Gardening with bulbs
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Bulbs have been among the most popular types of flowers for
many, many years. Tulip bulbs were once so popular in Holland
that a single bulb was worth more than an entire herd of cows,
and Tulip mania as it was popularly called, is widely seen to be
the first example of a market bubble.
Even if bulbs are not quite so popular these days, bulbs are
still among the most popular, beautiful and useful of all plants
for the home gardener. Bulbs are renowned for their hardiness
and for their ability to rebloom season after season. In
addition, most bulb flowers are very easy to grow and very
inexpensive to buy. With all these advantages, it is easy to see
why bulbs are so popular with all kinds of gardeners.
Another advantage of bulbs is that it is usually easy to choose
the healthiest bulbs. The best way to choose healthy bulbs is to
choose the firmest, largest bulbs you can find. Firm bulbs are
generally very healthy bulbs, and large bulbs typically produce
the largest and best blooming flowers.
Unhealthy bulbs are generally very easy to spot as well. Bulbs
that are very light, cracked or soft should be avoided. Many
bulbs are susceptible to rot, and a soft bulb may be showing
signs of rot. In addition, a lightweight or shriveled looking
bulb may be unable to
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bloom. A good, healthy bulb will be
surprisingly heavy for its size, so it is important to handle
the bulbs to choose the best ones.
Most types of bulbs should be planted in the fall of the year,
but it is important to get planting instructions when you buy
your bulbs. Some bulbs bloom in the fall of the year, and they
are usually planted in the springtime instead.
When planting bulbs in the fall, they should be planted around
early to mid October. The goal is to have the bulbs in the
ground around six weeks prior to the time the ground starts to
freeze. This means that the optimum time for planting bulbs will
vary according to your own location.
It is important to plant bulbs in a soil that has been properly
prepared. The depth the bulbs should be planted will vary from
variety to variety, so again it is important to get planting
instructions if you are unfamiliar with the needs of the bulb.
For instance, crocus bulbs should be planted four inches deep,
while daffodils and hyacinths need to be planted to a depth of
six inches. Tulips should be planted even deeper, to a depth of
about eight inches.
One great tool to have on hand when working with bulbs is the
bulb planter. A bulb planter is a great way to dig consistent
size holes when planting
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TODAY'S NEWS:
A one-day gardening symposium will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at the East Port Environmental Campus at 25550 Harborview Road in Port Charlotte. This program is sponsored by the Charlotte County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers.
Waimea Valley Park will host a gardening class on Hawaiian plants from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 25 at its Educational Center, 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy., across from Waimea Bay.
October is the month to begin fall gardening in earnest. Crisp mornings and cool evenings are the inspiration needed to shake off the summer doldrums, step outside and spruce up the landscape. It is time to plant pansies to brighten winter days and to prepare the groundwork for an early spring garden.
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a row of bulbs, and a bulb planter is
also a great way to keep your rows uniform.
Gardeners who want a more wild and natural look to their bulb
garden often prefer to dig a trench to the appropriate depth and
simply lay the bulbs in. This approach can provide a unique, if
somewhat unpredictable, look when the bulbs begin to emerge.
When you plant your bulbs, it is a good idea to lay a small
amount of fertilizer in the bottom of each hole, then cover that
fertilizer with a layer of soil. The fertilizer provides much
needed nutrients for the bulb to start its growth, but it is
important that the bulb not make direct contact with the
fertilizer, since this could potentially cause the bulb to be
burned.
Bulbs should always be planted with the pointed end sticking up
and the flat side pointing down, directly on top of the layer of
soil covering the fertilizer. After the bulbs have been planted,
they should be covered with more soil and provided with a good,
thorough watering.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is an international author and webmaster. In his
busy life he finds time to "Smell the Roses". For geat tips,
techniques and articles visit http://www.rose-bloom.com
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