|
|
|
Brightly colored spring flowering bulbs will enhance your landscape and compliment your home. They are available in every color in the rainbow - from brilliant reds and yellows to deepest purple, pale apricot and white.
What are Bulbs?
Bulbs are storage vessels for the plant and its flower while it rests.
How are the beautiful displays of bulbs created?
By combining bulbs with other bulbs, annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, architectural features, and the landscape.
What has to be considered in planning these displays?
Timing: bloom time (early, mid and late).
Color: Bright colors with dark, hot colors with cool, echo colors.
Size: Arrange heighs for best advantage at bloom time.
|
|
Planting Period
Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall. Plant from September to December, even after the first frost if the ground can be still worked.
Planting Depth
Use the above guide to determine the proper planting interval for the bulbs you have chosen. In extreme cold areas, plant slightly deeper.
Planting Intervals
In general, large bulbs can be planted at intervals of about five inches; smaller bulbs do well planted four inches apart.
Watering
To start root growth and establish your flower bed over the winter, soak the soil immediately after planting.
Planting
With a fork or shovel, break up the soil well. To plant bulbs individually, use a trowel or bulb planting tool to dig holes twice the depth of the bulb size, spaced approximately for this type.
Planting a Dutch Ditch
For planting large quantities of bulbs that will bloom all spring.
1. Measure the area to be planted and draw this on paper three times.
2. Make three lists of the bulbs by bloom time; early spring, mid-spring and late spring. Add to the lists until there are flowers in bloom in all three time slots.
3. Organize each list by flower height and place on each drawing so that the tallest is in the back/center of the bed and the shortest to the outside or front edge.
4. Line up each group of bulbs by planting depth.
5. Dig "Ditch" to the deepest planting depth. Sprinkle in Bulb Booster at this and each level according to package directions.
6. Place bulbs with deepest planting depth in first spacing according to directions. Placement of bulbs should match your drawings.
7. Cover with soil to reach the next planting depth. Continue to layer in the bulbs to reach the top of the "Ditch."
8. If animals are a problem, place a piece of chicken wire or old wire fence ove the "Ditch" and mulch over this protective cover.
9. In the spring remove the protective cover as the first shoots start to appear.
|
Successful Combintations...
Tulips with Grape Hyacinths
Anemone with Species Tulips
Crocus with early Narcissus
Snow Drops with Anemone
Late Tulips with Wood Hyancinths
Tete-a-Tete Narcissus with Iris Reticulata
Scilla with Iris Danfordiae
Muscari with Spring Snowflakes
Pansies with 8" or taller Spring Bulbs
Candytuft with Tulips
Allium with Basket of Gold Allysum
Tulips with Forget-Me-Not
Pachysandra with Spring Snowflakes
Witchhazel Diane with Eranthis or Crocus
Cornellian Cherry Dogwood with Frittalaria or Alliums
For Different Looks...
Tulips will give you a Formal look
Hyacinths for a Cottage look
Frittalaria for a Rustic look
Narcussus, Crocus and Scilla for Naturalizing
Snowdrops or Spring Snowflakes for a Woodland Setting
|
Forcing Spring Bulbs
(Requires Cooling Period)
|
| Selecting Bulbs |
Choose firm bulbs that have no rotten or soft spots. Bulbs should be heavy - indicating bulbs are full of moisture. For best success, plant varieties that are suitable for forcing. Bulbs need to fill a six inch pot: |
|
6 Tulips
3 Hyacinths
4-6 Daffodils
10-15 Crocus
Select shorter growing bulbs, as bulbs will tend to stretch when grown indoors at warmer temperatures.
|
| Selecting Containers |
Containers must have drainage. If using clay, soak pots in advance for several hours. If using old clay pots, clean before using.
|
| Soil Mix |
Soil needs to be well draining but retain moisture. Use a mix of1/3 peat, 1/3 sand, and 1/3 soil or use straight Ferti-Lome Potting Mix.
|
| Planting |
Place soil in container. |
|
Place bulbs close together but not touching. Points up! |
|
When planting Tulips, place the flat side of the bulb towards the outside of the pot. |
|
Cover with soil and water thoroughly. |
|
After watering, bulbs should be at least 3/4 buried. |
|
Be careful not to damage the basal plate by pushing the bulb too hard into the soil. This may damage the bulb or cause soil to compact and hinder rooting. |
|
Label each pot with type of bulb, date planted & or when to bring indoors.
|
| Rooting |
Soil needs to be moist. Check several times for moisture and water when necessary. |
|
Temperature must be below 50 degrees farenheit. Preferably 45-48 degrees farenheit and never below 32 degrees farenheit. Check with a soil thermometer. |
|
Chilling takes 12 to 15 weeks. Bulbs may be stored before planting at the chilling temperature and this time counted towards total number of weeks chilled.
|
| Bringing Pots Indoors |
After chilling period, bulbs will be well rooted and show beginning top growth. |
|
Bring bulbs into a 60 degree farenheit room and place in sunlight. |
|
Blooms will appear in 2-3 weeks.
|
| After Forcing |
Bulbs forced in soil may be planted outdoors into the garden. |
|
Bulbs forced in water should be discarded.
|
|
1605 South Big Bend Blvd
Richmond Heights, Missouri 63117
314-645-SEED • fax-314-645-0121
|
|
|
