Planting Snowdrops bulbs in December

I bought 6 packets at 29p each today, and the front says sow between August and December.

Anyone had any success with planting so late in the year?

 

Well done! All the packets of snowdrops reduced to 50p at Wilkos were gone by the time I'd found their bulbs were reduced to bargain prices.

It's getting rather late, but I always tend to stock up on cheap bulbs late in the season and if they're not shrivelled or mouldy then they should flower next year.

You could always plant them in 3" pots and cold condition them so they wont possibly get 'lost' if planted directly into open ground.

I bought a load of tete a tete mini daffs a few weeks ago and have planted them in pots and plunged them into a polytunnel border from where they'll be brought into warmth to induce them to flower.

 

Don't expect too much, they are probably dead. Snowdrops hate being out of the ground and after that long in packets, in a shop, they will not have survived. Try soaking them overnight in warm water and hope!

 

Thought it'd be worth a punt!

 

In my book, it is always worth a punt Especially at that price.

My understanding is that you transfer snowdrops "in the green". I understand that to mean that they are in full foliage (sans flower) and you break up the bunches and replant (thinking Feb time? More experienced will correct me )

It is when they are "in the green" that garden centres reduce the price of them (because they are past flowering ); so that is the time to snap them up!

Two little pockets of snowdrops have flowered here the past two winters I have lived here. Earlier this year, I attempted the "in the green" seperate and replant. I'll only know if I was successful come Jan/Feb (fingers X'd!)

Just remember: if they do not flower this year, do not give up hope ... there is always next year. And, I am learning fast .... gardening is not an exact science and things can surprise you

 

Probably worth a go but as others have said don't expect too much. I have 1000s and have sometimes sold them on the likes of Ebay/car boots to make a few bob for a hedgehog sanctuary which is close by. In my experience they definitely don't need to be sold "in the green" BUT if they are allowed to dry out for too long they they often don't recover.Hope you have success.

 

Planting "in the green" is the conventional wisdom, but there was an article in RHS magazine (The Garden) in the last year or two saying that it didn't make a lot of difference. However, if they dry out for long periods that is likely to reduce the chance of success.

For me the main benefit of planting "in the green" is that you can see exactly how deep they were originally (the "white" part of the stem) and thus easy to get the planting depth correct.

 

I have never had any luck planting the bulbs, I intend to buy some when on sale in the green,and know they will grow.

 

Mine under the Oak tree in the corner and have come up every year since they went in.
I think they will be split this coming season to get a bigger display.

 

I am really surprised that some of you have trouble growing Snowdrops.Have both singles and doubles and literally hurl them into any vacant spots I can find with not too much care as to depth either!
The only reason I can think of is perhaps they don't grow with some people is that they've been planted in an area which is too dry?Only a suggestion but perhaps try planting deeper? I've had some which got buried by accident and were a good 9 or 10 inches deep and they didn't mind at all! Whether some I have that are enduring at least 2 weeks being submerged due to a blocked burn is another mater altogether!

 

Funny how everyone says about planting them deeply. The ones in our Wood are on the surface, thrown about by the moles. The covering is the leaf litter from the trees. They flower every year. And there are 1,000s of them too. Another thing is no-one ever seems to comment on the scent. On a warm February day they are delightful.
The latest planting advice is to plant them as newly dug bulbs for the best results.

 

I personally would agree Palustris and have patches on bulbs which are all but above ground but they too are in our wood where the ground never really dries out for any length of time.

 

True. Our Wood is at the bottom of the slope so all water drains down to it, though there is a patch of land outside which is lower so the Wood is never waterlogged as such.

 

Planted today so I'll keep everyone updated on success or lack of!