One way to elevate your garden or landscape is to plant bulbs. There’s simply no way around bulbs if you’re a flower farmer or gardener. A space that has been filled with spring-flowering bulbs is a remembrance of yesteryear while being in the current trends of gardening.
Have you begun planting your spring-flowering bulbs yet? The months of October and November are prime time to get those bulbs in the ground and tuck them in for the winter.
Flower bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus elevate any style of a garden and are required to be planted in the fall. But if you live in warmer climates throughout the winter months—anything in USDA Gardening Zone 8 and above —then the bulbs will need to be pre-chilled before planting to successfully bloom. While growing in zones 4 through 7, the bulbs will receive enough natural chill time over the winter to bloom beautifully in the spring. As always, I recommend becoming familiar with your particular garden zone in order to grow the best garden each season.
When planting spring-flowering bulbs, choose a location that gets plenty of sunshine. I like to water them in after planting if no rainfall is in the forecast. This allows the bulb to get a good start on creating a root system before the ground freezes.
Daffodils are the tried-and-true performers of spring. No matter what tries to hinder them, they’ll still put on a show. They’re the color of a spring garden that keeps on giving year after year—and they’re deer resistant!
Tulips come in a diverse color palette as well as many shapes and forms. There are numerous varieties to choose from and all require the same care. Tulips will grow in almost any soil that’s well-drained, but they love rich loam or topsoil dressed in compost.
Tulip bulbs grow strong stems when planted at least 6 – 8 inches deep, depending upon the size of the bulb. Just be sure not to plant them too deep because there is the possibility of them blooming late or not blooming at all. They’ll live for many years; however, they tend to fade away after three or so seasons. Tulips have a shorter life than daffodils or crocus. As a flower farmer, here at the farm we lift bulbs with bloom and replant each autumn.
I hope this has encouraged you to add a beautiful new variety of tulips to your gardens or field, along with planting a row or two of daffodils that will bring you joy for years to come!
Happy Planting!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden