Bulbs – “fall” for them!
Every fall, nursery shops are filled with fall planted bulbs such as tulips and daffodils but the term bulb applies to any plant with a swollen storage system. 4 types of bulbs – “true” bulbs such as Tulips; Corms such as Gladiolas; Tubers such as Dahlias and Rhizomes such as Canna. Here are a couple of general recommendations for bulbs:
- Spring-blooming bulbs shouldn’t be fertilized after they start flowering but summer and fall ones can be
- Watering should be with a soaker hose when possible so the water reaches the roots – not the bulb
- Make sure you plant bulbs with perennials/annuals that have same water requirements.
- Storing bulbs? Make sure they are dry before storage; provide good air circulation and keep the temp between 35 – 65F depending on bulb type. Use peat moss, sand and perlite or vermiculite for storage but don’t pile the bulbs too deep.