Crown Imperial

[robkb]

Hi everyone,

Got a few bulbs of these at the weekend. Does anyone know if they're suitable to grow in containers, and if so, what size pots should I use? The info on the packaging was vague, to say the least...

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[robkb]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Big pots should work. The bigger the better I should think, but I've never tried it. The buld size depends largely on the variety; the standard one isn't that big, but I have some massive maxima lutea bulbs.

[cambourne7]

i thought 'Crown Imperial' were a type mint you bought in packets at the garage?

[Robert_Brenchley]

These are my maxima lutea, which are about four feet high. The ordinary orangy-red ones are more like three feet.

[flowerlady]

ooo superb - lucky you  ;)

[cambourne7]

...are you sure we have not been attacked my the more attactive cousins of the triffids.   ;D

There massave!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Those are. As I said, the standard Crown Imperial is smaller, but the ones I have aren't doing too well, and i don't have pics. I find they're fussy growers; they like sun, and they like to bake in summer. They come from the Middle East, so you can imagine the sort of climarte they're adapted to. If I plant them on one side of my plot, they fade away. On the other side, they grow into giants, given a few years to do it in.

[robkb]

Thanks Robert. I've got the red version, label says they grow to about 3ft but not much else. So I imagine we're talking 9 to 12 inch spacing per bulb? Or more?

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[Robert_Brenchley]

12 inches should be fine. If you put them too close they fan out and soon tell you how far apart they want the stems to be. Then you can move the bulbs as they're dying back.

[lancelotment]

Look at the planting depth.  A Dutch bulb grower on a local radio station who grew lots of Crown Imperials recommended a planting depth of 18".  My Ma tried some at that depth and had better stronger growth the following years then she had ever had with the bulbs.  The plant stem thickness was far better and the plant stood up against the strongest of North Sea gales that North Lincolshire suffers.  Lance

[Carol]

I have Crown Imperials like the one in the photo and have been grown in the same place since 1992 at least.  I have recently removed the dried up flowers and leaves and notice how shallow the big bulbs are, they are visibile just beneath the earth.   ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

[Robert_Brenchley]

There is a tradition that says that they're more likely to flower if they're planted deep, though 18 inches does seem a bit extreme. I've never gone more than six inches down with any bulb, and I've never had any trouble flowering them provided they were in a sunny spot. I wouldn't dare put bulbs that deep because they would be below the water table in wet winter weather! Sometimes it's only been about a spade's depth down after very heavy winter rains.