first crocus roots

I only started these 10 days ago and already I can see roots! Note they are sitting in water. Crocus bulbs seem to need that whereas hyacinth bulbs do not.

forced crocus bulbs with roots

I also found these 2 vases I'd forgotten about and put some crocus bulbs in them. They aren't "official" crocus vases, unlike those above, but seem a suitable size and shape to hold the bulb above (and half-in) the water. Typical Italian (Venetian?) painted vases of the 50s/60s ? Think they both have labels that say "Italy" on the bottom. I have a stand for the size of the one on the right which came with the 3 amethyst vases a few photos below. I've bought the odd one singly. Not sure how they'll look in a stand with a crocus but will try them and see. I do prefer the blue to the amethyst colour.

crocus bulbs in vases

Crocus and Muscari Forcing

The hyacinths are finally all started and in the cellar in the dark so it's time to press on with the smaller bulbs, crocus and muscari. I'll get to the tulips last. The first step is to get all the crocus vases out.

forcing crocus bulbs

I find the large Dutch crocus bulbs are the best for forcing, although the small species crocus are sold at Sainsbury's so often fall back on them in case I run out. I started out with the large bulbs from Peter Nyssen. The crocus vases need to be filled with water touching the bulbs, unlike hyacinths which mustn't sit in water.

forcing crocus bulbs

I forgot about my Wedgwood hedgehog! I thought I'd take some bulbs out of those clear vases which, let's face it, are rather boring.

forcing crocus bulbs

I also found a few leftover large crocus bulbs so I managed to plant up the hedgehog with all large bulbs except for a couple smaller ones. I only bought this earlier this year (on ebay) so haven't used it before. It was rather difficult to plant up, keeping the crocus bulbs sticking out the holes and filling it with compost. Now the challenge to keep it well watered.

wedgwood hedgehog planted with crocus

I need to put the muscari bulbs in pots in compost or on top of pebbles or shells, etc. They will NOT grow in a vase with water alone like the crocus bulbs.

muscari bulb forcing

end of September 2019 - continuing starting hyacinth bulb forcing

The bulbs I started a couple weeks ago are rooting well (and one bulb was mouldy and had to be discarded).

forcing hyacinth bulbs in vases bulbs with roots

The bulb deliveries did not go as planned (will explain later this week) so I had to resort to the garden centre - so disappointed. At least there were some bulbs left, if not the largest and best. (I had ordered bulbs to avoid this!)

forcing hyacinth bulbs for Christmas

some tall 19th century hyacinth vases and 2 modern Broste Copenhagen hyacinth vases, was going to try the smalll hyacinth bulbs on the crocus bowl but they are still too large, will just use crocus bulbs for that

forcing hyacinth bulbs for Christmas

I love cobalt blue glass, whatever vintage

cobalt blue antique hyacinth vases

vases and bowl with the largest openings needing the largest bulbs

start of the forcing season September 2019

September is the start of the forcing season, especially if you want hyacinths in bloom on Christmas day. The prepared bulbs are available for sale. I ordered mine in August (and received them 11-9-2019) but I believe some bulb companies have them in May (Chelsea time) in their catalogues, but still to be delivered in September.

Firstly, I printed off my spreadsheet of vases where I note which hyacinth variety I put in each vase and got some spare labels for any vases not labelled. I do like to think of which hyacinth might look best in each vase but it can get a bit haphazard but I do know I used Woodstock in that small uranium vase with the prongs.

forcing hyacinth bulbs for Christmas

fill the vases with water to just below the hyacinth bulb then put the vases in the dark, check them regularly after about 8 weeks

forcing hyacinth bulbs

I usually have lots of cats appearing when I start organising my hyacinths but only this sweet boy with the massive paws (he's polydactyl) came and started playing with the bulbs

forcing hyacinths

I bring out about 6 vases at a time (from boxes in the cellar). I remembered Sainsbury's have a new hyacinth vase for sale so of course, I had to try one.

forcing hyacinths for Christmas

I disagree with the instructions that say have the water touching the bulb; I think the bulbs would rot.

sainsburys hyacinth vase

I only have 1 of my bulb orders so I don't have the largest bulbs I ordered so cannot start some of the vases with larger openings (3 on the right).

forcing hyacinths for Christmas

the Woodstock hyacinth bulbs are a bit smaller so suitable for some of the smaller vases and some vases that are suitable for different size bulbs

forcing hyacinths for Christmas

continuing the next day (this is going to be days of work), my one female cat, Polly Pocket came out, guess she's more comfortable if the boys aren't there

forcing hyacinths for Christmas

I do love the tall cobalt blue vases, probably they're my favourite, but I also like the short also Victorian vases in jewel colours, the Victorian terracotta vases and the odd modern ones. The clear engraved ones are from Cox and Cox and have labels on their bases. I only got them recently on ebay so didn't know for sure about them. Someone had told me the engraving was just a clear sticker applied to them but these are actually engraved, slightly different sizes. My one "Mary Gregory" hyacinth vase above, very tasteful IMHO, compared to some Mary Gregory designs.

