A Beginners Guide to Planting Spring Flowering Bulbs

Created for use by:

Emil Yedowitz Florist

Trish YedowitzColorado State University

Trish.yedowitz@hotmail.com

Planting Bulbs 1

Table of Contents

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………….1

List of Figures…………………………………………………………………….……………….2

Introduction……………………………………………………………………….…..……….......3

Section 1: Introduction to Spring Flowering Bulbs……………………..…………...….....……...4

Before Planting……………………………………….………………….….……..….......4

Choosing Bulbs & Planning……………………………………………………………....5

Section 2: Suggested Tools and Optional Materials………………….……………….……....…..6

Section 3: Planting Your Bulbs……………………………………………………… ……....…...7

Section 4: Planting Bulbs in Pots Out of Season (Vernalization)…………………………………8

What is vernalization?..........................................................................................................8

Planting in Pots……………………………………………………………………………

9

Cold Storage……………………………………………………………………………….9

Note………………………………………………………………………………………10

Section 5: Additional Project

Information………………………………………………………..10

Time Table……………………………………………………………………………….10

Estimated Costs…………………………………………………………………………..10

Glossary of Terms………………………………………………………………………………..11

Index………………………………………………………………

……………………………..12

References………………………………………………………………………………………..13

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List of Figures

Figure 1: U.S. & Canada Planting

Zones…………………………………………………………..4

Figure 2: Spring-flowering bulbs offer a wide variety of colors and

heights……………………….5

Figure 3: Garden trowel…………………………………..

………………………………………..6

Figure 4: Bulb planter……………………………………………………………………………..6

Figure 5: Dig your trench and place your bulbs…………………………..………………………7

Figure 6: Wire mesh for protection from squirrels………………………………………………..8

Figure 7: Bulbs in pots…………………………………………………………………………….9

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Introduction

The planting of spring flowering bulbs is common practice in the fall season for many

homeowners, landscapers and growers. Although these bulbs are readily available at any garden

center or even supermarkets, if not properly planted, these bulbs will not produce the beautiful

spring flowers that were expected and thus the consumer (or grower) will have wasted their time

and their money. Another option for planting spring flowering bulbs is to force bulbs to bloom

out of season in pots for indoor use, using a process called “vernalization.” This is a how-to

guide for planting spring flowering bulbs both in the ground and force blooming in pots via

vernalization.

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Section 1: Introduction to Spring Flowering Bulbs

Everyone loves tulips, daffodils, and all the other spring-flowering bulbs, but there’s one

thing you need to remember: if you want to have these flowers in spring, you need to plant them

in the fall. Spring-blooming flower bulbs are widely available from nurseries and garden

centers.

Before Planting

It’s best to plant bulbs as soon as possible after purchasing. If you must store them, keep

them dry and cool. A refrigerator is the perfect place….just make sure you keep them away from

ripening fruit. The ethylene gas emitted by the fruit’s ripening process can actually destroy bulbs.

Spring-flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall because they require a sustained dormant

period of cold temperatures to stimulate root

development. As a rule, the best time to plant

bulbs is September through October and

early November depending on the climate

where you live. The universal rule is they

must be planted before the first hard frost.

(see figure 1)

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Suggested Planting DatesZones 2 and 3 (Canada and far north): Plant in September

Zones 4 and 5: Plant in October

Zones 6 and 7: Plant in November

Zone 8, 9 and 10: Plant in early January after "pre-chilling" bulbs. figure 1: U.S. & Canada Planting ZonesSource: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/tulips/Planting.htmlChoosing Bulbs & Planning

Spring-flowering bulbs offer a wide variety of colors, heights and flowering periods.

When making your purchase, read the label. Everything you need to know about the bulbs, the

flower color, the month they’ll bloom, and how high they’ll grow is usually available on the

package they come in.

To make a statement in the spring garden, plant bulbs in clusters. Clusters give a

concentration of color and make a real impact. Planting low growing bulbs in front of high

growing bulbs is another good rule to follow except when the low growing bulbs bloom early

than the tall growing bulbs. Then plant the later blooming tall growers in front to camouflage the

dying foliage of the smaller bulbs. You can plant small bulbs like grape hyacinth in a layer right

on top of large bulbs like tulips, and if you choose bulbs that flower in the same time period

you’ll get an interesting double-decker effect, or you can stagger the bloom time by planting

mid- and late-season bloomers together. You could create a spring display that blooms in

succession for the entire spring season.

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Figure 2: Spring-flowering bulbs offer a wide variety of colors and heights.Source: http://www.maharishischooliowa.org/about-us/school-news/order-your-spring-bulbs/

Section 2: Suggested Tools and Optional Materials

There are no tools or materials absolutely necessary for this project. You could dig your hands

into the earth and make your holes that way or you could use gardening tools. Your bulbs won’t

be affected either way. Whatever soil is already in the ground will be fine but if you insist on

mixing other soils into your ground soil, a bag of gardening soil would be best. There is no need

for the use of fertilizers as bulbs already contain all of the nutrients they need in the bulb itself.

Here are your tool choices should you not want to get up close and personal with the dirt:

Figure 3: Garden trowelSource: http://www.gardentoolcompany.com/trowels/

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Figure 4: Bulb planterSource: http://www.touchofnature.com/fallcatalog/garden_accessories.htm

Section 3: Planting Your Bulbs

Step One: Dig your hole or trench.

How deep to plant depends on the caliber or size of the bulb. A large bulb (2 inches or

more) is usually planted about 8 inches deep; smaller –sized bulbs (1 inch) should be planted

about 5 inches deep.

Step Two: Plant your bulbs.

