My garden is paved. So it is not possible to plant the crinums in fall of the second year at 6 in deep in the ground. So what would be a good size of the pot and how deep should I plant the bulb in 2, 3 ... years. Is it advantious to use tall pots like palm pots? Aad van Beek > From: jwaddick@kc.rr.com > Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:10:11 -0500 > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > Subject: [pbs] How to Grow Crinum bulbispermum from seed in a northern climate. > > Dear Friends, > > This may be a repeat for many, but it seems to come up again and again. I sent a pound of seed to Dell recently and this works for most hardy crinum seed more or less. There are some variables. > > Fresh Crinum seed is large, green and fleshy. Big seed can be an inch across, smaller see seed pea size. They do not have a long shelf life and should be planted right away. The initial planting medium is not very important, but I use a commercial potting mix -sometimes add some sand. > > Use a good size pot - 1 or more seed per pot. 3 seeds in in 5 in pot seems right. Fill to an inch of the top. > > Press the seed into the soil, but allow at least 1/2 exposed to light. Water well and keep slightly damp. Do not allow to become dry, dry. > > Seeds germinate within days to a week or two. The primary root will emerge and turn into the soil where it will form a small bulb and foliage will emerge. > > Seedlings will look like a small scallion. In northern climates (Zone 5/6) these will probably NOT survive a normal winter down to 0 or +5 F. Seedling pots should be kept frost free. If given light and water they will grow slowly all winter even at low/above freezing temps. If kept cool and dark with some water they will sit dormant until spring. > > First spring I keep them well watered and fertilized in their seedling pot until late summer/ early fall. By fall seeedlings should be more typical scallion size -diameter of a pencil. These can be planted out as deep as possible - 5 or 6 in to base of bulb. And mulched well over winter. > > 2nd spring, they should really put on growth. Bulbs will pull themselves deeper and can easily triple in size. That winter a little mulch protection will help. > > 3rd spring they could have first bloom or repeat pattern of 2nd spring, getting bigger. > > Once established they need a little winter protection, but depends on exact exposure ( full sun recommended). Bloom gets bigger and bigger. Multiple flower spikes etc. Of course there are many specific site variables and each species or cv may also vary somewhat. > > Hardy Crinums once established are relatively trouble free and will produce large flowers on tall spikes in the heat of summer when little else is blooming in northern gardens. I urge all northern gardeners to give them a try. Some species are far hardier than the literature suggest and are very satisfying garden subjects. > > In my Kansas City garden I grow over a dozen different species, selections and hybrids and keep finding more with hardiness potential. Grow for it!! > > Good Luck Jim W. > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/