Bulbs: planting / RHS Gardening (2024)

FAQs

Bulbs: planting / RHS Gardening? ›

The general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant two to three times as deep as the bulbs is tall. This means most large bulbs like tulips or daffodils will be planted about 6 inches deep while smaller bulbs will be planted 3-4 inches deep.

The general rule of thumb for planting spring bulbs is to plant two to three times as deep as the bulbs is tall. This means most large bulbs like tulips or daffodils will be planted about 6 inches deep while smaller bulbs will be planted 3-4 inches deep.

You should avoid planting in a single straight row or in a single circle around a tree or bush. Bulbs look better when they are planted in staggered free-form arrangements. Grouping Bulbs - With spring flowering bulbs such as Tulips or Daffodils, plant at least twelve bulbs of one variety in a grouping.

Dig a hole wide and deep enough for your bulbs, using a trowel or bulb planter. Plant most bulbs at two to three times their depth. Place the bulbs in the hole with their pointed end facing upwards (check the packet instructions for corms and tubers). Space the bulbs at least twice the bulbs' width apart.

Flower bulbs sometimes get purchased and are then misplaced or forgotten. Fortunately, most spring-blooming flower bulbs are very forgiving. As long as the soil isn't frozen and is not waterlogged, you can plant bulbs as late as Christmas and still have a good chance of seeing them bloom.

While spring blooming bulbs should be planted in the fall, summer-blooming bulbs should be planted in mid-spring, after the frost's risk has passed. Usually, we're safe to plant summer-blooming bulbs after the second week of May. However, if you haven't planted your summer bulbs yet, it's not too late!

When you're working with larger bulbs, you typically want to include 5 bulbs per square foot (planting around 6'' apart). If the bulbs are smaller, on the other hand, you'll want to plant between 8-10 bulbs per square foot (spaced about 3'' to 4'' apart).

Pat down the soil at the bottom of the hole. You should arrange 10 bulbs at the bottom of the hole, pointed end up. Cover the bulbs with soil, and water the soil. The reason you are planting the bulbs this way is because when the bulbs bloom, it will be an eye-catching display of flowers.

Keep Low Bulbs To The Front

When planting bulbs that bloom at the same time, you'll want to keep shorter plants at the front. The key to continuous color throughout the season is planting early, mid, and late spring bloomers and arranging them by height so that new blooms continuously open as the older ones fade.

It is not necessary to soak bulbs before planting, so you can skip this step. However, some gardeners prefer to soak bulbs as they believe it enables them to establish more quickly.

What happens if you plant bulbs too late? ›

After planting, bulbs produce small feeder roots that anchor the bulbs in place over winter and absorb water to hydrate bulbs until spring. Plant too early, and after feeder roots form, shoots will also start to grow, which can diminish spring growth. Plant too late, and feeder roots won't have time to form.

Yes- the cable insulation and other parts will almost certainly be rated for 240V use, even if the lamp was originally being used for 120V. You will almost certainly have to replace any mains connector, and may have to check if any metal parts have a suitable earth connection.

Outline the boundaries of the planting area with a garden hose, a rope, or some ground limestone. To imitate a natural plant colony, the planting area should have an irregular shape with rounded edges. Then scatter the bulbs by tossing about three-quarters of them here and there across the planting area.

One of the most frequently asked questions about planting bulbs is, “Which end goes up?” Most true bulbs, such as Tulips and Daffodils, have pointed tips which should point upward. Corms, tubers and rhizomes like lilies usually show sprouts on their upper sides, and these should be on top when planted.

Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are easy since they are planted 6 to 8 inches deep with the pointed end facing up and the flat end down. But many like tuberous begonias, crocus and cannas do not have a distinct top and bottom. Fortunately, even bulbs planted upside down will find their way to the surface.

Dig out a small planting area and place 7 to 12 bulbs so the distance between each bulb varies from 1" to 3". Cover the bulbs and then move a foot or two away, dig another hole, and plant more in the same fashion.

Soil Preparation: Provide the bulbs with well-drained, loose, porous soil. The addition of compost, sawdust, peat moss, and other humus-rich substances can improve heavy clay soils. Addition of the same materials helps excessively sandy soils to retain moisture.

Plant Bulbs at the Right Time

Spring-blooming bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, should be planted in September or October when the soil temperatures have cooled. Summer-blooming beauties such as dahlia and gladiolus are best planted in the spring after all danger of frost has passed.