Snowdrops

Snowdrops should be separated and moved in the green. That is just after they have flowered. So spring is when I do it. I have never done it in autumn, but perhaps some other GNers have and can give advice.

Same here re dividing after flowering. Usually easy to beg them from other people. But if an extra year seems too long to wait you no harm in giving it a go and proving us wrong.

Thank you.
I can easily wait until spring to seperate some established Snowdrops I'd hate to kill them by doing it now.
In the meantime I was hoping to buy bulbs but remembered reading that they aren't too successful.
Or I could get plants in little pots at the right time of year?
Is Monty Don right in saying that snowdrop bulbs are not worth planting?

Yes always buy them in the green. If you visit a garden in snowdrop time renowned for snowdrops they usually sell good quality and several varieties. This will give you a longer season and an assortment of heights as they do vary quite a bit.

As a little aside, and as we are discussing snowdrops. -- we have moved into a new home. Last spring we had a group of tall snowdrops. They were about 12 ins. tall. Does anyone know their name?

Good advice, helpful. Thank you.
BBbevan, hope someone answers you.

It could be Magnet that grows around 10" tall perhaps?

If they looked like snowdrops but were so tall, they could have been Snowflakes - Leucojum. I have a few and am going to plant some more.

Thanks for the correct name anno. I have some given by a friend who called them Angels Tears. They spread!

I have replanted snowdrop bulbs when we had to take up a dead apple tree a couple of autumns ago. They were growing around the base. I planted them more or less straight away so they didn’t have time to dry out. They mostly survived, recovered and flowered the following spring.

I'm recalling Monty Don saying that bulbs rarely take properly.

Was that just a mix up in your message, OP? Because most bulbs are absolutely fine planted at this time of year.

Snowdrops have just started back into growth now so I'd take a chance on them; just make sure they're watered in well.

Thank you for the suggestions about our tall Snowdrops. We have googled the names and think they may be Snowflakes. We will see in the spring.

MaizieD
No not a mix up.
Monty Don had an article devoted soley to Snowdrops. He said that bulbs purchased don't take well.
He said to buy plants.
Thank you for your advice, I may get a hand this weekend to investigate and lift a clump.
The lady in the garden centre told my husband there is a Snowdrop garden and nursery near me. They do a yearly Snowdrop walk .

Well Monty Don was wrong for me I Bought my snowdrops at the pound shop just a couple of packets of bulbs and Ive got two lovely patches that are now in their second year

Oh Bluebelle for a pound or two I can't go wrong. It's worth trying and I will.

Absolutely gmelon I have brought loads of packets of bulbs from the pound shop when I go out shopping, a packet here and there over the last few years, and of course I can’t promise every bulb has come up but I ve had some great shows of all sorts Freesias, snowdrops, fancy tulips etc
I don’t have any garden centre near me and the worst experience I ever had was sending for a rose plant from one of the big mail order names It was a blue rose and looked beautiful in the picture I put it in, the first year it didn’t flower, the second year it flowered as a perfectly common white hedgerow rambler I couldn’t complain because after two years I couldn’t remember which of the three big name catalogues that come through my letterbox it had come from

Bluebelle
The poundshop it is then.
I'm going to try some in tubs as well as in the flowerbeds would this work?
I might get a few other types of bulb. Do they have bluebells?

The poundshop here closed a few years ago and I mourned its passing because I always got the best bulbs there - no different from the packs from the garden centre, far cheaper and equally good.

We re full of poundshops here annodomini (I could send you one) there’s at least four or five in our little town centre I haven’t ever bought bluebells as my gardens full of them anyway, but they sell a big old variety Wilco do too if you have one of them
Here’s a gorgeous tulip that came out of pound shop now in my eyes one like that is worth a pound but I think there was about 10 in the packet

I like that, BlueBelle. I had a lovely tub of very dark tulips contrasting with cream ones, just a couple of years ago. I'll go and look for them again. I think a new poundshop has opened in a neighbouring suburb. I'm also in the mood to buy some nice new pots!