image from truleafmarket.com
Boy it feels like fall today. Cloudy, rainy early this morning, wind blowing and the leaves are coming off the trees. Temperature is at 55 degrees . High today of 69 and low tonight of 45. But it is almost mid October so we should expect it. Stay warm now, and stay safe. This weather makes me thinking about planting fall bulbs for spring blooms.
SPECTACULAR SPRING FLOWER BULBS TO PLANT IN FALL By Catherine Boeckmann
If you haven’t planted fall bulbs, it’s the perfect time! We’ve listed the best, most reliable bulbs for a glorious springtime display—PLUS, which bulbs are deer-resistant. We also have a wonderful chart that shows which flowers bloom up early, mid-, and late spring for color all season!
WHAT ARE FALL BULBS?
Fall bulbs don’t flower in the fall. They’re planted in the fall to then bloom gloriously in the springtime! Think crocus, snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinth, among others!
This is in contrast to summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias, elephant ear, caladium, gladiolus, and cannas, which are planted in the spring.
Why do we plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall? These spring beauties are what we call “dormant perennial.” They need the cool, moist autumn soil to awaken them from their dormancy so they can begin growing roots in preparation for the spring show.
If you’re a beginner gardener, bulbs are so easy to pop in the ground (and spark your interest in gardening)! They’re foolproof to plant and really lift the spirits, not to mention feed the early pollinators such as the drowsy queen bumblebees.
WHEN TO PLANT FALL BULBS
The best time to plant fall bulbs is when soils are below 60°F in the late fall or about 6 weeks before a hard frost is expected. Consult our Frost Dates Calculator for fall frost dates.
This is usually during September and October in the North. (Halloween is a good deadline to set.) In the South, bulbs are generally planted a little later—in October and November. (Tulips are one exception—you can plant tulips as late in winter as you can get them into the soil.)
In the warmest parts of the South, you may need to pre-cool some bulbs. Most fall bulbs require a 12 to 16 week cold period in ventilated packages in the bottom of your refrigerator at 40° to 50°F before planting. Check with your bulb supplier to determine whether the bulbs you purchase have been pre-cooled or whether you may need to give them a cold treatment.
Also, in warmer climates, note that some bulbs will only bloom once and then they’re done for the season. For example, you will have to plant tulip bulbs again each year. Still, they are a beautiful sight to behold and well worth the effort! Other fall bulbs, such as daffodils, will act as perennials and come up year after year.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/bulbs-plant-fall
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
SPECTACULAR SPRING FLOWER BULBS TO PLANT IN FALL By Catherine Boeckmann
If you haven’t planted fall bulbs, it’s the perfect time! We’ve listed the best, most reliable bulbs for a glorious springtime display—PLUS, which bulbs are deer-resistant. We also have a wonderful chart that shows which flowers bloom up early, mid-, and late spring for color all season!
WHAT ARE FALL BULBS?
Fall bulbs don’t flower in the fall. They’re planted in the fall to then bloom gloriously in the springtime! Think crocus, snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinth, among others!
This is in contrast to summer-flowering bulbs such as dahlias, elephant ear, caladium, gladiolus, and cannas, which are planted in the spring.
Why do we plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall? These spring beauties are what we call “dormant perennial.” They need the cool, moist autumn soil to awaken them from their dormancy so they can begin growing roots in preparation for the spring show.
If you’re a beginner gardener, bulbs are so easy to pop in the ground (and spark your interest in gardening)! They’re foolproof to plant and really lift the spirits, not to mention feed the early pollinators such as the drowsy queen bumblebees.
WHEN TO PLANT FALL BULBS
The best time to plant fall bulbs is when soils are below 60°F in the late fall or about 6 weeks before a hard frost is expected. Consult our Frost Dates Calculator for fall frost dates.
This is usually during September and October in the North. (Halloween is a good deadline to set.) In the South, bulbs are generally planted a little later—in October and November. (Tulips are one exception—you can plant tulips as late in winter as you can get them into the soil.)
In the warmest parts of the South, you may need to pre-cool some bulbs. Most fall bulbs require a 12 to 16 week cold period in ventilated packages in the bottom of your refrigerator at 40° to 50°F before planting. Check with your bulb supplier to determine whether the bulbs you purchase have been pre-cooled or whether you may need to give them a cold treatment.
Also, in warmer climates, note that some bulbs will only bloom once and then they’re done for the season. For example, you will have to plant tulip bulbs again each year. Still, they are a beautiful sight to behold and well worth the effort! Other fall bulbs, such as daffodils, will act as perennials and come up year after year.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/bulbs-plant-fall
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
