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A few bulb queries (well it is that time of year...)

Q1: I've some miniature daffs bulbs left unplanted last year.  Noting I get very little time to garden, is it worth me planting them to see if they grow or are they unlikely to do much?

Q2:  Are there any tulips that do put on a good show in future years without being lifted? (I've got clay soil.)

Q3: I bought a few alIium bulbs today, to plant in a herbaceous border. Should I plant them clustered or spread out?  (I'll dig out the names in a mo - will lose post if I navigate away.)

Many thanks

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Posts

  • Re q3: nectaroscordum siculum and allium sphaerocephalon

  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    I put my nectaroscordum in groups of 3, 10 or 15 cm apart if I remember rightly and they are still going strong after several years in dry, poor soil. Don't know the other one, but baring in mind the size of the flower head (some are HUGE) would give you an idea about spacing.image

  • Bump! (Comments gratefully received!)

    Thanks Artjak.  Will do 3s.  (Might have to go buy some more to get the right multiple....or it that excuse just too obvious?!image)

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Sphaerocephalons are tall with small ruby heads - about the size of a tulip bulb. I have them drifted through other planting which gives them support - most of the time! Some of mine have suffered because I had to move things around, but they're great plants in a sunny border - no probs with them at all image

    You can see them waving in the background of this pic Snoodle

    http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w595/fairygirl55/DSCF0361_zpspey1xw4h.jpg

     

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • 4thPanda4thPanda Posts: 4,145

    Q1. plant 'em, what have you got to lose image

    Q2. Sarah Raven does some perennial tulips image

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    The species tulips (which are out at crocus time)  and the bog standard red and yellow one are fine in situ and will come back year after year. It's the fancy, frilly blousy ones which are less reliable and generally diminish after a couple of years.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • cathy43cathy43 Posts: 373

    I have clay soil and the best tulip I have found is the Ballerina tulip. I have clay soil and don't lift bulbs, eight years on they are still flowering, even after I tried to dig them up!image

     FG is right these are the fairly simple flower type I had never connected it beforeimage

  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    Fairy girl, your garden always looks so attractive and professional; any chance you would show us photos of more of it instead of tantalising glimpses?image

  • image

     

    Q3 I planted loads of aliums running along the front border, they looked stunning and linked all the other planting together. This is a brand new border and the planting really thickened up, alliums were very much complimented.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Very kind artjak...I'll try  image

    These are from a couple of weeks ago

    Taken from where those three pots are 

    http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w595/fairygirl55/DSCF0373_zpsqlj5txaw.jpg

     and taken from that screen 

    http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w595/fairygirl55/DSCF0369_zpszthabrlk.jpg

     along the path -the border behind the screen

    http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w595/fairygirl55/DSCF0362_zpsq82y36ig.jpg

     

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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