|
Bulbs
Q. I've recently moved to Germany and
in the winter it stays around the freezing
point. I planted Glads and Dahlias this
summer and they are about finished blooming.
Do I need to take the bulbs out or can I
leave them in the ground? Also I was given
a potted Calla plant - all the blooms were
cut off. Can I plant it in the ground now?
What should I do over the winter?
A. For glads
dahlias and calla lilies the rules are all the same. They are tender bulbs/corms/tubers which cannot take any temperature down near
at or below freezing. You risk losing them all. If you have one brief cold snap
they will turn to mush. It is not worth the risk plus it is very easy to overwinter them. In the fall
as the cool temps arrive and before the ground gets cold spade them up and allow to dry on papers inside
as in a dry dark relatively cool spot like a basement. Be very careful to dig out away from their growth
as you do not want to split the underground growths. Then shake and remove most of the soil and trim off the browned top foliage and the roots. Spread them out where they will be protected and not disturbed. Let them lay there over the winter and check periodically for any rotten ones which you discard. Then
in the spring after your frost date has passed you can replant outdoors in the garden beds. At that time
return to me and I will describe what I recommend in the procedure. Since this is September I do not recommend that you plant the calla into the ground
since you will need to be taking it inside very soon and knocking it out of the pot but keep it green
watered and fed until then.
Q. I live in zone 6 and I just purchased
100 bulbs. I know nothing about planting
them! I know it's too early [September 9th]
and that the ground is still too warm but
that's all I know. How close do I plant
them? When do I plant them? Do I feed them
or cover with mulch?
A. I see from your questions that you are aware of the conditions. Plant the bulbs in the soil beds in about one month [October 1st]. They will benefit from getting settled before winter. Dig down into the soil and emend it with some compost
leaf mold or dried leaves. Do not add fertilizer. Set them down about 4-5" deep with the pointed part up about 6-9" apart. You can plant closely to make bunches of flowers
or farther apart to have each one separate. It is according to your wishes. Water in well and yes you can mulch one inch on top to keep them protected through the cold. It serves as a good protection. In the spring
you will see new growth pop up. Give them a quick shot of fertilizer to help them on their way. After blooming maintain the green foliage to build up the bulbs with food production from the leaves. Water well
and stake the leaves if they are in the way of later flowers as annuals
in your beds.
Forcing Bulbs in Refrigerator
Q. How long do you leave the bulbs in
the refrigerator to simulate the cold season?
Is it 8 weeks? Thanks so much.
A. Here is a write-up on forcing bulbs in a refrigerator. I feel it has all the info you need. It is great fun doing this
|
