Coast Gardener
Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs
Coast Gardener Newspaper and Web Column - November 24, 2008
Now is the perfect time for planning your garden next year. The first group of plants you should consider are the spring flowering bulbs. This group of plants includes tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and many others that grow from bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers.
Development of daffodil through winter
and flowering in spring. Photo courtesy of the International Flower
Bulb Centre (www.bulb.com)
However, beautiful, planting bulb crops is not the instant color associated with planting bedding plants. Bulb crops must be planted when the soil temperatures are cooler and with sufficient moisture. In south Mississippi, any time after Thanksgiving is a good time to plant bulbs. This allows the root system to become established and support foliage and flower growth through the winter and spring (See photo).
Planting bulbs has gotten easier over the years with the advent of specialty bulb augers. Simply attach the auger to a cordless drill, a regular corded drill is also fine, drill holes to the desired depth, place bulb and cover. Done!
The depth of hole is determined by the size of the bulb. Generally, a hole 2 ½ times deeper than the bulb diameter is sufficient.
Always plants in the correct bulb orientation, usually this refers to the wide side down, and pointed end up. Some bulbs may have a papery covering called a tunic. Do not remove as this provides protection to the bulb.
Fertilization is not required for the first year. In subsequent years a general 10-10-10 garden fertilizer is sufficient at about 1 ½ lbs per 100 ft2.
Publications may download photograph at 200 ppi
Written by Dr. Gary R. Bachman, Assistant Extension Professor of Horticulture, Coastal Research & Extension Center.
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