Planting Crocuses

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Herb, Jan 22, 2011.

  1. Herb

    Herb Gardener

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    I planted some last year but as yet no sign. Is there a depth they must be planted in order for growth or do they skip a year before appearing??
     
  2. Palustris

    Palustris Total Gardener

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    Depth is normally considered to be with 2 to 3 times as much soil above the 'bulb' as the bulb is tall. So for a 1 cm (half inch) Crocus corm they would need 3 cmss of soil above. However Crocus are very good at pulling themselves up or down in the soil to the depth they like. Ours are only just showing above the soil at present. It may well be that yours have been eaten though. Mice, squirrels and pheasants adore them.
     
  3. Freedom_Spark

    Freedom_Spark Gardener

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    I've only noticed about three showing their heads & I planted well over 60 :DOH: There are quite alot of pheasants around here so I'm starting to worry.
     
  4. Herb

    Herb Gardener

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    60!?!? Wow, well hope they all show!
     
  5. redstar

    redstar Total Gardener

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    60 ---a spit in the bucket. My property contains 60,000 bulbs.
    Yep the zero's are correct.
     
  6. Palustris

    Palustris Total Gardener

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    We would have that many, but the mice and pheasants eat almost every one we plant!
     
  7. redstar

    redstar Total Gardener

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    Get some cats, the will chase and grab all of them.
     
  8. Palustris

    Palustris Total Gardener

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    We have cats, had cats for years, up to 4 at a time and at least one feral (live outside all the year round), but still lose Crocus to mice. Just realised that one set of last years are now just tops with no corm underneath. And I reckon they were ratted to judge by the size of the hole coming in from the field.
     
  9. redstar

    redstar Total Gardener

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    When you say the word "ratted" you mean a RAT not a mouse, correct. If that is the case, for a "real RAT" sometime common cats stay away from them. A huge be tom cat might handle a real Rat. The other thing that might work is moth balls.
    You must live in an area that draws rats, like close city areas where garbage is around, even in cans, enough of that smell can draw rats.
    All I have out here are field mice and a few moles, don't see much of either to often.

    I have a total of nine cats now. four I would call feral, I have cat shelters for them, and a heating pad in each to hook up should it get really cold. Two others I can handle some, but do not like coming inside, then the last three are inside outside and tolerate trips to the vet and most anything else. I did have a thread here called Redstars cats, shown all their pictures. But with this new improved site, it may have been voided. And I had a thread of Redstars gardens, again maybe gone.
    But if you want to see my gardens they are on You Tube under Estherredstar.
     
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