1.31.2012

The Best and Worst - January 2012


I'm joining Bumble Lush Kitchen Garden's new meme: the Best and Worst of my garden for January. It's a post that is published on the last day of the month to summarize your monthly garden triumphs and tribulations

The Best of January or Surprise!
I’m cavalier about planting my bulbs after the first hard frost. I usually put them in a crisper drawer in the fridge until I’m ready to plant. Two weekends ago, it was warm and I thought I would plant the bulbs that I had neglected. I pulled out the crisper drawer to see my bulb purchases from fall. Surprise! I found some fall blooming crocuses in the drawer that needed to be planted immediately. Tender shoots had sprouted.

Fall Blooming Crocuses
I saw some beautiful photographs of a fall blooming crocus on Stacy’s blog, Microcosm and thought I had to have some. Well, I did go get some last fall, but you know the rest of the story.
10 Days Later
I planted them like you would paper whites instead of the more traditional method for forcing bulbs. After the fact, I did find an article and video for next year on forcing bulbs. I also managed to get some drumstick allium (allium sphaerocephalon) bulbs planted in the backyard around my spiral.


The Worst
Alas, the grape hyacinths are still in the crisper drawer. 

15 comments:

  1. A może hiacynty też Ci sprawią niespodziankę. Pozdrawiam. *** And also you can hyacinths make a surprise. Yours.

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    1. Giga, I didn't think of forcing the hyacinths. Good idea!

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  2. Oh wow, what a great surprise! And what an interesting idea about keeping bulbs in a crisper drawer. Do you have to wrap them in anything or do you just leave them in the drawer uncovered?

    I recently read something about forcing bulbs indoors, and I thought I could try it next fall. I'll be looking forward to seeing how you do it too. Thanks for participating in the meme!

    p.s. I'm passing on the Versatile Blogger Award to you. I'll have the post up about that tomorrow.

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    1. I usually put the bulbs in a paper bag at the nursery and leave them in the fridge in the same bag. The bulbs usually keep for a while, until I can get them planted.

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  3. Great idea about putting them in a bowl. They look beautiful - and they have really greened up! Good luck on getting your grape hyacinths planted!

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    1. I hope to get the grape hyacinths planted this weekend if the weather holds up. I like to use the glass bowls for paper whites, too.

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  4. I have not tried forcing crocus, but why not...great idea. I forgot to get some hyacinths to force this year for some indoor winter color. I will have to remember next year...

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    1. Forcing the crocuses was unintentional, but I hope to see some flowers and if not, I can plant them in the garden.

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  5. Sympathy about the grape hyacinths. It's one flower that was almost a weedy pest in Lake Oswego, and one that I can barely get to grow at all here in Colorado. So, subliminally, perhaps you know what a PITA grape hyacinths can be, here in the Mountain Time Zone ;-)

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    1. I've seen grape hyacinths abound at a friend's house, but have never had such luck.

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  6. I have not been successful forcing crocus but know what to do next time :) Hard to get to all the tasks we had hoped we could do when life gets in the way and distracts us to other things...

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    1. There seem to be so many distractions. If the crocuses bloom, I'll post photos.

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  7. What treats you have in store, Theta. Looking forward to those photographs. Cheers.

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  8. I always plant a lot of bulbs in January, too - you can get a lot of sales on bulbs then! I've tried forcing bulbs before with good success with daffodils - I actually used them as Christmas presents last year. This year I am forcing tulips. They are sprouting, so hopefully they'll do well!

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  9. What a good idea to put your bulbs in the crisper drawer--I always feel so pressured to get them in the ground so they have enough chill hours. And then to put them in a bowl--you're brilliant! Thanks for the mention!

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