ju1i3's blog

I started the crocus forcing, putting a crocus bulb in each vase, filling them with water, but unlike the hyacinth bulbs which must not sit in water, the crocus doesn't seem to start growing roots unless the water touches the bulb. As with the hyacinth vases, into the dark to be checked in a few weeks.

I find the muscari will not grow in a vase with water, unlike the hyacinth and crocus. They need to be on something like pebbles or compost. I've been collecting these little jars which I thought would be nice with some small bulbs. I put some pebbles in each and 1, 2 or 3 bulbs in each depending on how many fit, filled with water and into the dark. I can't remember if they like to be in water like crocus or out of water like hyacinths. I think they are touching the water. I'll check them in a few weeks.

I have a Wedgwood hedgehog I put crocus bulbs in.

most of the crocus bulbs have shoots

if they have a second shoot at the bottom or on the side I break it off as all the energy should go into the top shoot

I put a crocus bulb at each hole and filled the hedgehog with bulb fibre.

watered it and put it into the garage in the dark, I'll check it in a few weeks

16-9-2024

The first step in forcing hyacinths is buying bulbs. I got my bulb delivery from Peter Nyssen a couple days ago (ordered them in August) but there are bulbs in the garden centre if you didn't order mail order. This is the first time I'm forcing hyacinth bulbs in my new place so it's rather stressful. I no longer have my cellar but I do have a cabinet in my garage although not exactly sure how all the vases will fit in that. I updated my spreadsheet and printed it to note which hyacinth variety I am putting in each vase. I also had to clear off my patio table to work on.

I mostly buy mail order but I have some very small vases that need smaller bulbs, those 3 on the right (white and 2 clear), for example. I have found Sainsbury's bulbs are quite small and will do a count of how many I need and buy some. Since moving I'm not so close to a Sainsbury's so will need to make a special trip (I used to go all the time but it was only 5 mins away).

I started with Apricot Passion hyacinth bulbs (4 on the left) and Scarlet Pearl on the right. I've not used thoses varieties before. I like to try different hyacinths (both prepared and unprepared) and compare results.

Whenever I start my hyacinths, at least one cat comes and checks things out. I like to put white hyacinths in the green vases. This year I bought Snow Crystal, a new variety I've not tried before.

Those tall green vases have very large openings, so had to use Scarlet Pearl rather than Snow Crystal.

I filled each vase with water ensuring the bulb did not touch the water and put them in the garage. I will check them in a few weeks. When the bulge of the flower is out of the bulb and the stem is bulging, it will be time to bring them out into the light.

In addition to the Apricot Passion, Snow Crystal and Scarlet Pearl hyacinths, I have prepared Delft Blue ("the" forcing variety), prepared Jan Bos and prepared Woodstock.

17-9-2024 continuing the forcing, I brought out all the tall hand-blown hyacinth vases - my favourite, I usually use Delft Blue hyacinths in those

pair of black Prattware vases at the back, they have larger openings so I need to check all the bulbs and see which are largest

I have 3 glassroots (designed by Margaret Howell) hyacinth vases, on the left, the purple one is not marked on the base as the others are but so so similar, I have no doubt they are the same producer

Byzanta Ware hyacinth vases, recently found the orange one on ebay, curious to know how many different designs / colours were produced but never found any information about them

terracotta hyacinth vases, Prattware winged griffin on the left

3 Broste Copenhagen jack-in-the-pulpit hyacinth vases

I love cobalt blue glass, both antique and more modern such as the front left and right

mid-December 2023

I was not able to start my hyacinths as usual this year but finally settled in my new place and opened my hyacinth bulbs and put 20 Delft Blue hyacinth bulbs in hyacinth vases. It's extremely late to do this but thought I'd give it a try.

17-1-2024 the hyacinths did well, considering how late they were started

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Dec 2023 The remaining 80 bulbs I was not able to force, I planted out, also quite late for bulb planting but it hasn't been as cold as it might be so maybe they will establish .

In March 2024 they were in bloom

It's July and time to start thinking about forcing hyacinths for Christmas. I know it's early but it takes some planning.

one of my new vases I'm using this year for the first time

I ordered my bulbs yesterday. Looking back at my results from last year, I used 13 varieties. I'm keeping it simpler this year but buying more of a variety to get a proper range of results. I ordered:

Delft Blue, "the" hyacinth for forcing, generally reliable and good results

Blue Star, last year I had good results so buying more of these

Miss Saigon, I usually use these and get good results

City of Bradford, hasn't been available the last couple of years but seem to be now so ordered some, I really like them

Carnegie, haven't used these for years, not sure why but after indifferent results with Aiolos last year, I thought I'd go back to this for my white variety, I usually use one white hyacinth

Woodstock, didn't use this last year, can't remember why but trying it again, usually small as I recall but often great colour

another new vase I'm using this year for the first time

The bulbs won't be delivered until August / September so I have plenty of time to get my vases organised.

Spring in a vase

the Miss Saigon hyacinth a few days before

Apple Blossom amaryllis

Jeffrey and the amaryllis a few days before, 2 Apple Blossom on the left, Minerva on the right

hyacinth roots should be white and are brittle if taken out of the water (as those in the teal vase below the cranberry vase), this bulb in the cranberry vase (which I thought might be my last hyacinth flower), has slimy transparent roots and won't develop any further

I love cobalt blue glass and this hyacinth vase shape, originating in the 19th century, is still a favourite - reasonably common and affordable (on ebay). The colour ranges from purple-blue (my favourite) to blue. My camera (now my phone) cannot capture fully that exquisite purple-blue colour. Now that the forcing season is coming to an end, I can review my vases, make sure each is on the spreadsheet and correctly numbered.

