now [laughter].
Margaret: Uh-oh, he’s procuring people. Uh-oh.
Ken: I all the time wished to develop Crocus speciosus [above, at Ken’s], which is bluish and blooms within the fall, and I by no means have, however I will likely be this yr and I feel I’m going to attempt Sternbergia. Sternbergia lutea. I feel that’s referred to as autumn daffodil. It’s a standard identify I feel, nevertheless it has yellow flowers. Seems like a crocus. And that’s one other fall-blooming. So that you’ve bought me into this complete fall blooming factor.
Margaret: Oh, attention-grabbing. O.Okay. Blame Margaret. Simply go forward, blame Margaret. Yeah, like I mentioned, I can’t develop crocus and I even tried the tommasinianus, the Tommies, the crocus. They’re alleged to be essentially the most animal-resistant and so they have been a catastrophe additionally, for me. However typically talking, these will do higher. I simply have a variety of very decided animals. Even when they don’t eat them precisely, they knock their heads off [laughter] and dig them up and issues like that. So I gave up.
However talking of animals, there are issues, and I’ve a listing of… There are animal-resistant bulbs, and a few are even nearly actually animal-proof, just like the Narcissus as an example, and the Colchicum that we’re simply speaking about. Actually, no person’s going to mess with these. And I feel the Eranthis, the winter aconite that I discussed earlier than. Hyacinths, Galanthus, the decorative onions; you simply talked about a few of these and their kinfolk.
Ken: The Allium. Nicely, I additionally purchased, I did this not due to you really, due to our dialogue, however I like the allium and so they’ve been O.Okay. for the previous few years coming again. However typically even these don’t as a result of they’re crowded out or one thing. And so they have foliage, a bit bit earlier than the flower and the foliage then turns yellow. However I don’t even see it as a result of I’ve planted them amongst different issues. And possibly that’s why they diminish in quantity as a result of they’re a bit crowded. I like the way in which they pop up. I don’t get the enormous tall ones. They’re simply too outer … Nicely, I used to be going to say they’re outer spacey, however these low huge ones are outer spacey. And I like them for that. They’re Star Trek and so they dry so properly.
Margaret: I used to have extra of the, which one is it that has the actually fireworks trying? I’m going to simply clean on the identify.
Ken: As am I.
Margaret: And I additionally love karataviense… Oh, schubertii. Allium schubertii, that appears like fireworks. I used to like to dry the flowerheads additionally. They make nice dried flowers. And so they peter out finally. And karataviense, which has stunning glaucous low blue leaves and pale pink globes lowish to the bottom. I like each of these, however I don’t discover that they final eternally. So I could be changing a few of these. The little yellow Allium moly [above], did you ever develop that?
Ken: Yeah, that didn’t come again properly both, really.
Margaret: Yeah, I had it for a few years, however then it lastly additionally was misplaced. In order that’s one which I’m considering, it’s simply so cheerful to have one thing identical to the little Narcissus, a bit miniature Narcissus and so forth, that entrance of the border or a bit burst of brilliant yellow when spring’s simply approaching, it’s simply such a cheerful colour and goes with what’s occurring in springtime. In order that’s one other one which I’m considering of.
Ken: These are all some issues that we love, and possibly want to switch or have extra of as a result of they did properly. And also you and I are each loopy for one thing that must be planted within the fall, that are martagon lilies.
Margaret: Proper. Which animals will eat [laughter]. However the martagon lilies are stunning, European and extra pure trying. Pendant, drooping; the flowers grasp down. [Below, martagon lily ‘Claude Shride.’]
Ken: Yeah. Little Turk’s cap flowers and lengthy, tall stems.
Margaret: Yeah, actually fairly.
Ken: Very tall, like 3 toes at the least.
Margaret: Another issues that animals simply don’t eat, if individuals are , the glory of the snow, the Chionodoxa; the Spanish bluebells, Hyacinthoides; Muscari is meant to be fairly animal-resistant. Not totally, however Siberian squill, the Scilla siberica; Camassia; Fritillaria; the Eremurus, the foxtail lilies—have you ever ever grown any of these? Some will be 5 toes tall. These are unimaginable. I want to attempt these, the foxtail lilies.
Ken: I attempted these and so they didn’t work for me.