All bulbs have a top and a bottom. The bottom is called the basal plate...the flat part of

the bulb where the roots sprout. The rule of thumb is to always plant the pointy end up, but

even if you don’t get it right, the bulb flower will still find its way topside. Place the bulbs

firmly in the trench or hole with large bulbs 3-4 inches apart and smaller bulbs about 1-2 inches

apart. (See figure 5) Cover the bulbs with soil and water generously.

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Figure 5: Dig your trench and place your bulbs.Source: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/tulips/Planting.html

Step Three: Wait until Spring.

Wait…that’s it? Just 3 steps? Yes, just 3 steps, unless you have a squirrel problem. Then

there’s one more step…

Step Four: Protecting Your Bulbs from Squirrels.

If squirrels are a big problem, after planting your bulbs, lay some chicken wire (wire mesh) on

the surface of the planted area. You can conceal the wire mesh by covering it with a light layer of

soil or mulch. It can be removed when the ground freezes.

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Figure 6: Wire mesh for protection from squirrels.Source: http://www.meshdirect.co.uk/25-x-25mm-Hole.html

Section 4: Planting Bulbs in Pots Out of Season (Vernalization)

Spring flowering bulbs can also be forced to bloom out of season when grown in pots and

given cold treatment. Tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils are the easiest bulbs to force. Purchase top

size bulbs that are labeled as good forcing varieties.

What is vernalization?

“Vernalization is the acquisition of a plant's ability to flower or germinate in the spring

by exposure to the prolonged cold of winter. Many temperate plants have a vernalization

requirement and must experience a period of low winter temperature to initiate or accelerate the

flowering process.” ("Vernalization") So, for those of you who don’t speak gardener…

vernalization is the cold treatment that potted bulbs need to be exposed to in order to be forced to

bloom out of season.

Planting in Pots.

Fill a 4 – 6 inch pot with a well-drained potting soil and no fertilizer. Put as many bulbs

into a pot that fit comfortably. Only a small amount of space between bulbs is needed. Bulbs

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should be the same kind and variety in each pot to ensure uniform flowering. Tulip bulbs should

be planted with the flattened side of the bulb toward the outside of the pot. This will make for a

much nicer display when in flower. Make sure you thoroughly water the container with the

bulbs.

Figure 7: Bulbs in pots.Source: http://www.oldhousegardens.com/bulbsinpots.aspx

Cold storage.

This is where the vernalization comes in…you can cold storage your bulbs in a spare

refrigerator, an unheated crawl space, a window well, or a trench dug out alongside the

foundation of your home depending on the time of year. If put in a window well or trench you

will need to cover the pots with a deep pile of leaves or straw to protect them from freezing.

Most spring flowering bulbs will need 10 – 12 weeks of cooling at 40-45 degrees before you can

start forcing. After 12 weeks of cold treatment, you can bring a couple of pots at a time indoors

and the warmth of your home will start forcing them into bloom. This process can be done any

time of year as long as you have a place to cold storage your bulbs.

Note: If planting hyacinths and tulips, allow only the tip of the bulb to show above the soil line.

Daffodils should be planted so that on-half of the bulb is above the soil line. Small bulbs like

crocus and grape hyacinth should be planted about one inch below the soil line.

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Section 5: Additional Project Information

Time Table

This project will take approximately 30 minutes to one hour depending on the quantity of bulbs

being planted and size of flower beds.

Estimated Costs

Costs can range from the bulbs alone ($6.00-$20.00 per package) to the cost of tools and

materials such as pots, additional soil, etc.

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Glossary of Terms

Basal Plate - the bottom, flat part of the bulb where the roots sprout.

Bulb - a rounded part of some plants that is under the ground and that grows into a new plant

during the growing season.

Bulb planter - gardening tool that digs a hole and pushes the bulb into it.

Garden Trowel - a tool with a pointed, scoop-shaped metal blade and a handle. It is used for

breaking up earth, digging small holes.

Frost - a thin layer of ice that forms on the ground, on grass, etc., when the air becomes cold.

Mulch - a material (such as straw, leaves, or small pieces of wood) that is spread over the ground

in a garden to protect the plants or help them grow.

Pre-chilling - Giving seeds a cold treatment to break dormancy - sometimes you can do this by

putting them in the freezer before sowing and some seeds can be sowed outside in the fall or

winter so they get the cold period through the winter.

Trench - a long, narrow hole that is dug in the ground.

Vernalization - the act or process of hastening the flowering and fruiting of plants by treating

seeds, bulbs, or seedlings so as to induce a shortening of the vegetative period.

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Index

Audience and Purpose, ivChoosing bulbs, 2Cold storage, 6Estimated costs, 7Glossary of terms, aIndex, bIntroduction, iiiList of figures, iiPlanting, 4

Planting in Pots, 5References, cTable of contents, iTime table, 7Tools, 3Vernalization, 5

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References

Bulbs in Pots. (2013). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from

http://www.oldhousegardens.com/bulbsinpots.aspx

Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013,

from http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Garden Trowels. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from

http://www.gardentoolcompany.com/trowels/

Journey North International Plant Study. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/tulips/Planting.html

Order Your Spring Bulbs! : Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment. (2013, March 4).

Retrieved November 27, 2013, from http://www.maharishischooliowa.org/about-us/school-

news/order-your-spring-bulbs/

Touch of Nature, Inc. Fall Catalog Garden Accessories. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013,

from http://www.touchofnature.com/fallcatalog/garden_accessories.htm

Trowel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trowel

Vernalization. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2013, from

http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Vernalization.html

Retrieved November 27, 2013, from http://davesgarden.com/guides/terms/go/702/