Egypt4u

Definitely giving us something to talk about. Wait 'til they all get growing .......AND.........then there is how to re-grow them for next year too!

LovelyLadyLux wrote:....then there is how to re-grow them for next year too!

First hurdle for me is getting one to grow

Grandad you are not putting yours in the fridge by any chance are you? they do like to be kept warm

Mine (photo coming soon) now has the first TIP of growth showing. Probably less than a quarter inch above the cut off but today for the first time I can easily see the pointed tip. Just the start is a bit slow but once they break through - then jump back cause they're going to surge ahead!!

The 'Monster' has grown by another inch since yesterday

@Horus - I believe it. I swear if I could stare long enough I'd actually see these guys move.

This is officially the beginning of mine:



You can just now see the tip starting but now that it has actually started it is going to full bore ahead.

It's on its way LLL

I added a bulb to my Tesco order, but apparently it isn't available. However I must go to the city tomorrow and there's a Tesco Metro next to the taxi rank - I remember I bought my short red one there last year so maybe I might not have to pay £12 for a special trip to the big store.

What a shame they won't add one to your order MD after all they are all on racks (usually outside)
My Tesco one is going along quite nicely and is definately growing, maybe about 2" tall now. If its any consolation to Grandad my own Amazon purchased bulb is hardly moving by comparrison and is well behind the other two

OK so I succumbed when out shopping today and bought another one (definitely the last one). I chose the ‘Red Lion’ variety as none of my others are a full true red in colour and I do like the deep red variety. Like the previous one it needed a bit of packing down and a good soaking although I reckon that this one will be a lot longer in starting up as there is absolutely no sign of any green visible at the top, in fact it looks positively dried out, but we will see what the next few weeks brings.

So we both have a Red Lion H. Mine also looks dried out so we will see how we progress.

Did you say over the next few weeks H?? I think that is why I have never been drawn to gardening. I expect things to happen more quickly.

Still no sign of movement on either of my bulbs. Had to stop Mrs G from throwing out the first one, now two weeks since potting......

Well its a bulb Grandad and just so long as it is not soft and squidgy or rotten, then it will eventually produce leaves and a flower when it decides its suitable enough conditions to start sprouting and that is usually warmth and sunlight.
Even Onions sprout if left long enough

Horus wrote:Well its a bulb Grandad and just so long as it is not soft and squidgy or rotten, then it will eventually produce leaves and a flower when it decides its suitable enough conditions to start sprouting and that is usually warmth and sunlight.
Even Onions sprout if left long enough :lol:

Ahem! My second Tesco Bulb last year just grew very very long leaves and no flower. Sprouted onions are not noted for producing lovely flowers.

OK, OK, yes I am getting bitter and feeling left out!

And there was me thinking you were green fingered MD

I don't think that even Percy Thrower or Alan Titchmarsh could put a flower on a blind bulb!

Horus wrote:Well its a bulb Grandad and just so long as it is not soft and squidgy or rotten, then it will eventually produce leaves and a flower when it decides its suitable enough conditions to start sprouting and that is usually warmth and sunlight.
Even Onions sprout if left long enough

Horus, you've made me think.

Onion setts in my experience often run to flower, however onion plants far, far less.

I'm wondering if bulbous plants require a really good resting period to prepare an embryo flower as onion setts are young onions lifted "in the green" and forced into a dormancy. Hmm I need to research this further.

MD, these bulbs certainly require a resting period and should have been kept dry, dark and cool since about September when the dead leaves are cut off and they are lifted from the soil.

I like the "should" Horus, unfortunately I've seen bulbs for sale which have pretty thick roots attached and the tops seem not to have withered before being sliced off.

Just come home from the City and on the way from the bank I popped into a Tesco Metro with quite a large display of cut flowers.......... and lurking behind them at the back of the shelf the last three Amaryllis and all Red Lion!

I bought two, as I thought it would be interesting to see if they developed at the same rate. I've got as far as weighing them as I bought them complete with packing and one is two ounces heavier than the other. Tomorrow I'll unpack them and get them started.

Good Good Good, so pleased you can now join in MD

But it is interesting that yours is a kit, Horus's is pre-planted in coir, and mine is pre-planted in potting compost. Obviously Tescos stock comes from many different nurseries, probably all like mine from Holland though. My Tesco one bought on Tuesday has not moved yet so I at least don't have any advantage over you MD and mine is Red Lion as well.