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Growing Wild Bulbs
Our nursery developed out of the collection of wild bulbs that we had accumulated as a hobby. We have now expanded into a small commercial venture that remains primarily a means to finance our interest. A spin-off has been making contact with other keen bulb growers in all parts of the world. We are not involved in hybridisation in any way. We prefer to grow wild species and in so doing to make a contribution to the preservation of rare and threatened species.
It is important for plant propagators and nurserymen to familiarise themselves with the natural habitats and special conditions in which the plants grow in the wild. It is often impossible to emulate natural conditions,
especially for specialised species. There is a need to compromise and develop a system that will be suitable for most species. We find it best to grow bulbs in concentrated conditions in open raised beds under 40% shade cloth with free air movement. Bulbs are lifted during the dormant season for sale and despatch. We rely primarily on the summer rainfall (average 900mm p.a.) and only irrigate occasionally when conditions are dry. Our winter rainfall
species are mostly in containers for winter watering and to be able move them to keep them dry during the summer.
The main soil requirement for our bulbs is excellent drainage. We use a
mixture of equal parts of loam soil, well-rotted compost, coarse sand and
composted milled pine bark. To this we add general fertilizer (2:3:2) and bone meal. For winter-growing bulbs, we add an extra portion of really coarse sand, leaving out the fertilizer but still adding the bone meal. We do grow some species in bags and pots if there is likely to be a demand from retailers or landscapers out of season. We make sure the drainage holes at the base of the containers are large, and we place some large pieces of bark or stones (or broken styrofoam chips to reduce weight) in the bottom of the
containers, and then fill with the mix before planting. We pour boiling water into the pots to kill off most of the weed seeds.
Every grower has a different recipe! A lot depends on whatever is available to put in the mix, and on costs but a loose coarse mix is always preferable. For deciduous bulbs, we water the container once after planting, and then not again until a leaf has appeared. Evergreen species need to be kept just slightly moist until established.
We sow seeds in a similar mix with a cupful of palm peat mixed into the top 4 cm, in boxes approximately 25 x 35 cm, 12 cm deep. This is a useful size that does not dry out as fast as the smaller containers. Small stones about 3mm diameter sprinkled on the surface help prevent the seeds being moved around when watering. Where large quantities of seed are available we sow in open ground in raised beds - which avoids the need to transplant before marketing. We propagate hardy species such as Watsonias, Eucomis and Crinums in full sun in open fields in the natural heavy loam soil that occurs on our property. They get very little attention apart from weeding.
We find it necessary to control pests and diseases on a routine basis, especially the Amaryllis worm. We spray a cocktail of appropriate chemicals mixed with a sticker at approximately fortnightly intervals.
We are amateurs still discovering how to be more efficient and successful.
For us the pleasure of growing wild flowers and exchanging ideas with other fanatics are the most satisfying aspects of our enterprise.
References:
Barker, W.F., 1935. Plate 569, The Flowering Plants of South Africa, Vol.15
Dold, T. & Cocks, M. 2001. The trade in medicinal plants in the Eastern Cape
Province, South Africa. Traffic Bulletin 19,1: 11-13.
Goldblatt and Manning, 1998. Gladiolus in Southern Africa, Fernwood Press, p158
McMaster. J.C., 1976. Nerine filamentosa, a locality discovered. Veld and Flora Vol.62 No.4, p.20
McMaster. J.C., 1996. Encephalartos caffer: New locality. Encephalartos, Journal of The Cycad Society, No.47, Sept. 1996, p.27
McMaster. J.C., 1999. Kniphofia bruceae, the Elusive Giant. Veld and Flora Vol.85 No.2, p.66
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