Planting Snowdrops
Galanthus - Snowdrop
Mystique and ritual seems to be the norm when planting snowdrops!
Universally, writers and pundits seem to advocate planting 'snowdrops in
the green'. This simply means that they should be planted whilst they
are in leaf - bought from a garden centre in the spring - around 5 or 10
to a pot - as flowering plants. Why pay for a 'grower' to put a few
bulbs in a pot, overwinter them, then sell them to a garden centre, who
are then happy to sell them as flowering plants at prices that bear
little resemblance to the true value of the bulb?
Economically,
it would be better to buy a hundred bulbs and scatter plant them in your
garden in autumn - lose a few to squirrels and other rodents - and have
a moan about being left with only twenty or so plants! Still much
cheaper than buying twenty potted bulbs from your local garden centre.
The ones that do survive, will soon settle in and start the process of
'naturalisation' a year before your potted bulbs - at least!
There is also a more methodical way of doing it - which will ensure
about 90% success rate.
Buy your bulbs from reputable supplier in the autumn - the pre-packs
are ok. Just check them for firmness before buying. Plant each bulb in a
mini-pot. The peat pots are ideal. Then set them in a seed tray to
over-winter. Don't to force them - either on purpose or accidentally.
Keep them out in the winter elements.
