Recently I bought a packet of bulbs of Queen Fabiola. These are said to produce beautiful clusters of funnel shaped purple-blue flowers. They look beautiful on the picture!
Since our climate is milder than that of the country where these bulbs were produced, should I follow the instructions on the packet or plant them earlier?
The link previously provided (it works, check again maybe site was down) suggests an Autumn planting.
The "thing" about planting seeds / bulbs that do not originate from a Med but from a cooler climate (this is in general and not any particular ref to this plant) is that the dormancy periods are completely different.
In northern climes, with a few exceptions Winter is the dormant period, so bulbs/seeds are sown in Spring for a Summer display.
In the Med, it is usually the Summer that is the dormant period, as a means of getting through the dry season.
Some of the cooler clime species will not do well when sown in the Med spring - the temperatures in Spring/ Summer may be too high resulting in odd growth habit (if not worse) and the bulbs possibly not regaining energy for the next season / not going dormant at all. Hyacinths for example often throw out too much greenery with the flower stalk only making a feeble, stunted appearance, rather than the desirable thick bloom framed by a modest rosette of leaves. This due to the elevated temperatures.
For this reason many may be planted "Med-style" instead, around the first rains. They will grow through the autumn / winter, maybe slowing down a little bit in the coolest months, but then they will flower in Spring rather than Summer. Once flowered, annuals will be replaced, and bulbs will be allowed to dry out.
MG
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