Margaret: I wish to attempt once more. I haven’t tried them in a few years and I simply wish to attempt once more. As a result of they’re simply so dramatic, so enjoyable. So we’ll see. I’d simply purchase a number of, like three or 5 or one thing [laughter]. And the trout lilies, Erythronium, they’re animal-resistant and native as properly. There’s numerous native ones across the nation.
Ken: You talked about camassias. I feel there’s 4 or 5 North American species.
Margaret: Sure. And various them are Western, west of the Cascade Mountains.
Ken: Yeah, Pacific Northwestern.
Margaret: So yeah, I feel there’s one which’s from California, the Sierra Nevadas, and many others. And there’s a quantity, a few species at the least. However there’s one, I feel it’s scilloides, that’s South Carolina to components of Texas. And it goes up into western Pennsylvania and even into I feel Wisconsin and Kansas within the Midwest and I feel into Ontario. In order that’s an attention-grabbing one. It’s the one one which’s extra Japanese, I feel among the many three or 4 or nonetheless many natives there are. So once more, not native all over the place and never notably the place we’re, however nonetheless enjoyable to take a look at.
Ken: And so they have blue flowers.
Margaret: Sure, I feel so. I feel so.
Ken: I feel all of them have from mild blue to darkish blue that there’s a white one, ‘Sacajawea.’ It’s a number of leichtlinii, I feel. Camassia leichtlinii.
Margaret: Leichtlinii [left], yeah, that’s a western one. Yeah. We wish to save a while for dividing narcissus on the finish. However talking of natives, I like to look on the web site of the Pacific Bulb Society, pacificbulbsociety.org. That has nice bulb references for any use, nevertheless it additionally talks about natives. In order that’s one enjoyable reference for individuals.
And when it comes to native bulbs, the Erythronium, the trout lilies that we talked about, there’s a pair species of these, a white-flowered one. They’re actually Japanese a part of the nation, Japanese half or two-thirds of the nation. There’s a Western species and one even particular to California. So value trying into, an Erythronium is, should you’re into native vegetation and also you wish to add some minor bulbs to your backyard.
And there’s once more, the Northwest actually appears to have some nice ones, some attractive little bulbs. They’re all associated to one another, I feel, like Calochortus and Brodiaea and the Dichelostemma—there’s one which’s referred to as the firecracker flower that’s purple and yellow, with yellow lips [below; photo by Dinkum from WIkimedia Commons]. That’s only a fantastic… a cut-flower farmer buddy of mine grows that as a bit tiny, fantastic cut-flower addition to smaller bouquets. And it’s simply fabulous. So once more, not native the place I’m, however native to the USA. So some potentialities. However I wish to ask you concerning the dividing.
Ken: I used to be simply going to say a very powerful factor is to know the place the bulbs are. Sadly, with that huge patch that I’m going to be engaged on any minute now of the Narcissus pseudonarcissus species, wild species, I do know the place they’re as a result of they’re below the tree and there’s a giant patch. However should you don’t mark these daffodils to dig up and divide now earlier than they actually begin making plenty of roots, then you definately’re in hassle.
Margaret: Nicely, proper now, we couldn’t inform the place they have been as a result of they haven’t any foliage.
Ken: Proper.
Margaret: So we’ve got to go on reminiscence or photos, such as you have been sensible to take photos.
Ken: Or tags.
Margaret: Proper. And tags and so forth.
Ken: Tags, should you’re fortunate sufficient that no person steals them.
Margaret: However would this be the time if you would divide them? After they’re-
Ken: Yeah.
Margaret: So at bulb-planting time, so to talk, you’ll additionally harvest a few of your individual and transfer them round?
Ken: A few of them might need some roots, simply quick roots, however that’s O.Okay. So I’d dig them up, and should you’ve ever even bought a daffodil that they generally name them noses, that has greater than one-
Margaret: Double-nosed?
Ken: Yeah. Which can be connected to one another, you may pry these aside, and if you dig up yours, and if they’ve a number of bulbs caught collectively, you may pry these aside. However I often, I’ll dig them up and it seems like one daffodil and it seems it’s six. So I simply dig them up with a backyard fork, pry them aside. You’ll be able to allow them to dry if you have to, or simply replant them straight away. And typically, frankly, they might relaxation a yr and never offer you a giant present. However after that, the second yr, they actually go gangbusters. And in case your daffodils are slowing down, digging them up and dividing them is one method to get them going once more. And also you’ll have… You probably have 10, you’ll have 100.
