Anyone growing Giant White Squill?

Just ordered a couple of bulbs and was hoping to get some advice from anyone if they've grown these. They look fantastic and they did say that the bulbs weigh 8lbs each, so at 25.00 apiece, I am hoping that I don't kill them. Any tips will be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help.

Antoinette

Are you referring to "Crinum" ??? That's the only bulb I can think of that would weigh 8 lbs. They are very easy to grow here in So. Cal...They get huge...big long green leaves and about 6' tall when blooming. Ordinary soil, partial shade or leaves will burn...give it LOTS of room !!!

I've seen them thrive on neglect...watch out for snails...they love em !!!

This one is called Urginea maritima, hopefully this link will work.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/2227/index.html

This message was edited Nov 29, 2005 9:46 PM

Well, got the bulbs today, they are as big as my head..lol.

Gotta find me a good location, think they will do well in the rock/cactus garden.

They are quite cool. You will not kill them. One of my local nurseries carried them every year. I wish I had a place for some.

Yes, they will do very well in the cactus/rock garden. I have mine planted there. Since you're in Southern California, they should grow magnificently for you. Just be sure to leave at least 1/2 to 1/3 of the bulb above ground. Leaves should be coming up shortly. They get leaves in the winter and then the bloom stalk comes up about June in your area.

Marilyn

frogs,
Thanks for the encouragement.. I have a frog here, but it hides in the Epis and I have never seen it, only hear it.. at first I thought it was a bird, it is so neat. Then I read one of your posts in the RU forum where you say the frogs like to hide in the plants, so that croaking is a frog, from the sound of it, it sounds rather big.


pekasky,

Thank you so much for the info. I've been wanting these for quite some time. Will definitely plant them either today or tomorrow, they are already sprouting leaves. What a display.. I also ordered some Echium Wildpretti and an other one that blooms white, from Annies. The Echium tower of Jewels is getting so big, but no blooms yet. That is also in the cactus garden so I am hoping to incorporate these into that area..

I love those spikes.

link again: www.maltawildplants.com

This site is very interesting in that it shows all the uses for Squill, and it's toxic properties.. medicinal uses, etc. You have to go to their menu and select urginea maritima.. I don't know why I can't copy the link right.

This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 4:42 PM

This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 4:45 PM

This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 4:47 PM

I don't know where you got your Urginea, but here's a great source:

http://www.whitesquill.com/purchasepage.html

As you can see, there are a couple of places you can purchase them locally in addition to online.

Here's info re care: http://www.whitesquill.com/WHITESQILLCARE.html

The second link you provided doesn't work. What was it?

Marilyn

Walter Andersons is awsome. I feel fortunate to live between the 2 locations. I was going to suggest that you might want to take a ride.

Gourd If you hear something that sounds like a cross between someone being strangled and gargling, that is our buddy the pacific treefrog. They may be the only frog that truely says "ribbit" but that is not the only sound that they make. If they have moved into your garden-just wait until spring.

Marilyn, thank you for those sites.. looks like a great buy there. Will try to get some more this spring. The place I got them stopped selling after my order, it seems like they only sell them thru the end of October (I just got lucky) at Easy to Grow Bulbs. But I will most likely go to Andersons.

Frogs,

That is exactly what it sounds like, like it is gagging...lol. I just love it. But, tell me, will they multiply and eventually get to be a nusiance.. Although, all the lizards and bugs around here don't bother me, but they may keep the neighbors awake.. now I have to go look up th Pacific TreeFrog, I have never seen one.

Thanks for all the info.

Antoinette

I just looked them up..love em... Hopefully there will be more, now what do they eat? they sure are alot smaller than that big ole noise they make. I am so excited.

They like bugs, something we all have lots of. And brugs in a bucket. I just posted this.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/560374/

Oh wow... they are great looking kids, now I know what the babies look like. What are you going to do with them? You know, now I feel like a real gardener and that something in my yard is finally right that they want to move in. What a great feeling to have frogs come on over to my garden. (or, I must have lots of bug around) lol, not to mention slugs.

This message was edited Dec 1, 2005 8:51 PM

Gourd - You're welcome - glad I could help. I just found out about Easy to Grow Bulbs through another DG thread. I've bookmarked it for later reading. Looks like a great site!

