Crocus/snowdrop

[garyp]

I planted some snowdrops/crocus's in containers for over the winter. Now they have finished flowering all that is left above ground are the leaves/stems. I would like to use the containers for other plants. Can I lift those bulbs and store them, then replant in the Autumn?

Cheers for now

[garyp]

[Palustris]

Sorry, not the Snowdrops. They are what is called 'naked' bulbs. Unlike say Daffodils or Tulips Snopwdrops do not have a coat to preserve moisture when out of the ground. They slowly dehydrate and perish. Best thing to do with them would be to find a quiet shady corner of your plot and plant them out in the soil, now. Ditto the crocus, but once the leaves and stems of them have withered, you could dig them up and dry store till Autmun.

[The gardener]

I agree with Palastrus!

What I tend to do with my snowdrops if I want to lift them and have no real place in mind for them, is to plant a few in 5" pots and store them in a shaded spot until planting out time.

The beauty of this is they are easy to plant out as one root ball, and when the come up I have a neat little cluster.

[garyp]

Thanks for your replies. Having a battle with my new allotment at the moment as the weeds are flourishing!!! Which is taking a  lot of my time.
I will have to find a spot on there somewhere!

Cheers for now

Gary P.