Planting Bulbs!
Bulbs are easy for even inexperienced gardeners to grow successfully. By
following a few simple rules, you can grow a spectacular display of spring
blooming bulbs.
SELECTING & GROWING
Sloat Garden Center offers packaged bulbs for your ease and convenience as
well as bulk bulbs so that you can individually select the colors and mixes
you want. We select our bulbs for the best grade and size. None of our bulbs
are harvested from the wild.
Choose bulbs that are firm and large. Look for "double noses" on daffodils.
The quantity of flowers and the quality of the blooms are the result of the
bulbs you select this fall. Fall is the time to purchase and plant your
spring blooming bulbs.
If you are planting in established garden beds, there probably isn't much
for you to do. If, however, you are breaking new ground for your bulbs, use
Sloat Forest Mulch Plus to add organic material to your soil and loosen up
the clay that's commonly found in Bay Area gardens.
Bulbs are mini storage tanks and don't need heavy fertilizing. Utilizing a
boost such as EB Stone Organics Bulb and Flower Food is a great idea
especially with naturalizing and perennializing bulbs such as daffodils. The
food helps refill the tank after the bloom.
Identifying the top and bottom for most bulbs isn't hard. The pointy end
goes up in most cases. Planting depth will vary so use our handy chart.
While spring bulbs should top everyone's fall planting priority list,
putting your spring-blooming perennials in the ground now will result in
bigger, better established plants, more beautiful foliage and, of course,
more flowers.
OCTOBER
October is ideal for planting those bulbs that don't require pre chilling.
Soil temperatures are cooling and winter rains are around the corner. Most
bulbs can be planted directly in the ground using Sloat Forest Mulch Plus,
or in pots using Sloat Potting Soil. There are a few exceptions in our mild
winter climate.
Chilling is required for tulips, hyacinths, crocus and freesia in order for
their stems to elongate sufficiently. Place these bulbs in the refrigerator
for 4 to 6 weeks (not the freezer). Be sure they are not stored with apples
which release ethylene that inhibits sprouting! Plant them the same day you
remove them from the refrigerator. Paperwhite Narcissus do not require
chilling but can be "stalled" with refrigeration.
LATE NOVEMBER or December
Late November or December is a great time to plant chilled bulbs but even January is not too late.
Prepare your soil to ensure good drainage. Use plenty of Sloat Planting Mix
or Forest Mulch Plus. Add Bone Meal or E.B. Stone Bulb Food to supply extra
nutrition.
Plant bulbs with their "points" up (Ranunculus are planted "toes" down). If
you can't tell which end should be up, bulbs planted on their sides still
come up. A good rule of thumb is to plant at a depth equal to twice the
bulbs height.
In containers
In containers, plant as shallow as possible to allow for good root growth.
Bulbs should be close together but not touching. Tulips should be planted so
that the "flat" side is facing the edge of the pot.
Available at all Sloat Garden Centers!
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