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| By planting heat-loving, summer-blooming bulbs such as
Canna, Calla Lily, Dahlia and Gladiolus, you can enjoy the exotic flowers and foliage of
the tropics without leaving your own backyard. Most summer-blooming bulbs are tender
bulbs, which means, in areas with sustained frost, they require lifting from the ground
and storage indoors for the winter. |
Planting your summer-blooming bulbs:
1. Prepare Your Soil: Good soil preparation is the first
step to successful bulb gardening. Make sure the soil is loose and porous. Well-drained
soil is a must or bulbs will rot. Turn the soil over and work organic matter such as peat
moss or compost through to allow good root formation.
2. Space Your Bulbs: Spacing depends largely on the effect you are trying to
achieve. An effective planting technique is to plant bulbs in groups or clusters rather
than in individual lines. Space bulbs according to color with the softer colors in the
front and the more vibrant colors in the background. Also, consider how much growth is
expected for larger species and give them plenty of room to avoid the task of dividing as
they mature.
3. Dig Your Holes: The planting depth for bulbs depends on their size. A good
rule of thumb is that the depth should be three times the diameter of the bulbs. Cover
small bulbs with 1 to 2 inches of soil; plant large bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep.
4. Work In Bulb Food: Work bulb food, bone meal or rock phosphate into the
planting area or hole to encourage blooms and root development. Use well-rotted compost
that has been incorporated into the soil rather than directly touching the bulbs when
planting.
5. Plant Your Bulbs: Plant bulbs firmly in the soil, pointed end
up, to avoid damaging fleshy roots, if present. Cover bulbs with soil. Water well. If the
weather is dry, water the bulbs during the growing period.
6. Mulch: Mulch with shredded bark.
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10 Tips for Top bulbs
Plant bulbs in borders or beds with good drainage.
Feed your bulbs with good bulb food.
Label the bulbs as you plant them.
Clip flowers, not foliage. Cut as little foliage as
possible when clipping flowers from your plants.
Allow foliage to die back naturally. Do not trim back
healthy green foliage or the bulb will not perform well next year.
Deadhead spent blooms.
Lift summer-blooming tender bulbs before winter.
Dry bulbs indoors. Never dry bulbs in the sun; always
choose a shaded, well-ventilated area.
Label the bulbs as you store them..
Store bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated area. To prevent
mold or mildew, your bulbs need to be stored dry. Do not store them in an air-tight
container.
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| Winter Storage of Tender Bulbs Tender bulbs are perennials in warm winter areas, but will not survive winters
in the North. You can overwinter tender bulbs and enjoy them next year, if proper storage
conditions are available and provided. To store summer-flowering bulbs, dig the bulbs when
the foliage has withered or turned brown after a light frost. Dry the bulbs for two to
three days in an airy, shady place before storing or they will rot. Brush soil from the
bulbs and cut off the foliage 1 to 2 inches above the tops of the bulbs. Store bulbs in a
dry, cool (50-55º F), well-ventilated area to prevent mold or mildew. Do not store in an
air-tight container.
Place bulbs in dry peat moss or wood shavings in a brown paper bag, open crate, netted
bag or even old pantyhose. Label the bulbs as you store them. Once in storage, you may not
be able to differentiate between bulbs, so clearly label them for next season’s
planting ease. |
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