Fritillaria stenanthera - 2015

Andrew are you saying you covered the frit corm underground with the part pot? if so this meant the growing shoot had to maneuver around it to surface.I understand they are capable of doing that.
My thinking is if we have a lot of heavy rain it would have little effect unless you have planted it in grit which should drain it anyway, this is interesting but not sure I have understood exactly what you have done.
Enlighten me.

It is a lovely looking plant Andrew.

Brian - I will try and explain. The soil mix in the raised bed is quite gritty (it's the same mix as I have in a raised bed growing alpines). For the fritillary, I dug a deep hole and put a layer of grit in the bottom with the bulb resting on it. I then put a little 'soil' on top, placed a piece of rigid plastic at an angle of 45 degrees in the hole, and continued to fill up the hole. The lower end of the plastic is a couple of inches to the side of the bulb which should keep any excess moisture off it. The higher end is almost immediately above the bulb, so the shoot will grow, find the plastic, grow round the top end and up to the surface. I hope this makes it a bit clearer?

Oh goodness me, what trouble you go to Andrew, I am far too old now for all that, but, hats off to you!! and well done!

Andrew that is similar to what I imagined it differs in so much as you put the plastic down vertically angling it above the bulb towards the surface,has to be worth a try.
thank you