Tulbaghia
I like to grow Tulbaghia. These South African bulbous plants flower without many problems from the end of May till in October. There are over 25 species, ranging from small (10 cm) plants till the larger Tulbaghia violacea with flowers up to 75 cm high. Most Tulbaghia plants are grown in pots and enlarge year after year. In winter time our pots with Tulbaghia are placed inside a frostfree shed. In March most plants are repotted with normal soil (part chicken grit). In April we start watering and early May pots with Tulbaghia are placed outside in full sunshine. Usually at the end of May the first flowerbuds of Tulbaghia open up. Every two weeks we fertilize our plants with a weak 12-10-18 (N-P-K) solution till August.
In England Mr. D. Fenwick has collected, grown and taken pictures of many South African bulbs and bulbous plants for years. His former website ‘The African Garden’ showed a lot of information about Tulbaghia.
Since 2007, Mrs. E. Powney from Wales had hold the Nationional Collection of Tulbaghia. She has collected, grown and described Tulbaghia in the way Mr. Fenwick has done. For everyone who is interessed in the species, cultivation.
Tulbaghia species:
Interspecific hybrids of Tulbaghia.
Most Tulbaghia species do cross freely if plants flower next to one another . For over twenty years I have been collecting seeds and sown these as soon as possible. Germination of Tulbaghia seeds usually takes a 2-4 weeks. Plants from these seeds have to grow in pots for 2-3 years at our nursery before plants start to flower. It takes some years before the size, colour and number of flowers per season is known, so selection takes several years. New seedlings of Tulbaghia multiply slowly but surely. It usually takes 10-12 years before there is enough stock of a new cultivar.
Tulbaghia seedlings:
