How long to bulk up a Snowdrop collection?

Maybe I fancy becoming a galanthophile

I quite like the idea of collecting some Snowdrop varieties. But before I start I wonder if anyone knows how long they take to bulk up? I'm sure it varies from variety to variety, but some that I have been looking at are indicated as being "quick to bulk up" - and some come true from seed and so will spread easily (but I have no idea how long they take to flower from seed?)

Any advice welcome, thanks.

I'm planting a serpentine maze of Holly and someone suggested (on this forum I think) that I consider lining the walk with snowdrops. I like that idea but I am now wondering about making it a snowdrop collection. The more unusual varieties are £5 - £20 each (and of course one can pay far FAR more!), so I was wondering how long a single bulb would take to produce a dozen, or so, so that I had a clump or several close neighbours.

There are some lovely photographs of individual snowdrop varieties here:
http://www.snowdropinfo.com/galanthusgallery.htm

DUnno if relevant, but assuming exponential growth - i.e. a bulb "doubles" into two - perhaps each year, or every-other-year, say? Maybe they even split into 3 some years / some varieties?

Year 1

Code:

          DOUBLES:
        Every Alternate
        year  years
Year 1    1    1
Year 2    2    1
Year 3    4    2
Year 4    8    2
Year 5   16    4
Year 6   32    4
Year 7   64    8
Year 8  128    8
Year 9  256   16
Year10  512   16

I think I prefer the "doubles every year" model!

 

Hello Kristen, we seem to answer each others posts quite often! I live very close to a National collection of Snowdrops and having spoken to the owners of said collection on many occasions, I've been told they are VERY "unfaithful" and will happily cross breed with any other Snowdrop that's available.
From experience the doubles that I have (nothing fancy) are much more prolific than singles. If you have the time/ energy!, splitting does hugely increase their numbers. To keep them true to type, I've been advised that you have to keep different varieties separated by at least 100 metres to stop them being "naughty" To be honest having seen the creme de al creme of Snowdrops I personally didn't see such an enormous difference to get excited about.Drifts of bog standard far outweighed a few "special" ones but each to their own.

 

Indeed, but nothing to stop one doing both I think. A few Snowdrops, with extremely unusual markings, in a small vase in the middle of the table would be nice look at during a meal

 

On the contrary, your experiences are very enlightening. The vendor sites I have looked at say "Quick to establish" / "Slow to establish" and whilst relative terms they don't give me much indication of "how fast". Your reference to your own experiences with seasons and locations is especially helpful as I had not considered that.

I have read that it is important to water Snowdrops in the Summer (Spring even?) to ensure they establish well. Maybe your "slow years" were dry, and perhaps it is worth irrigating them to help them get established.

We have plenty of snowdrops so I'm not worried about speed of getting decent sized clumps (and they are cheap enough, for me, that I can plant more to get decent sized "drifts" if I need to - less than 10p each)

If I decide to have a modest collection of the more unusual ones they will cost £10 - £20 each, similar to the price of a tree or shrub, so I am keen that I can get them to bulk up reasonably well so that I have groups of 10 or 20 in, hopefully!, a few years time.

I've found some "open days" in February, locally; I'll take your advice and ask the head growers there

P.S. I am assuming there is no point looking at Snowdrops that cost £20 each from a distance, as a "drift", and that, rather, the joy is in seeing them up-close, and their comparative markings.

 

Just a thought Kristen but try this link, they might have some that other places don't. http://www.camboestate.com/snowdrops/ is close to where I live and often I go to see the fantastic display they have.

 

I love the woodland walk photos:


Bit far to go to see, unless Shiney can get the Bell Jet-Ranger serviced

 

LOL, yes not exactly on your doorstep.Unfortunately I have no idea what their mail order service is like from your wishing to add to your own collection point of view.

 

http://www.camboestate.com/snowdrops/

Which is why you need to crack on with servicing the Chopper

 

have a look at Ebay in the spring we were all watching one that went for over a thousand , and its a good place to see all the different ones , I bought a mixed lot a couple of years ago but a magpie pulled out all the labels and I only had the tip showing , "the gardener" RHS magazine had a big section on them last issue, very intersting reading as best time to dig up they all said July which was new to me also when buying in the green dont split up the clump it brakes the roots and snowdrops dont re grow new ones best to leave for a year then split.

Spruce

 

Thanks Spruce. It was that article in The Garden that got me thinking it might be fun to do

I remember the incredible prices paid last Spring for Green Tear I think, and the yellow one ... but I hadn't thought to be on the lookup for some "unusual" ones, I'll do that.