"This bud...May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet."
–William Shakespeare
"...be sure to stop and smell the flowers."
–New York Times.
The prospect of bulbs is upon us again– as the strike-shortened baseball season winds down, I focus my attention on the process of selecting plants which offer brilliant color and a spirit of renewal. For the uninitiated, it seems odd to be purchasing bulbs which won't be blooming for months. But to enjoy flowers in the spring, you have to choose your bulbs now for the best selection.
Bulbs have long been a fascination for gardeners. Many can be counted on to rebloom after a dormant period and disappearance into the soil. Most bulbs live for years, and it is part of garden magic to anticipate their yearly return.
The first reference to bulbs dates nearly 3500 years ago. Paintings of crocus, lilies, and iris adorned an island palace in Crete. The sultans of the 15th and 16th centuries sent horticulturists to the Near East in search of tulips and other bulbs. The subsequent popularity of these exotic flowers set off "Tulipmania" (the precursor to "Fernandomania" and "Nomomania"?) and sent single bulb prices as high as $5000 for a new tulip variety. The Dutch have since elevated bulb cultivation to an art, and are rightfully associated with the highest quality bulbs.
Bulbs are commonly grouped according to their season of bloom, a purely arbitrary ordering. Bulbs make their first appearance at your local nursery in late August, commencing with crocus, ranunculus, bearded iris and narcissus. These are followed by hyacinth, tulip and calla lily, anemone, sparaxis and daffodil...the bulbs of spring. These yield to the tuberous begonias, lilies, amaryllis, and gladiolus of summer and early autumn. Gardeners willing to experiment with other, lesser known bulbs are rewarded with exciting floral surprises.
Bulbs are the ideal beginner's plants. Because their flower buds are already formed inside the bulbs at the time of purchase, the gardener is practically assured of flowers the next season, unless he or she commits some significant cultural error. With minimum care of moisture, light, and food, bulbs will succeed almost anywhere.
The best place to shop for bulbs is at your local nursery. You can inspect the bulbs, purchasing only the best ones. Bulbs vary in size and quality, so look carefully before you buy- generally, the larger bulbs will produce more flowers at blooming time. Much like selecting fruit at the market, choose firm bulbs, avoiding the mushy ones. Do not buy bulbs that are infested with either insects or diseases. Prior to planting, tulip, daffodil and crocus bulbs should be chilled (not frozen) in the refrigerator for eight weeks.
Most bulbs prefer a sunny locale and a soil that is not too acid, a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 would be good. It is important that the soil drains well; bulbs can rot if they sit in a soggy soil. Heavy, clay soils can be improved by adding redwood compost, peat moss, or leaf mold. Unlike nitrogen, phosphorous moves slowly downward, so superphosphate or bone meal should be added at the depth of the future root zone of the bulbs. You are now ready to plant.
The general rule that a bulb should be planted at a depth equal to twice it's width is usually safe. However, in light sandy soils, they should be planted a little deeper, and in heavier soils, a little shallower. Tall growers, such as gladiolus and lilies, need the extra support of deep planting to ensure they grow upright Even then, some bulbs often require stakes for support.
The best time to apply fertilizer, is when the first shoots appear. A low nitrogen "bloom" fertilizer is better for bulbs than one high in nitrogen. An organic mulch to cover the bulbs, helps to keep the weeds down, retains moisture, and improves the general soil condition and appearance.
Besides the obvious use of bulbs in garden beds and pots, they are successful in informal lawns and "forgotten" areas of your garden. Masses of blooms remind one to take advantage of the entire garden. Narcissus and hyacinth can be grown in water and pebbles, bringing wonderful flowers and fragrance indoors.
It seems natural that I should cultivate bulbs with Catharine, they have added an ineffable touch to our entire deck garden. Their prodigious display and brilliance of color have shown us, that prior to narcissi and daffodils, our garden collection of annual and perennial flowers was never entirely complete or satisfactory. It was, in fact, as incomplete as a Dodger Dog without ketchup and onions. See you next time.
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