To begin, find a site that bulbs will like. They are tough but have certain requirements. Most importantly, they need to be planted in well-drained soil. When bulbs fail, it's usually because they rotted in wet ground.
Most bulbs prefer full sun. But remember that many of them will bloom as trees are just beginning to bud, so areas that are shaded now will be sunny this spring.
When planting bulbs, I usually excavate an area down to 12 to 15 inches. Put down a nice layer of compost or well-rotted manure, then space the bulbs according to the planting instructions. Cover the bulbs with the original soil (if it is of sufficient quality) or use good garden soil or compost.
This method works fine but can be a lot of work and can be time-consuming.
Another way is to make a 3- to 4-inch-wide hole using a digging tool. One of the most popular is a hand-held bulb planter that sells for a few dollars at any "we sell everything" store. Used in ideal conditions, the planter is inserted with a twisting motion. When the proper depth is reached, pull it out with the soil attached. Drop in the bulb and cover with the original soil.
The problem with these planters is that they only work in a nicely prepared bed. Don't use them in rocky soil or to plant more than 100 bulbs. I received my worst blister from this little planter. I haven't used it since.
There is also a foot-powered model that's basically a shovel handle with the planter welded on. If you get one, make sure it's rugged. A good one will cost at least $50, and it's worth it. I bought one last year for under $20 and it lasted for about 75 bulbs. I planted the remaining 400 with a pick ax.
Another version has a 4-inch-wide flat blade attached to a long handle. Insert the blade as deep as needed and pry away the soil. This one also runs around $50 and is a useful tool.
This year, I think I've found the perfect tool for planting bulbs. It's an auger that attaches to a power drill. I got mine for less than $30 and I love it. I'm planting 800 daffodil bulbs this year and have been drilling into rocky woodland soil. The auger drills a 2-1/2-inch- wide hole and will reach depths of 12 to 15 inches. I've had the best luck by using my cordless drill at a slow speed in low-torque mode.
But what to plant? The basics are crocus, daffodil and tulips, but there are lots of other wonderful bulbs that should be considered. Hyacinths, alliums and iris are just as easy to grow.
One plant that is very easy to grow and beautiful but less known is chionodoxa. It's an early bloomer that is delicate and reaches only a few inches in height. Like many bulbs, it multiplies over the years and blooms at the same time as late crocus and early daffodils.
Like daffodils, chionodoxa seems to be deer-resistant. Deer are the reason I can't grow tulips. It's their favorite spring treat. Last year, I tried to sneak in some "Elizabeth Arden" tulips close to the house. The salmon pink Darwin tulip was introduced in the 1940s, about the time my house was built. No sooner did the buds start to show a blush of pink and they were gone.
This year, I'm going to plant some tulips in a large container and let them winter in a protected spot. I'll let them bloom on the porch and hope for the best. I plant smaller bulbs on top of the larger ones. Tulips go in the lowest layer, daffodils in the middle and crocus on top. The bulbs on top bloom first and give way to the larger bulbs below, extending the spring season of bloom.
Some bulb-grown plants last for only a few years. Most tulips are in that category; the most perennial of the bunch are the Darwin variety. Daffodils, however, will continue to bloom year after year and multiply.
Although I'm not the biggest fan of bulb mixes, White Flower Farm has a wonderful combination of daffodils that bloom all spring. "The Works" is a great collection of at least 30 named varieties. Most of the 500 bulbs I put in last year were from this collection and so are the 800 planted this year.
Last spring's blooms were spectacular. I can't wait until the next show with the additional flowers.
Purchasing:
- In my experience, White Flower Farm provides great prices and top-quality bulbs. I've never been disappointed in the bulbs I've received from it. It also carries both shovelesque planters I describe above.
- A good source of hard-to-find bulbs is Old House Gardens. Catalogs are $2, but bulb buyers get one for free and can ask them to send it free to anyone.
- The bulb auger is available from the Rittenhouse company for $22.95.
Contact information for these products is listed in the resource section below.
(Douglass Oster can be reached by e-mail at doster@post-gazette.com. For news and information about Pittsburgh visit www.post-gazette.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.shns.com.)
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