Flower Bulbs - When to Plant
Knowing when to plant spring flowering bulbs like tulips and
daffodils can be confusing to some gardeners. Here are some
handy bulb planting pointers to ensure that your spring bulbs are
planted in good time to come up beautifully every year.
When can bulbs be planted?
Spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils should be
planted in the fall or early winter in order to bloom in spring as
they require a long period of cool temperatures to spark the
biochemical process that causes them to flower. If you live in
an area with freezing temperatures, your bulbs need to be planted in
the ground before the ground freezes so that they can have time to
develop strong roots.
If you forget to plant the bulbs in the fall, try chilling them in
the refrigerator for use indoors as forced bulbs or somehow get them
into the ground outside. Because bulbs are so tough and contain a full
storehouse of food, your bulbs will try their best to bloom no matter
how late it is in the season. Chances are you may still get some
results, even if you plant them late.
Growing spring flowering bulbs in warm climates
It's possible to grow spring-flowering bulbs in climates as warm as
Zone 10. However the blooming season in these zones is much earlier
than in cooler zones. Growing bulbs in a warmer zone means that
you need to pre-chill the bulbs, especially tulips and daffodils.
Pre-chill your flower bulbs
Pre-chill the bulbs for a minimum of six to eight weeks in a
refrigerator at a temperature of around 40°F to 45°F (typical
refrigerator temperature). They can remain chilling up to 16
weeks if necessary, until it is time to plant. Ideally the bulbs
should be put in the ground in December or early January.
Where is the best spot to plant flower bulbs?
Bulbs like tulips, daffodils and crocuses will grow in shade as well
as a sunny location. For bulbs that continue to thrive and
multiply year after year however, they do need four to six hours of
sunlight each day. Even if your garden is shady in summer
though, there is usually more sun in a spring garden as many of the
trees and shrubs haven't grown their summer leaves back yet.
Be sure to plant bulbs in an area that the soil drains well so that
your bulbs aren't sitting in water which could cause them to rot, but
do water newly planted bulbs to help those roots get going.
To see some really beautiful collections of all types of spring
flower bulbs visit some of these
retailers
specializing in spring flower bulbs.
