Planting
Guide for Fall-Planted
Spring-Flowering
Bulbs
BEST PLACE TO
BUY BULBS: Your Local Nursery.
VARIETIES
RECOMMENDED FOR PHOENIX: Alliums,
Amaryllis, Fall-blooming Crocus, Saffron Crocus, Winter-blooming Crocus, Daffodils,
Freesias, Bearded Iris, Dutch Iris, Grape Hyacinths (a.k.a. Muscari),
Hyacinths, Lycoris, Narcissus, Ranunculus, Sparaxis, Hybrid Tulips, &
Species Tulips.
REFRIGERATE: Winter-blooming Crocus, Hyacinths, &
Hybrid Tulips for 6-8 weeks before planting.
BEST TIME TO
PLANT: Fall, once temperatures have dropped below
95°.
SUN: Full all day sun, 6-8 hours of direct sun
minimum.
SOIL: Should be well prepared with plenty of
organic matter added to it.
PLANT SPACING: Varies by variety, check the information that
comes with your bulbs.
PLANTING DEPTH: Refer to the information that comes with your
bulbs, or use the chart below.
WATERING: Water bulbs thoroughly after planting. Let the top inch of soil dry before watering
again. If the soil is kept too
constantly wet, bulbs may rot. Until
bulbs begin forming roots, and leaves appear, water carefully. Once leaves are showing, water thoroughly
each time you water. When the top inch of soil is between damp and dry water
again.
FERTILIZING: Bulbs are heavy feeders; use a fertilizer
high in phosphorous. Fertilize when tops
are 4”-6” tall and again after they bloom.
Follow the application rate on the package.
CARE AFTER
BLOOMING: Continue to water regularly. Allow leaves to yellow and dry
naturally. Do not remove leaves before
they are dry; bulbs need the leaves to build up strength for next year's
bloom. Removing the leaves before they
dry will weaken the bulb and adversely affect next year’s bloom.
Most
bulbs can be left in the soil for many years before requiring digging and
dividing. Dig and divide bulbs every 3-5
years, or when bulbs become crowded and bloom performance has become poor.
Ranunculus
and Anemones should be taken up out of the soil after leaves have dried, and
stored in the house until being replanted.
If they are left in the soil through the summer, it is likely they not
come back for a repeat performance.
Dig
up Winter-blooming Crocus, Hyacinths, & Hybrid Tulips in mid-August, and
refrigerate until replanting in mid to late October.
FOR INFORMATION
ON GROWING PAPERWHITE NARCICUSSUS IN POTS:
Pick up next
month's copy of Gregory’s
Gardening Guide For November 2010, which will be
available at the Desert Botanical Garden
Fall Plant Sale on October, 15, 16, & 17, or from The Herb Guys
at the Downtown
Phoenix Public Market & The Herb Guys
at the Scottsdale
Old Town Farmers' Market on Saturdays, or
from Baker Nursery
or Southwest
Gardener, beginning November 1st.
FOR INFORMATION
ON GROWING AMARYLLIS IN POTS:
Pick
up a copy of Gregory’s
Gardening Guide For December 2010, which will be available
beginning December 1st from The Herb Guys
at the Downtown
Phoenix Public Market & The Herb Guys
at the Scottsdale
Old Town Farmers' Market on Saturdays, or from Baker Nursery or Southwest Gardener.
For
more detailed information about growing bulbs, see the article,
“Growing Fall Flower
Bulbs” in:
[This page was
last updated on October 1, 2010]
GregorysGardeningGuide.com/Tips/Growing Fall Flower
Bulbs