CBUF guide to planting spring flowering bulbs
(Below this guide you will find photos of the bulbs sold at last year's Fall Festival to help you identify your new plants. Most of this year's bulbs will be very similar to last year's bulbs.)
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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