2012 was exceptional in terms of the poor light we had to endure. Many of my new gladiolus seedlings did not flower in their second year as the light was so poor, so for 2013 I will (hopefully) be flowering those and the next batch which will mean space will be at a premium. You can flower 200s and prims in pots (preferably five to a ten litre pot and pro rata for other pots), but try it with 300s, 400s and 500s and you'll get very short flower heads. So one's seedlings for these last three sizes have to go out in the ground in beds.
The joy of showing and gardening in general is that there is always next year and we can try something different. The trick is not to change too much at one time because if there is any improvement you won't know which thing you changed caused it, if any. One of my changes for 2013 involves growing more small and miniature daffs for shows. Since Derek Roscow passed away there aren't many growers in Lancashire who are planting miniatures, so the classes need some supporting.
Though the Bartop Show run so well by Keith and Margaret Capper finished in 2012, there will be a new show over at Chorley which Tom Alty and Andrew Clarke have instigated. Locals will thus have Catforth, Chorley, Ramsbottom, Tottington and Colne to go at besides Harrogate and the Pie Eaters if there are blooms left by then. I had a text from Tom the other day to tell me that Catforth is only 12 weeks away. Let's hope we all have plenty of flowers on time.
