GARDENPOST Autumn Bulb Planting Guide

 
SOILS: Bulbs don’t like wet feet! Do not plant in boggy ground!  Add sand to poorly drained soils or plant in raised beds. Do not add fresh organic manure. Bulbs have a low nitrogen requirement, but do value phosphate & potash fertilizers. For good results in warm areas. The most important thing is to plant cold climate bulbs (daffodils, tulips, crocus hyacinth, chinodoxa, fritillaria) deeper and later in the season when soil temperatures have started to cool. Mulch to help conserve water and provide insulation from temperature fluctuations.
 
CHILLING: Some bulbs like to be chilled in the fridge in paper bags for up to 6 weeks before planting - especially tulips. This provides close to a natural dormant climate and improves growth. Keep bulbs separate from vegetables as the ethylene gas produced by ripening fruit and vegetables can cause damage to the bulbs.
.
PLANT CARE: Bulbs are easy care, but do appreciate being weeded occasionally! At the end of the season leave the foliage on the plant until it dies down, as the plant develops next years bulb after it has flowered. Bulbs can be left in the ground from year to year, except for hyacinths and tulips, which should be dug annually. However digging and splitting your bulbs every third year does promote better flowering.
 
BULB STORAGE: After digging your bulbs in late spring, place in net bag or store unwrapped in a cool dry place free from vermin ready for replanting in late summer and autumn.
 
NATURALISING BULBS: Naturalising means bulbs that are left in the ground from year to year to bloom multiply and die back with no digging or special care required. Simply plant and forget! Bulbs most suitable for this are Jonquils, Snowflakes, Smaller cup and trumpet Daffodils, Refaracta Alba Fressias,  Belladonna, Muscari, Bluebells and Crocus.  Suppress the grass by spraying with a very weak round up or other herbicide solution in winter before the bulbs start to appear. Scatter the bulbs by hand and plant where they land to create a natural look.  Apply fertilizer during growing period; do not mow again until the foliage has died off. Fertilise after flowering to help feed the bulbs for next season.

BULB FAILURES: The main reasons for bulb failures are planting in wet ground or too deeply, this will cause them to rot and they won’t grow. If you don’t plan to plant your bulbs straight away, remove from paper bag and place
in net bag or store unwrapped in a cool dry place free from vermin.

Bulbs for…

Bearded Irises:  Plant within 2 weeks of receipt or sooner for dwarf irises.  The rhizomes should be firm to touch. Ignore dry leaves, green will show within a week of planting.  Do not wet rhizomes until ready to plant.If you are not planting immediately then unwrap the parcel and expose rhizomes to the air, keep dry and in the shade until planted.  Plant with the top of the rhizome level with the soil surface. Firm roots in well. Secure so there is no free movement of the plant. Water after planting and keep moist for approximately two weeks. Once new roots have established, bearded iris can stand considerable dry periods. Do not mulch Bearded Iris.

Anemones & Ranunculus: Chill Anemones for 6 weeks and Ranunculus for 4 weeks in a paper bag in the refrigerator away from fruit and vegetables.  The ethylene gas produced by ripening fruit and vegetables can cause damage to the bulbs. After refrigeration soak the corms in tepid water to re-hydrate for approximately 6-8 hours. For optimum results they can be germinated in a cool position between sheets of wet newspaper or planted into seed trays claw/point down to get them started. Plant out at 3-4 cms deep in well drained sunny spot.

Tulips: Place bulbs in a paper bag (plastic bags cause sweating and rotting of bulbs) with an ethylene-absorbing sachet (Ethylene produced by ripening fruit and vegetables damages the developing flower bud). Chill in fridge and inspect every 14 days, towards the end of May you will notice swelling at the base of each bulb. They are now ready for planting! Plant 10-15cms deep in cool sunny well drained soil. Mulch to help keep soil temperature cool. Allow foliage to die back naturally this is when they draw the nourishment from the foliage and store it for next seasons growth. Lift and store for next season in cool airy location.

Freesias: Plant in warm sunny spot in well-drained soil point down at approx 5-8cm deep. Protect from frost. After flowering remove spent flower heads so that the bulb will fatten up for next year. Allow foliage to die off naturally then remove.

Crocus: Plant in free draining soil. Water in well once planted. If growing in pots plant 4-5cm deep and allow 10-15 bulbs for 15-20cm pots. Store in cool position until buds start to appear through the soil.

Daffodils: Plant in sunny well-drained site starting in late February through till the end of May when the soil temperatures are cooler. Plant at 10cms deep In well drained sunny site. Protect from slugs as leaves develop. As weather warms up protect from aphids with a general-purpose insecticide.  Once flowering has finished sprinkle Diazinon on the soil around the base of the leaves to discourage the narcissus flies whose offspring will burrow down and feast on the inside out of the bulbs. Remove spent flower heads to stop seed development and lightly apply a general purpose or bulb fertiliser to encourage better bulb growth. Allow foliage to die back naturally this is when they draw the nourishment from the foliage and store it for next seasons growth.   Daffodils can be left in the ground undisturbed for several years or dug up and stored in cool airy location.

Irises: should be planted before the end of March to establish good root growth before winter. Bearded Irises are very hardy plants surviving drought and also tolerant of tough soils. They will bulk up readily and require little care.

Dutch Iris: Plant out in March/April  at 8 – 10cms deep in free draining sunny site. Water to start with but do not over water, as this will encourage disease. Spray during growing season with appropriate fungicide and insecticide for optimum blooms. Pick when bud starts to colour up. Lift bulbs when foliage has died back and store in dry airy place ready for replanting next season.
Hyacinths –to promote better flowers store potted bulb in a dark place and keep moist until shoots are approximately 7 to 10cms high. Then bring them into the open to enjoy.
Nerines, Belladonnas: Plant immediately in very good free-draining soil in a hot, dry/sandy area. Plant with shoulders exposed and keep dry until bulb begins to sprout. Water lightly once bulb sprouts. In cooler areas plant in pots or in a    sheltered position where frost won’t harm the plants.

Tecophilia, Ipheion, Tropaeolum, Oxalis:  We recommend you keep these little bulbs in pots in a sheltered  area to start with.  They can also be planted outdoors in a sunny, well drained spot.

                        Trillium chloropetalum:  Plant immediately into a cool, shady position. 

Best Cut Flower Bulbs. Anenomes and Ranunculus (pick while buds are still closed) Irises (pick when buds are halfway open) Tulips, Daffodils (display on their own as they will shorten the life of other flowers in mixed bunches)
 
Bulbs in Pots: Spring bulbs best suited to pots are hyacinths, bluebells (keep well watered), crocus (avoid waterlogged shallow pots), daffodil (use plastic pots as doesn’t dry out as quickly as clay), tulips, freesias, and lachenalia. Plant in well-drained potting mix with the tips of the bulbs just below the surface. Keep the soil moist but not wet and keep the newly potted bulbs in the shade to avoid excessive temperature changes. When the first shoots emerge move into the light and increase watering. Remove bulbs from the pots after the foliage has died down.

 From the Team at GardenPost

We love Gardening!