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GARDENER'S
READING ROOM
Bulbs and Seeds
Bulbs
& Boxed Perennials for Summer Color
 In
the first part of February summer-flowering bulbs will be
arriving at Sky Nursery: tuberous begonias, cannas, dahlias,
gladioli, lilies,Peruvian daffodils, tuberoses, and many varieties
of boxed perennials such as hostas, lily-of-the-valley, bleeding
heart, and phlox.
Growing
flowers from bulbs is simple and rewarding whether you're
a novice or an experienced gardener.
"Bulbs"
as a category is used both for true bulbs and for corms, rhizomes,
and tuberous roots. The common characteristic is that each
of these structures stores large amounts of food that the
plant can draw on to flower profusely. True bulbs, such as
lilies, store the entire plant structure as a flower bud on
a stem surrounded by closely packed leaves called scales.
You can peel them apart like an onion. An example of a corm
is a gladiolus. If the root itself is the food storage organ,
the plant is a tuberous root such as a dahlia. A rhizome is
a horizontal stem. Tuberoses and iris are examples of rhizomes.
To
prepare the ground for planting any of these, first remove
all weeds and unwanted plants. Dig to a depth of one foot,
mixing in sand plus organic matter such as compost or steer
manure. Because most bulbs are susceptible to rotting in soggy
conditions, we recommend adding an extra 3-4" layer of
coarse sand under your bulb planting area.
 When
planting your bulbs, follow the planting depth listed on the
package. As a rule of thumb, plant them twice as deep as the
bulb is high. Fertilize your bulbs at planting with Whitney
Farms™ Bulb Food. For container plantings you may find
a water-soluble fertilizer easier to use. If so, apply either
Miracle-Gro or Peters 20-20-20 when the foliage is about 3"
high.
Bulbs
are susceptible to insects and diseases. Be sure to use a
bulb dust before planting for bulb mites and thrips—especially
on gladioli. Watch foliage for aphids and powdery mildew;
a good natural spray for both is Green Light Rose Defense™.
In
the Puget Sound area summer flowering bulbs normally need
to be dug and stored where they won't freeze (or rot).
When the tops have died down after the first frost, carefully
dig the bulbs and shake the soil off. Let them dry for a few
days, then label and put them in well-ventilated boxes and
store them in a cool (about 45º F) dry place. Then you
can plant them again the following spring for another summer
of wonderful flowers.
By
Ken Plante
Skylights Spring, Vol 16, No. 1
Other
articles on bulbs and seeds
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