We are about a week before the shortest day ; we have had a few cold southerly fronts pass through but the autumn has been warm and a little dry .I have almost finished marketing the early tazettas and paperwhites and the standards , early trumpets and redcup are now being marketed and the doubles are not far away .
I enjoy the variation in the variety that are emerging and flowering presently .An interesting habit of several early seedlings is that the flower stem and bud emerge before or at the same time as the leaves . Also emerging currently are a few with strong growth that will not flower for another 7 – 8 weeks . As a commercial grower , virtually all the weed control is chemical and knowing the different emerging times is essential to prevent giving them an unwelcome dose . I feel we have to grow a new variety , or seedling for several years and lifting cycles before we understand their habits .Here is a little of the mix .
First Red 2Y – O . Always one of the first standards to flower ; always has a lot of stems and buds up before the foliage. On the odd flower , stems are 12 inches or more before the leaves arrive .
Kickstart 2Y – O Very similar timing as First Red and similar growth habits – a very good flower rate on this 3 year down block .
Kickstart seedlings These are 5 year olds , second year in the ground from poly trays . Pleased to see that quite a few will be early ; also have the bud before leaf habit
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Daves Eye 1Y – Y , Unnamed seedling , a few sent under number to David Adams and it’s strong habits caught his eye . Leaves through before buds , good growth and flowering now . What I would call a ” normal ” emergence .
Kapiti Talisman and Kapiti Kauri , both very vigorous tazettas . I now plant them with the first emergers ; have been caught out a few times before I realised they were problem children . Very strong tops already but not expecting flowers until early – mid August .
Emerald Monarch 8W – G , a very attractive and fragrant Emerald Sea seedling from John Hunter . Leaves are through first but the stems and buds race up very quickly . Love the sweet fragrance and green throat .
Early Orbit 4Y – O , Usually the first double , should be on schedule for late June . Leaves through first but big buds follow soon after .
A friend that has been around the garden for a few seasons
. A black and white Blackbird , mostly on the left ide . seems to be well accepted by his/ her mates .
Love the green cupped tazetta! Thanks for the “off season” (for us) daffodils.
Love the Emerald Monarch Tazetta. Your comments are very timely John, as I was looking at my Tazettas today and noticed the variety of leaf length and bud growth too. Thankyou
Thank you for the photos John, it is interesting to see what is happening in other parts of the country. I like Emerald Monarch too, mine little clump has the buds just emerging through the ground with the foliage about three inches tall.