Switch on your bulbs
IT’S TIME TO DECIDE ON
HAVE you noticed those enticing packets of summer bulbs in the shops at the moment?
The fronts of the packets usually have glorious photographs that promise beautiful blossoms for the coming summer. So let’s take a closer look at what’s on offer and how and when to plant.
Firstly, is there a difference between bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes? Yes, in some respects, but what they all have in common is that they are different ways for a plant to store up all the nutrients it needs to produce new growth for the next season.
To get going, they need light, water and a growing medium – compost or soil. Some are tender such as begonias and gladioli so these need to be started off indoors and then gradually brought outdoors to their final planting position when frost has gone. This varies considerably from north to the south of these islands which is one of the reasons gardeners are such weather watchers!
You’ll also know yourself if you are in a particularly chilly frost pocket or beside the sea where you barely ever get frost. Others such as lilies and ranunculus are hardy and can be planted either in autumn or spring. However, ranunculus don’t like being waterlogged, or heavy frosts, so according to your local conditions, it might pay to wait until spring or plant in pots. If you have a cold tunnel this is a good method to overwinter the bulbs.
Adding well-rotted manure or compost to the planting hole will help with fertility and drainage but if your soil is very heavy clay, you could pop some horticultural grit at the bottom of the hole as well. Most bulbs don’t like soggy bottoms and, in general, summer bulbs will do best in a warm sunny spot.
Lilies are hardy and can be planted in autumn but if you missed the boat, you can definitely get some planted right now. Plant deeply, three times the height of the bulb and position in full sun.
They’re hungry feeders so hit them with tomato feed fortnightly once you see signs of growth.
Begonias will give you longlasting flowers, are brilliant for hanging baskets and window boxes, and are handy as they do well in the shade. To get the tubers started, place them sitting on moist compost. They usually have a concave hollow – this side should face up. Once green shoots emerge you can pot them up individually. ‘Sant Cruz’ is a fiery orange variety that will turn heads.
Dahlia tubers can be potted now in damp compost and kept in a light, frostfree place such as a greenhouse, cold frame or windowsill. When you’re ready to plant dahlias outside, choose a sunny position for maximum flowering.
Your tuber will have produced lots of shoots at this stage but it’s a good idea to nip out a few of these and leave just five – this adds bushiness and strength.
Ranunculus are hard and claw shaped. You can soak these before planting to ensure they will start sprouting but they will equally absorb moisture if you water them well after planting – with the claws facing downwards. Also known as Persian buttercups, they produce beautiful multi-petalled blooms in a fabulous array of jewel-like colours. Check out farmergracy.co.uk – they are the exclusive suppliers of an Italian breed of ranunculus called Elegance which offers better disease resistance and larger more spectacular blooms.
Gladioli are gardening Marmite – people love or hate them! They can get very gaudy but those can be great fun too and they are superb cut flowers. There are some simpler cultivars such as the dwarf pink-flowered ‘Charm’ which have a delicacy to them. Plant now in frost-free conditions so that they are ready for planting out in around May. Place bulbs with pointed side facing upwards and keep well watered.