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Bulbs - Day 8: 21 Days of Garden Fatigue

I love bulbs. Okay...that's an understatement! These delicious anomalies of the plant kingdom which grace our gardens every spring remind us that gardening is worth the effort!

Growing bulbs isn't terribly hard and any amateur could succeed with most. So long as you plant bulbs at the right depth, at the right time, in the right soil, give them the right amount of water and fertiliser, don't cut them back too early and don't leave them in the ground to rot - they should be okay! It's not too hard ... is it!

If you want to have the best looking bulbs in the street and have your neighbours drool over the side fence, read on...

  • Flower Failure before you purchased your prized bulb that you're planning to see grow this spring the flower had already developed inside it - or not! The bulb (I'm including tubers, rhizomes and corms in this definition) should be plump and firm and not spongy. Most bulbs that fail to flower never had the flower grown in them before they were planted.
  • Bad Storage naturalised bulbs that you've planted for woodland effect don't need to be dug up each year but others such as tulips, gladioli and hyacinths need to be taken out of the ground and stored in a cool, dry place ready for the next season. These need to be stored away from where they can become damp require airflow to hinder bacterias and fungi to grow.
  • Incorrect planting most bulbs prefer full-sun and consistent watering so find a place where this is possible. Your bulbs will need to be planted at the correct depth if you want them to succeed and you can check out what the depths required are in this planting guide.
  • Fertilising bulbs should be fertilised with some blood and bone once they've been planted and then again after the flowers have finished. The second application helps prepare the bulbs for the next season's growth by giving them a boost as they try to regenerate themselves.




Posted by Stuart on January 10, 2006 5:18 AM | | Check to Subscribe to this Comment:


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