Only the Best Will Do
What separates Bloms Bulbs from other bulb suppliers? Brothers Paul and Chris Blom, who run the family business, say it’s the high quality of the bulbs and the collection they offer
Established in Holland in 1860 by Walter Blom, Bloms Bulbs has a long history of supplying quality bulbs. For spectacular spring displays, bulb quality must be top notch and plants should be true to name. “A red tulip is more than just a red tulip,” says Paul Blom.
The first consideration for Paul and Chris is bulb size: the bigger the bulb, the more impressive the display. The bulbs stocked by Bloms are all size 12 and upwards. Other mail-order bulb suppliers tend to sell bulbs sized 10/11, and in garden centres they’re generally size 9/10.
“Any new bulb we select must have good parents that are also good garden plants,” explains Paul. “‘Clara Butt’, raised in 1889 and one of the first modern garden tulips, is a classic example. It’s the parent of many modern pink cultivars, such as ‘Pink Diamond’, ‘Pink Panther’ and ‘Douglas Bader’.” Other new varieties are sports of established tulips, so they have the right pedigree – ‘Prinses Irene’ and ‘Orange Princess’ for example, or ‘Spring Green’ and ‘Flaming Spring Green’.
The brothers also look for other good garden characteristics, such as a strong stem. “Tulip ‘Ballerina’ might look dainty, but it can withstand any kind of weather,” says Paul. He warns that there’s a balance between popular demand and what is a good plant though: “‘La Belle Époque’ is very popular, but it’s not stable enough to guarantee double flowers every time, so we don’t include it in our catalogue.”
A good relationship with the bulbs’ growers is also important, and this is where Bloms’ generations of experience comes in. “Because we buy the bulbs before they are harvested, we need to know that we’ll get the best of the crop,” says Paul. The stock must also be reliable and properly certified. Bloms require the ‘Japanese’ certificate; below this is the European Certificate that requires less rigorous inspection.
And so, the catalogue comes together: a collection that includes old favourites and the best new varieties. And not just tulips, but a full range of spring-, summerand autumn-flowering bulbs for reliable, beautiful season-long colour.
Tel: 01234 709099; blomsbulbs.com