Winter flowers

Hello!

I'm getting nervous at the thought of my containers losing all their flowers.... I got so used to all those bright splashes of colour that I decided to start planning ahead for winter flowers. I thought bulbs might be a source of ideas, but it's my first time with bulbs and I'm not sure what to get, or when to start planting...

Any thoughts?

Love
MyHiraeth

Oh, my!

Tell us your growing zone MyHiraeth, and I'm sure someone will have suggestions!

sounds like an interesting challenge. t.

Are you going to try forcing some bulbs?

I'm sure there will be many things that you can grow. Check out snowdrops, iris reticulata, eranthis, chionodoxa, crocus, arum for foliage, cyclamen, narcissi of course. The trick is to get a pot full of these to flower at the same time or have a succession of flowers without the foliage of other bulbs looking tatty. Trial and error is the best way. You can also plant some bulbs among some winter flowering shrubs or perennials in big pots. And as has already been suggested it would be fun to grow some bulbs for indoors - hyacinth, paperwhite narcissi, amaryllis. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Not bulbs, but Viola species to fill in between Galanthophile's ideas?

Hello everyone! Thanks so much for all your suggestions! I'm fairly new at DG and this sure makes me feel most welcome!

Thank you, Tabasco! I'm not sure what zone it is - The climate in Portugal is near mediterranean, though. We have cool winters (avg. temps 18º,16º/10º,8º centigrades) with enough humidity and some rain. It gets warmer around March, up to fairly high temperatures in the summer (around 30º,35º) with mild evenings (16º,18º C), a bit warmer in Agust (20º, 22º min.) It gets quite dry in the summer sometimes. Frost is rare.

Jmorth - I don't know about forcing bulbs, I've read about it a bit, and I don't think I have suitable conditions (nowhere to put them to provide low temperatures before planting).. any ideas?

Galantophile - I've checked out the snowdrops, they are gorgeous indeed! Given our weather conditions, when should I expect them to bloom? Something peculiar - for ignorant me, at least ;-) - here in Portugal crocus are named "saffron"! Those are also quite atractive! I'm not familiar with arum, but I'll check it out and get back to you.

JamesCo - I love violas. Maybe this winter I can try them out. I've started my container garden in my veranda this spring. It faces southwestish, so the sun is everywhere most of the day throughout the year. But my cupressus and the jasmin have grown bushy enough to provide some shade now, or half shade. Let's see.... I'm not sure I can find winter violas here..

Well, I'll stay in touch - please drop a line if any new ideas come by...!

;-)

Love MyHiraeth

Hiraeth,

You live in a climate that is very similar to interior sections of California. There is a forum that they use and they would love to give you some ideas. Some great bedding or container plants for winter are pansy, viola, cyclamen, primrose, Iceland poppy and many others.

Here is a bed I did in winter in Napa, CA. It is alyssum, bellis perennis and anemone. Blooms some in winter and explodes with color in late spring.

Hiraeth,
To force bulbs I use an old refrigerator I have in the basement. It'll hold about 30 pots; therein I force tulips, daffodils, iris reticulata, crocus, and hyacinth. The easiest is hyacinth forced in a special glass with water.
As Galantophile pointed out, Amaryillis and Paperwhites are also viable options for winter bloom, neither need a cold period.
Another interesting bulb that needs perhaps a small cooler period is Ornithogalum dubium.
Some bulb companies supply pre-cooled bulbs that can be forced after a cool (50-60 degrees F) period for rooting (2 or 3 weeks). These bulbs get shipped quite late (mid Dec - mid Jan.)

Hello everyone! I've been away on holidays for a few days, and I've only just arrived - I've been gardening untill now - every little plant missed me as much I missed them.... but they are alright, thank God!
I'll get back to all of you tomorrow!!!

Love

Hiraeth

Tabasco... it will be a challenge, believe me! I'll let you all know how I get on, hopefully with some pics to show for it..

-----------------------
Galantophile and James - loved your suggestions, I've been checking out all the plants you've mentioned and everything sounds great - and viable, which is surely important! LOL

------------------
Dale... your bed of bulbs is gorgeous, as always!
I'm going to check out the California forums you mentioned.

I'm mad about violas, they are so delicate looking... And by now my taller plants have grown bushy and large enough to provide some relief from the hot sun, so I have more options. I'll keep you posted!
I "ran" into you on some other forum yesterday, you were saying you are self employed as a gardener... How are you getting by? You know, I'm a legal advisor in the Acquisitions department in a public institute here in Portugal.
It's a good job as far as a desk job can be, I think. I've been gardening as a hobby for at least 15 years now - on and off, depending on circumstances.

I guess what I'm trying to say is if we didn't have a young child to raise or if I didn't need the money (I wish!) I'd quit today and get a job in some plant nursery doing no matter what to start with..

So I admire you, self-employed gardeners, so very much.... thanks for everything Dale !

----------------------
Jmorth.... unfortunately I don't have an old freezer to for the bulbs.... I'll try to find some of those pre-frozen you've mentioned, if I can wait that long!! LOL Or, which is more likely anyway, if I need to correct some mistake I make until then... ;-)

Love to you all

Hiraeth

I've also been on holiday! For snowdrops in your climate I'd say they should bloom in January, February although some of mine don't bloom till March so there's quite a season for them. Hope you share all your new plantings with us!

I would think you should find an area that somewhat mimics your winter weather. In the states, I'm guessing that might be the southern eastern seaboard or, perhaps, the northwest ; San Francisco and up through Oregon or so. Bristish Columbia in Canada? Why don't you check out the Florida, California and Candianian forums and see if there are people with similar climate conditions. You should also check with your local nurseries for ideas about winter bloomers. Some plants are very picky about their environment, so it's a good idea to look close to home. A zone 7 or 8 in the states can be widely different from a zone 7 or 8 in Europe. It's not just how warm or cold it gets, but also moister and soil composition.

For those of us that go through winter "withdrawal", we usually have indoor bloomers like Amaryllis. They do have some lovely minis now that don't grow so tall. I find if I have a few of those, just about the time those wind down, it's time to start on seeds and cuttings for the summer garden. WIth your climate, you'd be able to plant your amaryllis out in your summer garden for a possible second bloom and then bring them back in for winter again. Amaryllis like being on the dry side, so these might do very well for you in your summer garden.

Welcome back, Galantophile! Snowdrops are on my list, they are ever so cute!

Beaker, I've had the same doubts as to weather comparability. And I wonder what the rest of the year will be like, temperature wise. It's horribly hot at the moment and I've heard we'll have a late winter this year. My plants will probably be confused if it keeps up, LOL!

Our local nurseries are not very resourceful. They will provide some information, give suggestions and everything, but I got used to not expecting any creativeness..
Amarylis is a good suggestion too! And yes, I believe our weather resembles that on some parts of California. I'm going to check their forums.

I know I can't postpone this too much, but I think I'm going to wait for this heat to be over before doing anything. I can't think in this heat!!

Thanks, all!

Promise to keep you posted, hopefully with good news :-)!!!

Love

Hiraeth