Galanthus Garden Snowdrop

Written by gardening

Sunday, 19 August 2007

Galanthus the garden snowdrop bulbs.

Galanthus - The Garden Snowdrop

The Snowdrop is dear to us for several reasons : its earliness and pluck in piercing the frosty earth, its message of hope, the fact that the type, Galanthus Nivalis, was once an English wildflower ; but for these facts we might reasonably choose to give white Crocuses its space in our grounds. Of course, the fact that it thrives under tall trees gives it extra value, but for earliest results it must be in sun- shine.

The Italians love the ' Snowbell ' ; the Russian version, Galanthus Plicatus, a native of the fields of the Crimea, is smaller than Galanthus Nivalis, but goes on later in the year. Bulbs of this are cheap, and I recommend them for extensive use in the grass of orchards and wild gardens : the flowers, though greenish, and not pure white, are on stems often 6 inches long, so are useful for the vases.

Types of Snowdrops for the Garden

There is a double variety of Galanthus Nivalis, also one (Galanthus Imperati) that is really quite tall and very fine ; yet undoubtedly the loveliest Snowdrop is the big globular Galanthus Elwesii.

Planting Snowdrops in the Garden

Plant Snowdrop bulbs 2 inches deep and 2 inches apart, or closer if desired, and do not interfere with them in any way for years, not until they prove to you, by yielding very scarce blooms, or puny ones, that they require division. Mulch round them each December with a mixture of leaf-mould and really decayed manure.

Potting Snowdrops for Indoor Blooms

Pot Snowdrop bulbs 1 inch deep and i inch apart any time from September to December, and cover with cinder-ash or coco-nut fibre refuse, in frames, or sink in a cinder-bed until growth begins, when admit light, and introduce into very moderate greenhouse warmth, in the shade, as soon as buds have formed ; or else grow on entirely under cold conditions. Pans are as good as pots for Snowdrop culture, and occupy less space in frames.