Margaret: Yeah. As a result of a variety of those that I planted once I first bought right here, they’re in way more shade than they have been as a result of the woody vegetation adjoining have grown lots, like what you have been speaking about earlier. And so they should be rescued, or clearly they’re not doing anyone any hurt, it’s simply that they’re not performing, actually. They ship up greenery within the spring, and I let that totally develop and ripen. And often round July 4th, I rake it off, clear up round them after they totally have withered, the foliage has withered. However I’m not getting the flowers like I did years in the past, to the diploma that I did years in the past. So yeah, I undoubtedly want to do this. I could do an experimental clump or two and see the way it goes.
Ken: It can make them happier.
Margaret: Yeah. And the factor is, you’re going to pierce some bulbs since you’re not going to know the place precisely they’re should you didn’t mark them after they had all their foliage. I imply should you didn’t mark the perimeter precisely, have you learnt what I imply? And that’s O.Okay.
Ken: It might not kill them really.
Margaret: Proper. And we simply should be O.Okay. about that, as a result of it’s for the higher good, proper? [Laughter.]
Ken: Possibly go gradual. And also you talked about cleansing up in July. We’re saying divide them now, however you may divide them after they’re dormant, actually beginning in July, I might say. However that is the tip of the time you may dig them up and divide them, as you mentioned, the time you bought dormant bulbs.
Margaret: Proper. So within the final minute or so, inform me, is there the rest in your wishlist that I’m paying for now? [Laughter.] Is there the rest we didn’t point out or that you just’re getting extra of otherwise you haven’t had earlier than?
Ken: Nicely, the tripedale, I’m going to get that.
Margaret: You’re going to maintain calling it tripedale?
Ken: It’s such a pleasant identify.
Margaret: However I don’t know. You’re proper. Who is aware of?
Ken: After all you’re proper. Why wouldn’t you name it tripedale? That seems like a avenue in London or one thing. I can’t imagine it. That’s loopy. [Laughter.]
Margaret: So that you’re going to get extra of that. You’re going to get that.
Ken: Oh, only one extra possibly. Often you need … That’s one factor to say, purchase sufficient.
Margaret: Proper. Don’t skimp.
Ken: However within the case of the tripedale, it’s so spectacular. You’ll be able to have only a couple. And it’s tall and it’s a giant present and it’s stunning and it’s even stunning minimize. However you talked about Brodiaea, which I feel modified its identify to Triteleia.
Margaret: Yeah. Triteleia, yeah.
Ken: Oh, see I’m mispronouncing issues.
Margaret: No, I feel it both means. It doesn’t matter. Once more, it doesn’t matter.
Ken: Nicely, the Brodiaea, I had that for years, and it has blue flowers, blooms a bit late within the spring, and it’s simply straightforward and dependable till you place a paving stone on prime of it, which is somebody who shall stay anonymous, as a result of we’re doing-
Margaret: Paved it.
Ken: … a bit building, it bought a paving stone. And it might come again subsequent yr, however I feel I ought to get extra of these, as a result of they did rather well. That’s one factor, should you bought one thing that’s executed actually well-
Margaret: Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Ken: … possibly get some extra repeat.
Margaret: Yeah. All proper, properly no paving stones in your bulbs, all people, however go order some bulbs, all people. In order that’s our message right this moment, our twin message [laughter]. Thanks Ken for making time. And I’ve a sense I’m having a procuring binge a bit later after we grasp up.
Ken: Harmful.
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MY WEEKLY public-radio present, rated a “top-5 backyard podcast” by “The Guardian” newspaper within the UK, started its fifteenth yr in March 2024. It’s produced at Robin Hood Radio, the smallest NPR station within the nation. Pay attention domestically within the Hudson Valley (NY)-Berkshires (MA)-Litchfield Hills (CT) Mondays at 8:30 AM Japanese, rerun at 8:30 Saturdays. Or play the Aug. 26, 2024 present utilizing the participant close to the highest of this transcript. You’ll be able to subscribe to all future editions on iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).