Comments on: How to Plant a Lot of Crocuses

By: Diana

Diana — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:33:09 +0000

So, why don’t you pop on back down to Austin and plant my daffodils for me? Looks like you’ve got it down pat! Love the video. Now if only it would get me off my *&#@ and make me start digging!
.-= Diana´s last blog ..Birds of a feather … =-.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:16:34 +0000

I don’t know if they seed themselves, but the bunches sure get bigger. Every place where you see a clump of flowers, there was a single bloom the first year.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:27:28 +0000

I’ve just planted about, oh, 400-500 crocus. And like you, bad hard clay. But 3.5″ of rain helped. I used the shovel and threw it back and forth till I had a slit, and pushed in 3-6 bulbs. No easy answer, but my thumb sure hurts now! Do you find crocus still spread in your clay???

By: greg draiss

greg draiss — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:42:02 +0000

You cannot replicate the randomness of of just tossing crocus or daffs and planting where the lay by plotting it out on paper. When done on paper the flowers always, always expose your plot in the end. .-= greg draiss´s last blog ..A Superb Composter ON WHEELS Even! =-.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:36:20 +0000

I do have such a tool, which I use for mass planting of narcissus, when digging a trench and throwing them in is not appropriate. I saw it for sale at both White Flower Farm and Brent and Becky’s, but wound up buying it from A.M. Leonard (I think). It wasn’t specifically for bulb planting, but for planting tree seedlings quickly for reforestation projects. I can’t find it at A. M. Leonard now, though.

By: SC Gardener

SC Gardener — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:38:28 +0000

I’m impressed. What a gorgeous sweep of crocus, and achieved with such determination. I’m in the process of bulk planting Ipheions – starflowers – which in this area will be the one time I’ll need to put them in myself. After that they’ll start spreading like crazy on their own.

I used to plant MASSES (ie thousands) of bulbs every fall in a garden I worked in, much of it in horrible clay. Brent and Becky’s Bulbs have a planter, called a Bulb Planter for Unprepared Soil (nice and straightforward) that made my life much easier. Saved my back I’m pretty sure. It’s sold out right now, but you might think about one before next bulb season. Don’t bother with their giant tubular bulb planter IMO.

The tool works much like your method, but with a heavy iron bar to go into the soil, propelled by your full body weight. Much easier.

(not connected with B&BB in anyway, other than I was for a while an appreciative bulk customer,)
.-= SC Gardener´s last blog ..MSU Extension Faces Closure =-.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:19:52 +0000

Voles get my crocuses in the garden beds, but they usually leave the crocus in the compacted driveway slope alone. Some say the C. tommasinianus cultivars are more rodent resistant. Have you tried them?

By: Country Gardener

Country Gardener — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:34:10 +0000

Oh, I’m envious. The dreadful chipmunk colony here has stolen all my crocuses, and there seems to be little point to replanting. I wonder if chipmunks can get H1N1. Now there’s an idea…
.-= Country Gardener´s last blog ..Visting The High Line in New York City =-.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:07:32 +0000

Sounds like you’ve got en masse down pat. How disappointing to have that flood ruin the crocus display! I’m sure your friend’s neighbors decided that crocus just don’t do well for them. That would have been one heck of a neighborhood walk come spring.

By: Cool Garden Things

Cool Garden Things — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:38:33 +0000

Wow! Now I totally wish I had planted MORE crocuses! Love the video! GartenGrl .-= Cool Garden Things´s last blog ..The History of Water Gardens =-.