Bring Out the Bulbs

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Bring Out the Bulbs
David Coltrain, Agriculture Agent Walnut Creek
Extension District 1-800-460-9079
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Outline

• Bulb types
• Selection
• Preparation
• Planting
• Fertilization
• Maintenance
• Insects, Diseases
• Digging Storing

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Bulbs

• Bulb is any plant that stores its complete life
  cycle in an underground storage structure.
• Types of Storage Structures
• True bulb
• Corms
• Rhizomes
• Tubers
• Tuberous roots
• Fleshy roots

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True Bulb
5 major parts
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True Bulb

• Tunicate bulbs
• (paper-like sheath)
• Tulips
• Daffodils
• Hyacinths
• Alliums

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True Bulb

• Imbricate bulbs
• (no papery sheath)
• Lily

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Corms

• A swollen stem base that is modified into a mass
  of storage tissue.
• Does not have visible storage rings when cut in
  half
• Gladiolus and crocus

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Rhizomes

• Iris, Lily-of-the-valley, Cannas
• Grow horizontally under the soil surface.

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Tubers

• Buds are scattered over the tuber surface form
  which shoots and roots develop.
• Caladiums, anemones, potato

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Tuberous Roots

• Nutrient reserves are stored in an actual root
  instead of an enlarged stem.
• Dahlia and tuberous begonia

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Fleshy Roots

• Not bulbs
• Peonies and daylilies

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Bulb Selection

• Color
• Shape
• Texture
• Bloom sequence

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Bulb Selection

• Hardy or tender (watch frost)
• Many sources available
• Large, firm, plump
• Not bruised, blemished, soft, dried up
• Location
• Light level during growth
• Flower height

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Bulb Selection

• Size
• Larger bulbs produce larger blooms
• Smaller bulbs are good for naturalizing
• Firmness
• Firm and free from soft or rotting spots
• Disease free

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Early Spring Flowering Bulbs
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Mid-spring Flowering Bulbs
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Late Spring Flowering Bulbs
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Summer Flowering Bulbs
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Fall Flowering Bulbs
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Unusual Flowering Bulbs
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Preparing the Soil

• Soil drainage and aeration essential
• Add organic matter
• compost, peat moss
• Work organic matter into top 12 to 18 inches of
  soil
• pH between 6.0 and 7.0

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Planting Bulbs
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Planting Bulbs

• Formal or informal garden beds
• Avoid small numbers or in rows
• Mass plantings superior
• Clumps of six or more
• Naturalized plantings (Narcissus, crocus)
• Bulbs reproduce and multiply
• Grass cannot be cut until foliage dies

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Planting Bulbs

• Hardy bulbs late September to early November
• Pointed end up
• Planting depth distance bottom of bulb to soil
  surface
• Bulb size dictates depth 2-3 times bulb width
• Bulbs/sq ft
• Crocus-10
• Tulip, Daffodil, Hyacinth-5
• Remove air pockets around bulbs (proper
  watering deep watering)

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Fertilization

• Planting Incorporate fertilizer in soil
• - 3 lbs complete fertilizer (5-10-5) per 100
  sq. ft. (1.5 tsp/sq. ft.) or
• - 2 lbs blood meal per 100 sq. ft (1 tsp/sq. ft.)
• Spring fertilization after the leaves appear,
  but before bulbs bloom

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Maintenance

• Mulch bulbs
• minimize temperature fluctuations
• conserve moisture
• Deadhead before seeds form
• Remove foliage after yellowing and natural
  dieback
• Dig and divide crowded bulbs
• increases flower size
• divide daffodils crocus every 5 yrs
• Interplant bulbs with annuals or perennials

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Insects, Other Pests

• Aphids young growing tips
• Malathion, permethrin
• Spider mites summer blooming bulbs
• Sulfur, miticides, insecticidal soaps
• Bulb mites in rotting bulbs
• Thrips silvery leaves, deformed flowers
• Ground squirrels, field mice
• Bait, traps, repellents (thiram)

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Diseases

• Prevention is key
• Avoid diseased bulbs
• In spring, examine leaves weekly
• Fungicides as protectants

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Digging Storing Bulbs

• Tender bulbs definitely
• Dig when leaves turn yellow
• Lift bulbs with spading fork
• Remove soil carefully, dry in shade
• Store in clumps on slightly moistened layer of
  peat moss or sawdust
• 60 to 65 degrees, cool, dry (basement, cellar or
  garage)
• Watch for decay and discard those bulbs

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Thank you! Questions