Where are my snowdrops??

I have planted snowdrops in small clumps in my borders for most years now and they never seem to come to anything? Are those damn squirrels to blame or should I be planting the bulbs in a particular spot (shady, sunny, specific soil etc ???). Is there a better planting time perhaps? Is there a more hardy variety that will withstand the assault of squirrels??? Advice and thoughts gratefully received

 

If you are buying them as dried bulbs then they often are already beyond help when you buy them. If possible you should either buy them ready growing (ie ' in the green' ) or as freshly dug bulbs (usually from a friend!)
Squirrels do not eat snowdrops as they are poisonous to eat.
Snowdrops actually like a damp woodland type environment, though they will grow almost anywhere except in totally dry sandy soil.

 

That's brilliant Palustris - thanks so much for your help - I will pop over to my Mother's house and dig up a huge clump of her snowdrops while she isn't looking! (I must apologise to the many squirrels who visit our garden - as it seems they are much maligned creatures)
One of the borders I have planted them in does tend to be on the sandy soil spectrum, so perhaps I will re-locate them to the opposite border which is far more damp, or maybe dig them around my trees.
(Green) Fingers crossed!

 

It could also be, Susannah, that you are planting them too deep.

 

Thanks Pal. I was given dozens of snowdrop bulbs last year, in the green. This year not one has re-appeared. I was wondering why but remember now that I put them in pretty deep, a la daffodil.

 

Many thanks David! I am glad you suggested that - in fact thinking about it I may have been planting them too deep!! Will begin again from the beginning - is there a best time to plant or is October okay as I think I may have planted them late September/early October?

 

In the green or as fresh bulbs you can plant from now till now. If you lived close to us you could come and dig some up now and move them. As long as they are not allowed to dry out, then they grow away.
As to the depth, well ours range from lying on the surface to so far down you cannot find the bulbs (courtesy of the moles!), they all flower reasonably well. They are growing in a nice mixture of leaf mould and brick rubble by the way, overlying clay. If one digs down about 2 spades depth, the hole fills up with water, even in a dry year. Howver, the damson trees do keep the top 6 to 9 inches of 'soil' fairly dry. That way the bulbs can root down to water, but themselves stay dry,
If you do get 'in the green' ones then plant them so that the white part of the stem is buried and the green above ground. They do tend to flop for a while after moving.

 

It never ceases to amaze me how much information one can glean from one little question - many thanks Pal - I am learning more and more as I go on - trouble is I tend to think of all my questions in one foul swoop - apologies if that is annoying and I am sorry if these questions have been answered before - I did have a quick look on the 'search' facility but found nothing that really answered my question - can't thank you enough - bfn

 

I used to go Salmon fishing on the River Severn on a privte estate. Th wood along the River was full of Snowdrops no choise but to walk over them . Each year after the floods silt and all sorts of rubish would cover them by many inches, each year it was a picture when they where all in flower.

So as to depth dosn't matter.

Trevor

 

Now I know why I have had no success in growing dry snowdrop bulbs although the green ones given to me by a work mate did!
Thanks for the great advice Pal.
Helen.xxx.

 

Thanks one and all for your advice - will get to it and get myself a nice show of snowdrops - may be next year now though!

 

Fantastic pics Trevor especially the cathedral of the cananal.

 

THE WILD SNOWDROPS UP THE LANE ARE NOW ALL IN BUD... AND I AM EAGERLY AWAITING FOR THEM TO OPEN...THEY ARE MY FAVOURTIE FLOWER I THINK.

 

THE WILD SNOWDROPS UP THE LANE ARE NOW ALL IN BUD... AND I AM EAGERLY AWAITING FOR THEM TO OPEN...THEY ARE MY FAVOURTIE FLOWER I THINK.

 

These are the first I have seen this year growing wild,a beautiful site on a dull winters day........