Scarecrow with the last hyacinths

Jeffrey with the amaryllis

closer view of those Apple Blossom amaryllis flowers - amazing

Miss Saigon in a vase with a removable cup, shows off the roots

I was wondering if the hyacinth in the yellow vase above would develop any further so checked the roots, not looking good, only 2 are that white brittle of healthy roots, the rest are rotting

closer view of those rotting roots

double-stemmed Gypsy Queen

31-1-2023

29-1-2023

Aqua hyacinths in a bulb bowl

Miss Saigon hyacinths

25-1-2023

22-1-2023

20-1-2023  Rocky has to share the table with the hyacinths

White Amadeus and Minerva amaryllis, Gypsy Queen hyacinth and my polydactyl cat Scarecrow

some room on the windowsill has to be left for the cats so most of the hyacinths are on the table, a number are still in bud

I tend not to use yellow or orange hyacinths as past results have been variable but Gypsy Queen was a substitute in my order and I'm pleased with these.

Aqua hyacinths in the bulb bowl on the left and Miss Saigon on the right

Jan Bos on the left, Blue Eyes on the right, like all the other Blue Eyes, the inner florets are not opening

Miss Saigon hyacinths in bud and bloom

hyacinths still in bud, as of January 20th

although I try to note varieties on my spreadsheet, there are always some that are not noted or not noted accurately, these are the best I can say:

left to right, cobalt blue squat Blue Star, small clear Sainsburys (variety of bulb not specified), tall green with lily-of-the-valley painted design Blue Eyes, amber Broste Copenhagen not sure but looks like Delft Blue, grey Sky Planet, tall yellow back row Miss Saigon, teal squat Sky Jacket, small clear in the front Jan Bos?, tall green back row Gypsy Queen, blue Byzanta Ware Gypsy Queen, orange Byzanta Ware Gypsy Queen, cobalt blue squat looks like Gypsy Queen

left to right, Miss Saigon in the cranberry glassroots, Blue Eyes in the black and white ceramic, Sky Planet in the cobalt blue, not sure the vase far right 

some of my best hyacinths this year

Downstairs, left to right Blue Star, not sure, Blue Star, Blue Star, Blue Eyes. Blue Star has certainly turned out to be a good variety, I don't know if I've used it before, I'll check. I do try to note on my spreadsheet which hyacinth variety I put in each vase but sometimes I miss some, which is the case with the improvised amethyst jug 2nd on the left. I had been waiting for small hyacinth bulbs to be available at Sainsbury's but they never were so had to quickly use the bulbs I had left and didn't note them properly.

and upstairs

Left to right, Caribbean Dream, Aqua, Caribbean Dream, Sky Jacket, Sky Jacket, Pink Surprise, Aiolos, Delft Blue.

the previous day, the buds weren't completely open on those Sky Jacket in the centre,on the mantel in my living room, there's a mirror behind, the smell is amazing when I come in

these are the remaining hyacinths in bud, a few in bloom

the next day, some are opening, left ro right, Gypsy Queen, Miss Saigon, Pink Surprise, not sure but either Jan Bos or Pink Surprise, Delft Blue

Sky Planet, a variety I've not used before, flowers noticeably smaller but still nice

closer view of the Aiolos and Blue Eyes

fat buds in one of the Broste Copenhagen vases

these 9 are the Gypsy Queen hyacinths (not the 3 vases at the back)

this bulb bowl (the only one I'm using this year) has Aqua hyacinth bulbs, a variety I've not used before; most of the bulbs have a lot of roots and the bulbs become immovable but this bulb did not have many developed roots and the cat knocked it over

these are the last hyacinths out of the dark, that tall cranberry vase on the right is from glassroots (produced by Margaret Howdle) as is the small crocus vase to its right of the same colour and design

2 of those are not looking good so I checked the roots - they have none

nor did this bulb

even though it has buds emerging

in addition to the problem of some bulbs not developing roots, some flowers wilt before they open properly such as this Sky Jacket hyacinth

another problem for which I do not understand the cause or have a solution is the hyacinth stem bending over at a right angle, I have a few every year

Delft Blue hyacinths just opening

all the Delft Blue hyacinths

all the hyacinths together

the Minerva amaryllis flowers were wilted so decided to moved that vase

but then I noticed a new bud coming up so I cut off the wilted flower and put the vase back on the windowsill

hyacinths upstairs

 a couple days before

Blue Eyes hyacinths, sadly the centre florets are not opening properly

dark pink are Jan Bos, white is Aiolos and purple is Delft Blue

The whitefly on my crocus this year have been so bad, I had to put the Wedgwood hedgehog outside. Previous years they have not been a problem. I think it was the weather. When I started the crocus last autumn, the weather was so warm, the whitefly infested the crocus immediately so were already present when I brought them into the house. The temperatures are pretty cold so I expect some time outside will deal with the whitefly.

other side of the hedgehog

I'd discovered this bulb in one of the vases with no roots so removed it from the vase.

I was going to dispose of it when I noticed it had a tiny green shoot. I planted it outside in a pot of compost.

Rocky with hyacinths and amaryllis

new Minverva amaryllis in bloom and more White Amadeus blooms

Apple Blossom amaryllis now both have buds (two on the left)

Jan Bos hyacinths

exquisite Delft Blue buds

most of the crocus bulbs seem to have flowers or buds but the whitefly has been a huge problem on them this year, no whitefly on the hyacinths at all

more bulblet surgery required

the roots are not reaching the water with this these bulblets preventing the bulb from sitting properly

as before, used a craft knife to cut off the bulblets, keeping as much of the basal plate as possible

that's better, roots reaching the water