Drying and Initial Cleaning of Bulbs

Drying Time

Bulbs will need two weeks to dry and go dormant. Longer than two weeks is not necessary. After the drying period, "clean" one more time and then store in a cool dry location over the summer.

Cleaning

This final cleaning is the process of removing excess scales, dirt and roots. Roots should be removed with a gentle twisting motion, being careful not to remove the entire basal region. The roots will come off in a full clump with a small thin outer layer of the basal region; this is normal.

During the removal of the roots, a gently rubbing of the bulb will take off excess scales and dirt. Scales and dirt that do not come off easily should be picked off by hand, and the bulbs gently rubbed with a soft cloth to eliminate the remainder of the dirt. This whole process will leave the bulbs the way you find them at the better commercial garden centers in the fall. Healthy bulbs have a range of soft fall type colors. Keep in mind that you should accomplish this process with gloves, for two reasons. First, fungicide is a poison, and second, it avoids blisters on the hands for us office workers.

Inspection

Inspect each bulb as you clean it. Check the basal area for sign of the bulb fly larva. If there are damaged bulbs (hole in the base plate), or if the bulb is soft or dark colored and feels wet, it may indicate some type infection. Dispose of the bulb. Do not put it in your compost as the bulb may survive and can come back to infect additional bulbs the following year.

Holes in the base plate may indicate the presence of a bulb fly maggot inside the bulb, or some type infection and should be separated from the good bulbs and disposed of properly. Bulbs can be saved by "fishing" out the fly larva with a straightened paper clip or other instrument that can be inserted into the hole made by the larva. The bulb should flower again in a couple of years. I don't try to save the bulbs with maggot fly, unless it is a one of a kind expensive bulbs. If I have three or four other bulbs of the same variety, I dispose of it. Some say burn the bulbs, but most don't have that capability. Alternatively, place all the bad bulbs inside a large plastic bag, double bagged, double sealed and place outdoors in the trash cans for removal. Do not put them on your compost pile.

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