Hi all,
I grew about a dozen Veltheimia bracteata bulbs from seed in 2011. They survived very low temperatures last winter (-15 deg C). OK, so now they are more or less ready to be transferred to their final planting site. Some of them have just started to grow again.
Has anyone any advice as to special care that I should take? Soil, site etc. Or would I be better advised to put them in a larger pot in the greenhouse for the winter?
Over to you...
Best
Mike
Veltheimia... growing through winter???
Mike,
Veltheimia are native to South Africa, dry summers with cool moist winters. Since you are in western France they might resent summer rains.
I have found that all plants are tolerant of conditions that are outside of their 'normal range'.
Try some in the ground and some in the greenhouse, potted up, over the winter.
Did you get your seeds from http://www.silverhillseeds.co.za/ ?
No, seeds came from NARGS seed exchange.
Thanks - will try that.
In fact Poitou-Charentes has the most sun and least summer rain of any region outside the Midi. Typically there is very little rain between May and mid-September. This year the early summer was fairly wet, but since mid-July there has been a drought that ended last weekend with an enormous deluge for three days.
Then you have a good climate for the SAfrican plants.
I am a big fan of Pelargoniums, aka Geraniums>
Dale, as always your pictures are great.