CBUF guide to planting spring flowering bulbs
(Below this guide you will find photos of the bulbs sold at this year's Fall Festival to help you identify your new plants.)
1.
Plant bulbs where they won’t stand in water all
winter. The top of a mounded bed is better than at the bottom. If bulbs sit in
wet soil all winter they will perform poorly and may rot.
2.
In the Willamette valley, plant spring flowering
bulbs any time from late-October to mid-December.
3.
Planting depth varies with the size of the bulb.
Large bulbs should be planted deeper than small bulbs. The following diagram
shows the optimum depth for several common bulbs. Depth refers to where the
bulb rests at the bottom of the hole. A
common rule of thumb is, “plant bulbs at a depth 2-3 times the height of the
bulb from tip to base”. Note: Anemone tubers should be planted no more than one
inch deep.
4.
Plant bulbs so the tip is pointing up and the
root plate rests on the base of the hole.
If you can’t tell which end is up, lucky for you, most bulbs will right
themselves no matter how you place them in the hole.
5.
Dig the planting hole deeper than needed and
then mix a teaspoon or so of bonemeal or other high phosphorus fertilizer into
the soil before setting out the bulbs. Backfill the hole and place a marker
stake where you planted so you don’t forget where the bulbs are during late
winter garden clean up.
6.
When spring arrives and bulbs are blooming take
some photos and plan to buy more bulbs next fall at the CBUF bulb sale!
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