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Plant bulbs now for spring flowers
The Coast Gardener Newspaper and Web Column - December 22, 2001

For several weeks, nurseries and garden centers have displayed lots of tulips, jonquils, hyacinths and other flowering bulbs. If you do not have a green thumb, then bulbs are your dream come true! They are easy to grow and produce beautiful blooms in the spring. Think of bulbs as energized bundles of blooms just waiting to show off.

The use of bulbous plants in the landscape can provide years of enjoyment if the few steps listed below are followed. Tulips are among the most popular of the bulbous plants. However, there are several other beautiful flowering plants from true bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes that provide color in the landscape. All of these structures contain everything needed for a season's worth of growth and beauty.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs when the soil temperature is 40 to 45º F. This temperature is usually found late in December in south Mississippi; however, soil temperatures along the Gulf Coast sometimes fail to drop this low. Unless forecasted temperatures get cooler, we likely will not reach this temperature range in December. Some bulbs such as tulips require a coolness stage before they will bloom. Storing them in a cool place like the vegetable crisper in the refrigerator for several weeks will help ensure blooms in the spring.

Prepare the beds to a depth of 9 to 12 inches. Plant in well-drained soil. Don't guess, soil test-bulbs grow and flower well with a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0. After planting, apply a complete fertilizer (such as 5-10-10 at 3 pounds per 100 square feet). For summer-flowering bulbs, apply 5-10-10 at 2 pounds per 100 square feet three times during the growing season at six-week intervals. Phosphorus is important for proper root and flower development. It doesn't move much in the soil, so you can add it when you prepare the bed. If bulbs are planted with a bulb planter or trowel, apply one teaspoon of bone meal to the bottom of the planting hole 1 to 2 inches below the bulb. This will add phosphorus to the soil.

Give your plants the right start. If bulbs arrive at their correct planting times, you have only to check the proper planting depth and spacing before you plant. Good root growth depends on firm contact between bulb and soil. For bulbs that are rootless at planting time, dig wide-based hold and set bulb securely on soil. For bulbs with roots, make a ridge of soil and spread roots downward.

A good rule of thumb is to plant bulbs only 2 1/2 times deeper than their diameters. Smaller bulbs, corms or tubers should be planted closer together than larger bulbs. After planting, thoroughly water the soil to establish good contact between bulb and soil and to provide enough moisture to initiate root growth.

You can extend the blooming time of your bulbs by planting them at different depths. Deeper bulbs bloom later. Be careful, however, not to plant bulbs too deeply, as they may fail to grow and bloom at all. Bulbs placed in shady locations can also bloom up to two weeks later than those in full sun.

Some bulbs like daffodils "naturalize" and get better as the years pass. They also can become crowded as they multiply. Every few years it is a good idea to dig and separate them.

A final point to consider is to not be stingy when buying bulbs. Buying larger bulbs will ensure more large and colorful flowers for the springtime.

Until next week, here's wishing all my readers a very safe and happy holiday season.

These archived gardening columns were written by Chance McDavid, former Harrison County Extension Agent.