subject: The Best Way To Plant Fall Bulbs [print this page] A bulb is just like a large dormant bud, the scales representing the leaves, with the center having the embryo stem. Bulbs are plants that are compact and in storage. The tuber, on the other hand, is a strong body, with buds coming from it. Some tubers represent thick stems, as the potato, and some thickened roots, as most likely the sweet-potato, and some both stem and root, as the turnip, parsnip, and beet.
We can put flower bulbs into 2 groups: the hardy kinds, to be planted in fall; and the tender kinds, which are spring planted.
Fall-planted bulbs:
The fall-planted bulbs are put in two groupings: the early spring bloomers, such as hyacinth, crocus, tulip, narcissus, snowdrop; and the summer bloomers, such as lilies. The treatments of the two groups are so similar that they may be discussed jointly.
All these bulbs may be planted as soon as they are mature; but in practice they are kept till late September or October before they are put into the ground , as nothing is gained by planting them earlier, and, moreover, the ground is usually not ready to receive them until older plantings are removed.
These bulbs are planted in the fall (1) because they keep better in the ground than when stored; (two) because they will get a small start in the winter and fall and be ready for the first warmth of spring; (three) and because it is usually not possible to get on the ground early enough in spring to plant them with much hope of success for that season.
The bulbs lie dormant until spring, so far as appearances go; they are mulched to guarantee that they will not start in warm weather of winter or fall, and to protect the ground from heaving.
To secure the best lily bulbs for sale, and of the sought after varieties, the order should be placed early. For flower gardens, the large and mature bulbs should be secured; for colonizing in shrubbery or on the lawn, small bulbs may work fine. Insist that your bulbs shall be first class, for there is big difference in the quality; even with the best of treatment, great results cannot be achieved from poor bulbs.
