Dwarf narcissi

[shonam]

Hi all

I'm getting married in March 2012. Our venue does all the flowers for the table centres for the wedding breakfast but I was thinking that for the evening reception downstairs it would be really nice to have wee pots of dwarf narcissi. But I'm wondering how feasible this would be in terms of making sure they are flowering for the middle of March when we would need them.

Any advice or alternate planting suggestions would be really appreciated.
Shona :)

[shonam]

[pumkinlover]

The first thought is to plant at intervals so that you stand a better chance.

What people who grow for shows do is move them about to colder or warmer places to retard or speed up the flowering. If I can find any more info. I will post again,
Anne x

[garrett]

Lots of shops have them for sale in bud throughout early Spring. I got pots last year from M&S for 99p each.

[valmarg]

The earliest variety of dwarf narcissus we have is Tête à Tête, which flowers in March.  I would thoroughly recommend it, it is a very pretty variety.

valmarg

[campanula]

also, take a look at some of the cyclaminus group - Hawera, Jenny. There is an really earlt flowering February Gold while Pipit is nice with palest yellow and cream.
Finally, some of the Tazetta with multiflowering stems should be in bloom and many have some fragrance too. You could also put primula in pots - they smell delicious and look lovely with the little narcissi. In fact, you could have lots of fun with little bulbs in pots - chionodoxa, muscari, ipheon, iris, crocus and scilla.

[laurieuk]

I would suggest you get a catalogue from a firm like www.miniaturebulbs.co.uk which will give you a wide choice. I am not sure if that catalogue does but most will number the varieties 1 to 6 which is the flowering season. 1 being Feb, and 6 May. I grow Hawera for exhibition as you can pack about 35 bulbs in a nine inch pot but it is a late variety to bloom The show I grow it for is mid April. there are plenty of earlier ones.