One of the objectives for taking an allotment was to give me more space to grow cut flowers, the first “crop†has been the tulips which I am very pleased with, not up to Dutch standards but they have given us a good few vase fulls and they last far longer than shop bought stems:
Reds
(http://img.photobox.co.uk/374719324efbe034839036b537f5b4ec07e59b371515a15f32706544.jpg)
(http://img.photobox.co.uk/72947326d6cd0336ebd5cfb179a10a5f4e276b8d986549be6e80e581.jpg)
Strawberries and Cream
(http://img.photobox.co.uk/3931538697a80f0f5449c4f2829015ca546b9109fa7cc71367b7033b.jpg)
(http://img.photobox.co.uk/301402599c104d81d5ae7cdbe07b574142556031ca863b6d9bc6c75f.jpg)
Purple
(http://img.photobox.co.uk/78288920c9c9c4cd85535d8e9c8dfa6edc83050314338f589104d2f6.jpg)
Orange
(http://img.photobox.co.uk/46453621ecbce5174a80fa8919b1b3e85d49a633865ef99a57f035dc.jpg)
Trouble is the kids want to put the whole lot in a vase as we pick them, mixing colours but who worries to be honest!
Jerry
I think they look lovely. I had some from a shop the other day and they didn't last very long and had wondered about growing them for cutting next year. I am convinced now having seen yours. Thanks.
The Dutch, Jerry, do their thing of carpets of blinding colours for bulb production, & massive displays in the parks, but there's nothing like the little clumps that we grow over here, which give us so much pleasure. Ours are just coming in.
Just wonderful, Jerry. Beautiful colours and so many.
I have been transplanting all of my ex-potted tulips into the lottie for supposedly cut flower production, but once there I can't bring myself to cut them as they look so lovely! (Admittedly they take a couple of years to flower again and then gradually get more flowers on!)
This autumn I WILL get a sack of narcissi and plant them up in the bed I've made for cut flowers...
(Hope this isn't famous last works - this is also the bed I am currently digging huge holes in every time I go up there, as it's got perishing creeping thistles in... I'm hoping that I can kill them by continual digging, and then I dare put permanent plants in!)
moonbells
Beautiful Jerry ! Ours have now all died down ready for next spring...
Beautiful Jerry. I am always a bit dubious about cutting the tulips. Do they last well once cut and is there a way of making them last. The purple ones look like satin :)
Thanks everyone.
As for them lasting, yes they do last very well, the purple ones lasted over 12 days for example, far better than shop bought. I guess that is because they are cut at the right point and on show from day one and not in transport to the supermarket and then sitting on the shelf for a day or two.
I have been very pleased, one variety left to cut in a week or so. They will definately be on the plot again next year.
Jerry
Gorgeous display again, Jerry! Like Gardengirl I always mean to cut them but always leave them in the lottie - they add a touch of class and elegance I think ::)