When I get down your way once a year or so I always stop at Anderson's - great nursery!

Frogs - I volunteer at a botanical garden and we have a lot of these frogs. They lay their eggs in the carnivorous plants' water every spring. We love watching the tadpoles grow up!

Get yourself a 5 gal paint bucket, install cuttings, and wait. Lol!

Now that the froggies have moved in, it is almost mpossible to watch tv n spring, they are SOOOOO loud. I do not think I will run the tadpole science experiment again. It takes a very long time for them to all leave the bucket. Zostropz wants some for his greenhouse so I will try to get a crop going for him to raise this year.

Marilyn,
Easy to Grow Blubs had some oxalis that I was looking for last year and they ship almost immediately. Since I was going to be gone for a week, I asked for shipping at the end of November. I must have oxalis in my brain, along with the urginea I ordered two other types of oxalis.


Well, Frogs,
I did not hear my friend today. Just wish I could see him. Gonna put some buckets with water now.. only I just keep remembering that some mosquito will probably lay eggs in there, yuck.

I never heard of this plant until just now, what a beauty! I can't wait to buy some next year!

I have all of the Oxalis species Easy to Grow sells, in addition to several other Oxalis species. They're all winter growing bulbs and aren't at all invasive. I like the different leaf shapes as well as the pretty flowers. I've never seen the Grand Duchess hybrids before - they're really gorgeous!

Marilyn,
That is one of the ones that came with this order and I planted them today.. Grand Duchess looks great. Lets see how long it takes the leaves to pop up.


Margu,

Arn't those bulbs incredible.. do a google search and see how tall the spike gets. I can hardly wait. I will definitely try to find some more. Hopefully they will multiply fast.

Leaves should be popping up in a week to 10 days or so I would think. Most of mine are up already, but they've been planted for a few years now. How deep did you plant them? Most South African bulbs should be planted in deep pots or in the ground no deeper than 1-2 times the diameter of the bulb. It's amazing how deep the roots go in these little bulbs.

Marilyn

Andersons has the giant squill planted in 5 gal pots. I am guessing there is a rock at the bottom to keep it from tipping.

I had no mosquito problem in my bucket until late summer when there were no longer enough tadpoles to keep up. You can use the deep terra cotta saucers for froggies that can be rinsed and refilled every time you water. They just like wet toes. I seem to have stumbled upon a habitat that they are fond of. They love the hanging plants. The string of bananas is a frog condo in spring.

Marilyn,
I planted them about 2 inches or a little less deep. But, they are in Terracotta pots, if those roots go really deep, i'll have to move them into larger pots or into the ground.


Frogs,

Oh boy, there are three large hanging pots of string of bananas here that are at least 5 to 6 feet long, and lots of hanging baskets. I can hardly wait. I better make sure the saucers are all filled. Do you have dogs, and do your dogs eat them? My dogs love to eat grasshoppers and yesterday one of them brought in a leafhopper but did not eat it, it must not taste too good. lol.

Hopefully they will leave the frogs alone. The oldest dog that passed away this year used to play with the frogs/toads he found. I don't know what these two will do.

I do not have a dog but suspect they would have a hard time with these critters. They have quite the jump. In spring and summer keep a lookout for frogs lounging on the bananas. They are quite cute.

If the Oxalis doesn't come up in a reasonable time, maybe you should replant them a little shallower. Mine are planted about an inch deep.

Marilyn,
Would you believe that either a squirrel or rat/mouse took some of the bulbs out and they were laying on top of the soil? Hopefully they will start to grow.

I also JUST today planted my squill, boy did i have a hard time finding the right spot for those two bulbs. Good thing they retain their water (for lack of proper terminolgy)..

frogs,
You're right about the dogs, now, they just watch the bunnies hop along in the yard. There seems to be quite a few cotton tails in my yard this year. There was a momma here with six babies and one of them stuck around inside the yard, boy it sure has grown and sometimes I wet it with the hose by accident and it looks at me like I'm stupid.

Today I learned something - that ground critters probably aren't interested in Oxalis bulbs. Hooray!! Another one that can go in the FRONT yard!!

I was very remiss in watering my Urginea this year, but in spite of my neglect they still started growing right on time this fall. Another great bulb that needs to go in front.