Hardy Crinums

J.E. Shields jshields104@insightbb.com
Mon, 12 Jul 2004 05:36:32 PDT
Hi all,

Yersterday we dug the row of Crinum [bulbispermum "Roseum" X lugardiae] 
bulbs that have grown outdoors in the field for three years.  They had to 
be moved to make way for a new greenhouse in that area. We will be holding 
them in individual 5-gallon containers until we get through the 
construction phase.

The bulbs were 3.5 inches in diameter, and their bases were about 8 inches 
below the soil line.  They bloomed this year, most of the bulbs having 
three scapes in succession.  No trace of seeds in any of the spent umbels, 
unfortunately.  The flowers are intermediate between lugardiae and 
bulbispermum, but show little trace of the pink in bulbispermum "Roseum".

One of the field-grown Crinum variabile has started blooming.  We will have 
to move those plants, too.  They have been out in the field even longer 
than the [bulbispermum "Roseum" X lugardiae] plant have been there.  I have 
had three of these C. variabile bulbs in 5-gal. containers for the same 
length of time there have been grown outdoors.  The potted plants, which 
have been stored bone dry and above freezing in the winters, just don't 
look as big and vigorous as those in the ground.

We have always put a few inches of mulch over the field plants in late 
autumn each year.

Regards,
Jim Shields
in central Indiana

*************************************************
Jim Shields             USDA Zone 5             Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92              WWW:    http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344     or      toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA


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