How and When to Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs: A Newbie’s Information

How and When to Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs: A Newbie’s Information

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I’ve all the time recognized in idea that for those who plant spring-flowering bulbs (comparable to tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and alliums) you’ll be able to fill your backyard with successive waves of shade for 3 months whilst you look forward to summer time. However in my backyard, after the spring flowers on the azaleas and rhododendrons fade? Nothing—till June.  I eye my neighbors’ extra colourful gardens with envy and provoke late-night talks with my husband about why that is the 12 months we must always rent a panorama designer.

This fall I plan to be proactive and plant bulbs—which I do know is a factor you do in autumn as a result of one 12 months I went to our native nursery and requested for alliums. (I’m notably enamored with the extraterrestrial look of alliums, with their massive pompom heads and tall, slender stalks.) But it surely was in the course of the top of summer time, and the great girl who labored on the nursery needed to break it to me that I’d have to attend till September or later for the bulbs to be accessible for buy. Like many different bulbs, they’re planted within the fall and bloom within the spring, she instructed me, with not the slightest little bit of disdain.

A job requirement for working at nurseries have to be an uncanny capability to chorus from rolling one’s eyes when requested idiotic questions. Fortunately, my interview with Barbara Pierson, nursery supervisor of White Flower Farm, wherein I requested newbie questions on spring-flowering bulbs, was performed over electronic mail. (Thanks, Barbara, for not inserting any eye-roll emojis.) Right here’s what I realized:

Q: What are bulbs, anyway?

Tulip bulbs ready for the planting. Photograph by Meredith Swinehart.
Above: Tulip bulbs prepared for the planting. {Photograph} by Meredith Swinehart.

A: A bulb is “primarily a storage organ” for crops, says Barbara; all of the meals they want is concentrated in a compact, onion-shaped mass. “True bulbs have scales, that are fleshy and develop into leaves after the bulb begins to develop.” They’re usually lumped along with corms, rhizomes, and tubers, as a result of all of them develop underground and produce crops, however they’re totally different. Corms don’t have scales; rhizomes develop horizontally and might produce extra crops; and tubers have eyes (like potatoes) that may develop into sprouts or roots. (See All the things You Must Know About Bulbs and Tubers for a roundup of a few of our favourite springtime bulb and tuber flowers.)

Q: Which bulbs are the simplest to develop?

Barbara recommends
Above: Barbara recommends ‘Globemaster’ alliums. “They’re simple to develop and, most occasions, will flower the primary 12 months after planting within the fall,” she says. “Plant them 4 to 5 inches beneath the soil line in a border near different perennials so the foliage is hidden when it dies down throughout and after flowering. Remembering to let bulb foliage die down naturally is the important thing to having them come again 12 months after 12 months.”  {Photograph} by Justine Hand.

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10 thoughts on “How and When to Plant Spring-Flowering Bulbs: A Newbie’s Information

  1. This article highlights some practical tips for bulb planting that I hadn’t considered before. The mention of asking nursery staff questions resonates with me, as gardening can be daunting without guidance from knowledgeable people.

  2. The tips on bulb planting are quite helpful, especially regarding their depth and care after blooming. It’s great to have guidance from someone experienced in the field like Barbara. I might give it a try this year.

  3. This article provides a good overview of bulb planting and care. I never realized there was such a variety of underground storage organs. The information about foliage dying down naturally is particularly helpful for beginners.

  4. It’s interesting to learn about the different types of bulbs and their growing conditions. I have a small garden and might consider planting some alliums this fall. Thanks for sharing this informative piece.

  5. I appreciate the detailed explanation about bulbs and their characteristics. I’ve always been fascinated by gardening but never knew much about the specifics. This article has inspired me to do more research before planting.

  6. I appreciate the insights on planting spring-flowering bulbs. It’s interesting how different types of bulbs have their own characteristics. I might try the ‘Globemaster’ alliums this fall to enhance my garden’s appearance.

  7. I find the concept of using spring-flowering bulbs to add color throughout the season very appealing. It seems like a fantastic way to enhance my garden while waiting for summer blooms. I’ll definitely be trying this out!

  8. I found the advice on planting depth and location for bulbs useful. It’s always challenging to know where to place them in the garden. Hopefully, with some planning, I can achieve a more colorful display next season.

  9. This article does a good job of breaking down bulb types and their care requirements. It’s essential for novice gardeners to understand these fundamentals before starting their own gardens, so I found this very useful.

  10. The explanation about true bulbs versus corms and rhizomes was quite informative. It’s essential to understand these differences for successful gardening. I’m considering a mix of tulips and daffodils for my spring garden this year.

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