forcing hyacinth bulbs in hyacinth vases for Christmas

I had to get the torch to look for all the "x-shape" vases (don't know a better term for them) as I thought they'd be nice with the same variety.

forcing hyacinth vases for Christmas

Scarecrow showing his massive polydactyl paws. I've put the catnip on the table for him.

hyacinth bulb bowl

I think I might have too many bulb bowls. I think some of these will be on ebay soon. The 4 on the left at the back are all the same, as are those two large ones back right. I didn't count these properly as hyacinth bulb requirements so I need to buy more bulbs.

hyacinth bulb bowls

Last Hyacinths - February 2019

hyacinth

Apricot Passion hyacinth

Apricot Passion hyacinth

hyacinth in hyacinth vase

Miss Saigon hyacinths bulb bowl

forced hyacinths in hyacinth vases

Crocus in bloom

Crocus in bloom mid-January 2019

forced crocus in bloom in crocus vase

forced crocus in crocus vase

forced crocus

forced crocus in crocus bowl

forced crocus in vases

forced crocus

forced crocus in bloom

hyacinths end of January 2019

hyacinths in bloom in hyacinth vases and bowl

hyacinths in bloom in vases and bulb bowl

today's hyacinths

January 11th, hyacinths in bloom, after the Delft Blue hyacinths are past their peak, the next wave of hyacinth blooms

hyacinths in hyacinth vases in bloom

hyacinths in bloom in hyacinth vases

hyacinths in bloom in hyacinth vases

hyacinths in bloom in hyacinth vases

Miss Saigon hyacinths

Miss Saigon hyacinths

Scarecrow

cat with hyacinths

some purple crocus just opening

crocus in bloom

more January hyacinths

an update on the January hyacinths which are looking better and better

Delft Blue hyacinths

the Sainsburys hyacinths on the other side, I needed small bulbs to fit in those Dartington vases

Sainsburys hyacinths

Delft Blue hyacinths

Apricot Passion hyacinths in Davidson bulb bowl

Apricot Passion hyacinths in Davidson bulb bowl

Ann Mary hyacinths in bulb bowl

Ann Mary hyacinths in bulb bowl

Delft Blue hyacinths in a SylvaC pot

Delft Blue hyacinths SylvaC pot

more Delft Blue hyacinths just starting to bloom

Delft Blue hyacinths

Jan Bos hyacinths

Jan Bos hyacinths

Jan Bos hyacinths

Caribbean Dream

caribbean dream hyacinth

bulb bowls with a variety of sizes of hyacinths, even though all the hyacinths in a bowl were started at the same time

hyacinth bulb bowls

Apricot Passion hyacinths

Hyacinths New Year's Day 2019

The Delft Blue hyacinths are really reaching their peak, the smell is exquisite

hyacinths in hyacinth vases

hyacinths in hyacinth vases

hyacinths in hyacinth vases

hyacinth bulb bowls

the bulb bowls a couple days later, Davidson bulb bowl with Apricot Passion hyacinths

apricot passion hyacinths in bulb bowl

Ann Mary hyacinths in bulb bowl

Ann Mary hyacinths in bulb bowl

Jan Bos hyacinths in a repurposed tureen

Jan Bos hyacinths in repurposed tureen

hyacinths in hyacinth vases

hyacinths in hyacinth vases and bulb bowl

hyacinths in hyacinth vases

Boxing Day Hyacinths in Bloom December 2018

Delft Blue

Delft Blue forced hyacinth

Delft Blue close-up

Delft Blue hyacinth close-up

sometimes the hyacinths bend over, I don't know why or what to do about it

Delft Blue forced hyacinth

forced hyacinths

White Pearl, Delft Blue and Jan Bos hyacinths in bloom

forced hyacinths in hyacinth vases in bloom

forced hyacinths in bloom

forced hyacinths in bloom

Jan Bos hyacinths

Jan Bos forced hyacinths in bloom

White Pearl hyacinths

white pearl hyacinths

some hyacinths in bud

hyacinth bulbs in hyacinth vases in bud

hyacinths on Christmas day

hyacinths in Golden Syrup tins

some flowers and buds a few days previous

forced hyacinth flowers and buds

close-up of one of the Delft Blue hyacinths

forced Delft Blue hyacinth

close-up of some of the buds

forced hyacinth buds

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