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Plant More Bulbs! Please!

© Barbara M. Martin

Dear reader, please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author.

For once, bigger is better. In the flower bulb world, a bigger bulb usually means a bigger flower and that's always a good thing in the early months of the new year when we are so hungry for flowers and color and SPRING.

What A Bulb Is, Is...

So, what is a bulb, anyway? As opposed to, say, a rhizome, tuber or the awesome-sounding tuberous root? Technically-oriented folks and those who are merely curious about bulbs can use the upcoming link and find out all about the inner workings of bulbs and their kith and kin and learn factoids like what tunicated means in bulbspeak.

Tulipomania

As long as we're into factual information, learn all about those most popular and beloved bulbs, the historic honest to goodness cause of tulipomania and -- TULIPS! -- aka manna from heaven for deer. If you have deer, just skip the tulips and plant daffodils instead. Been there, done that.

Buying Bulbs

If you didn't order bulbs from a specialty bulb catalog at a discount last spring or at regular prices during the summer, you could call them up and see if they can possibly still ship to you in time to plant -- you may have even received a couple of supplement catalogs in the past month like I did. Otherwise, shop where you can. (Some Bulb Sources.)

Bulbs are showing up en masse in the garden centers, superstores, grocery stores, and garden centers. Sometimes you can find nice bulbs there and sometimes they are at a good price. But be careful. Look for bulbs that are not soft, mushy or moldy. See if you think they have been kept at an even temperature, not left outside day and night or stored in a hot and humid area.

Sometimes they get mixed up when people riffle through them in the bulk sale or boxes or bins, so if you specifically need all one kind or color you might do better with a pre-packaged set rather than individually selected bulbs.

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