Re: Crocosmia lucifer

In a message dated 8/10/01 2:56:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
llebpmac_bob@hotmail.com writes:

<< > >     So--please--someone tell me what they really want--these blazing 
red
 > > beauties--if they are to live and bloom in zone 5?
 > >

 Mine are about half way through their bloom period right now as a matter of 
 fact, and I am in a new garden and just planted them this spring.  Try 
 treating them like glads and dahlias -lifting them for the winter and 
 storing them in vermiculite or whatever. >>

Bob,

Not zone but how many frost free days do you have in your garden?  I grow and 
bloom acidanthera (which is now something else I cannot remember) by starting 
them in the garden shed around the first of April.  The time required for 
them to begin growth, form flowerstalks, and bloom is too short for me for 
both crocosmia and acidanthera.

I put them into a wooden flat very closely together with a loose soil and 
keep them on shelves we have mounted in the south facing windows.  They are 
about eight inches tall when I can put them out near the end of May.  The 
starting in boxes and transplanting does not stop growth, not even 
temporarily.  Crocosmia needs more time than acidanthera and both can be 
advanced by growing in a container where the soil warms up faster and water 
can be controlled.

Crocosmia does not live over the winter in zone 4.  Both appreciate a rich 
soil and very sharp drainage.  Acidanthera is easily grown treated as 
gladioli.  The crocosmia are harder to store but it can ve done.

I don't grow Lucifer anymore because our zone is just not the place for this 
striking plant.  

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4

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