I bought & planted 40 bulbs in autumn 1993 in a damp,shady front garden,in the grass. Only 12 came up and flowered but had 44 flowers by 1997. Flower counts then went 32,32,42.52,63,58,87,113,120,154,118,197 in 2009. then 175 & 139 by this year. I have dug up quite a lot forcustomers gardens ( I am a pro gardener) but they self-seed readily. I have also sown seed sowed when ripe into seed trays and covered with grit. Left out all winter and came up like cress. THink they took 4 years or so before getting to flowering size.
Hi everyone, thanks for your comments. That's a great tip about soaking the bulbs before planting them, obelixx.
Regarding lily beetle, I've heard that if you lay newspaper beneath the plants and knock the adults off the flowers, you can gather them up easily and dispose of them. If you don't use newspaper they can quickly disappear. A systemic pesticide will kill lily beetle, but the chemicals will also be taken into the pollen and nectar of the flowers and be collected by bees, which doesn't kill them outright but can cause problems for them back at the nest. I've not had lily beetle on my fritillaries yet but it's only a matter of time!
My garden has fritillaries and the lily beetle has been a bit of a problem in recent years. I plant mine in the green like you do with snowdrops. I pot up the bigger bulbs as I have had some lovely surprises with them - two headed and even three-headed flowers and pure white large flowers. I will post a picture on the forum.
Bought some bulbs at Malvern Autumn Flower Show, where stuff is always good value and lots of choice. Planted in individual small pots, and most have come up. Didn't soak first. Now sitting in Alpine house to flower, after which I will plant in wildflower grass area to add to those already there. Will probably repeat the exercise next Autumn. One of Nature's most beautiful small and natural plants.
if you go to the donkey sanctuary at sidmouth and walk to the beach through the fields ,you will see a field of lovely fritillaries,at least the last time i went in spring it was a wonderful sight.
I bought some at the autumn show as well. I have planted them in ground that is still very moist, under turves, My problem is I have never grown them before so I don't know what I am looking for to see if they have sprouted.
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Oh! Lily beetle! didn't think they would succumb. Is it some sort of provda or something that helps controll them?
I wish.
The only thing that you can do is use a systemic insecticide, or keep checking.
I bought & planted 40 bulbs in autumn 1993 in a damp,shady front garden,in the grass. Only 12 came up and flowered but had 44 flowers by 1997. Flower counts then went 32,32,42.52,63,58,87,113,120,154,118,197 in 2009. then 175 & 139 by this year. I have dug up quite a lot forcustomers gardens ( I am a pro gardener) but they self-seed readily. I have also sown seed sowed when ripe into seed trays and covered with grit. Left out all winter and came up like cress. THink they took 4 years or so before getting to flowering size.
Hi everyone, thanks for your comments. That's a great tip about soaking the bulbs before planting them, obelixx.
Regarding lily beetle, I've heard that if you lay newspaper beneath the plants and knock the adults off the flowers, you can gather them up easily and dispose of them. If you don't use newspaper they can quickly disappear. A systemic pesticide will kill lily beetle, but the chemicals will also be taken into the pollen and nectar of the flowers and be collected by bees, which doesn't kill them outright but can cause problems for them back at the nest. I've not had lily beetle on my fritillaries yet but it's only a matter of time!
Best
Kate
My garden has fritillaries and the lily beetle has been a bit of a problem in recent years. I plant mine in the green like you do with snowdrops. I pot up the bigger bulbs as I have had some lovely surprises with them - two headed and even three-headed flowers and pure white large flowers. I will post a picture on the forum.
Bought some bulbs at Malvern Autumn Flower Show, where stuff is always good value and lots of choice. Planted in individual small pots, and most have come up. Didn't soak first. Now sitting in Alpine house to flower, after which I will plant in wildflower grass area to add to those already there. Will probably repeat the exercise next Autumn. One of Nature's most beautiful small and natural plants.
if you go to the donkey sanctuary at sidmouth and walk to the beach through the fields ,you will see a field of lovely fritillaries,at least the last time i went in spring it was a wonderful sight.
Head for North Meadow at Cricklade, near Swindon, if you get the chance. Two million fritillaries! Mid-April.
I bought some at the autumn show as well. I have planted them in ground that is still very moist, under turves, My problem is I have never grown them before so I don't know what I am looking for to see if they have sprouted.