3 weeks to go and we have a stand in George on the bulb update

George and Gill are off enjoying a well-deserved holiday this week, and George has asked if I’d step in and do this week’s bulb blog to ensure we don’t miss our dose of spring show fun. It’s a big bunnet to fill, but I’ll do my best to keep that spring show fever going. There are now only 3 weeks until the spring show, and it’s all kicking off. We are sunny Joppa, adjacent, and the weather has been absolutely awful here. There have been cold, howling winds every day, and plenty of rain to go with them, so most of this week has been about protecting or sheltering those tall daffodils however I can.

This year is my first time growing hyacinths, and like George, I’m growing Jan Bos as well as Delft Blue. The top of one flower spike on my Delft Blue has been nibbled clean off, but generally, growth is much more even than on the Jan Bos, where one flower is much more developed than the others. They have been sitting in the shade up until now, but once the winds pass, I’ll move these into a sunnier spot to help even up the growth.

Hyacinth Delft Blue and Jan Bos

The Caley members’ challenge pots are like chalk and cheese with the Scamp bulbs on the right shooting ahead much, much taller than I’d like, with plenty of buds, although thankfully not at the goose neck stage yet. The much smaller Caley Member’s challenge pot of Golden Joy has one flower at the goose neck, but the others are all still upright.

One thing to note, the Scamp bulbs, although they have plenty of buds, I’m not happy with the bud formation, the casing is papery and going brown with the bud inside feeling like it’s not developed enough to fill the casing. I don’t mind admitting I’m not holding out much hope for my Scamp challenge this year.

Both these pots are being kept in the coolest and shadiest area of the garden for now to hold them back a little.

Golden Joy on the left and the Scamp’s Challenge on the right

The most advanced of my pots is Comet, which is already fully in flower.  Too far gone for the show, no doubt, but ever hopeful, I’m keeping this one in the shade alongside the Scamp bulbs. You never know.

Replete with lots of buds and Comet in full flower

I’m really hoping the wind will ease up after today, but from now on, it’s time to make sure your pots are fed and watered and make those hard decisions to move pots in and out of shade or sunshine to help growth as you see fit. Keep an eye on weather forecasts, and be ready to start offering shelter to your pots as we get closer to show day.

Only three weeks to go now, good luck and happy pottering,

Eli