do I cut the leaves from crocus ?

[tinkertontom]

this year I had a lovely crop of crocus wich I grew in window boxes ,now that they have finished I would like to grow some french marrrigolds in them but don't want to dig up the crocus bulbs so can I cut back the leaves or do I wait for them to die off,or would it be better to dig out the bulbs ?

[Clanad]

Don't cut your crocus leaves. Just like tulips and other bulb plants, the nutrition to the bulb actually occurs once the bloom is off and the nutrients are provided to the bulb by the leaf system. Let them stay until at least a yellowed stage, at whcih time they can safely be trimmes. Go ahead and add the marigolds in between the plants, assuring you cause minimal disturbance to the bulbs. Now would be a good time to add some bone meal to the soil to help in nutrition to the crocus and it won't hurt the marigolds. (Nothing hurts marigolds, it seems). Being all natural, the bone meal won't butn your plants and can be watered in easily. Best of luck!

[tinkertontom]

thanks clanad