Snowdrops – Who doesn’t know these well-known early bloomers? They gracefully peep up from a blanket of snow, shine from the edge of the trees and herald spring. But when it comes to planting, what should you consider?
How to plant snowdrops correctly?
To plant snowdrops, plant the bulbs in autumn, preferably between August and November, 10 cm deep in well-drained, humus-rich, slightly alkaline to neutral soil. Make sure you have a sunny to partially shaded location and a distance of at least 5 cm between the bulbs.
What is the best time to plant?
The ideal time to plant snowdrops is in autumn. The bulbs can be placed in the ground from August. Planting should be completed by November at the latest.
What should you consider when choosing a location?
Snowdrops are essentially undemanding. They prefer to grow in a sunny to partially shaded location. Some species attach great importance to a protected position in order to be able to hold their heads better.
What should the soil be like?
Any normal garden soil is suitable for snowdrops. It just shouldn't be heavy or compacted. Snowdrops need a well-drained substrate that is not prone to waterlogging. They are also happy about an earth with the following properties:
- medium to high nutrient content
- average humus content
- moderate humidity
- slightly alkaline to neutral pH value
How to plant snowdrop bulbs?
It's not difficult to plant snowdrops. The onions can be purchased at hardware stores, garden centers, online and in some supermarkets. They are placed 10 cm deep in the soil. When planting several bulbs, a distance of at least 5 cm should be maintained between them.
How to propagate snowdrops?
Snowdrops are easy to propagate. Most gardeners propagate snowdrops in the spring after they bloom. After flowering, the bulbs form daughter bulbs that are used for reproduction. The daughter bulbs are smaller and usually bloom from the next spring.
Sowing is less common. These plants like to spread through self-sowing. If you want to tackle the seeds specifically, you should note the following:
- Seeds are cold germinators (-4 to 4 °C)
- Seeds are dark germinators (sow 1 cm below the soil surface)
- Keep soil moist
- Germination time: 2 to 4 weeks
When do snowdrops bloom?
Most snowdrops bloom in January. They poke their heads out of the ground in February at the latest and remain present until March. Some crops bloom into April. The wild species, however, can be present as early as October.
Which plant neighbors are suitable for snowdrops?
Whether on the edge of the wood, on the lawn or in the perennial bed - snowdrops look most beautiful in groups. They glow enchantingly under hazelnut bushes and witch hazel bushes. They cannot be overlooked in the midst of ground cover plants such as evergreens and ivy.
But snowdrops also come into their own alongside other early bloomers. Good plant neighbors that bloom at the same time include:
- Winterlings
- Crocuses
- Wild Tulips
- Bluestars
- liverwort
- Daffodils
- Christmas roses
Tips & Tricks
Snowdrops generally tolerate transplanting well if done correctly. They should be dug up in February or March. At the same time, it is worth separating them and then replanting them.