EASTON, MARYLAND — For gardeners hoping for tulips and daffodils next spring, the window is now. University of Maryland Extension says spring bulbs should be kept cool until planting time, which is usually in October, and should not go in late.
Bulbs need time to grow a healthy root system before winter sets in, the extension's Home and Garden Information Center says. Until they are planted, keep them at 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Popular spring bulbs include anemone, allium, crocus, tulip, narcissus (daffodils) and scilla. When buying, the extension advises looking for plump, firm bulbs with a firm, intact root base, because the flower bud has already formed before the bulb is sold. For tulips that come back year after year, it points to the Darwin hybrids and species tulips such as Linifolia and Tarda.
As a general rule, plant bulbs at a depth of two and a half to three times the bulb's diameter; planting too shallow can lead to frost heaving. Pick a site with at least five to six hours of direct sun a day and good drainage, since most bulbs rot in wet ground. Loosen the soil below planting depth, add fertilizer, then cover it with a layer of soil so the bulbs do not touch the fertilizer directly.
Fall is also when tender bulbs come out of the ground. Dahlias, gladiolas, begonias, caladiums, crocosmias and cannas are not reliably hardy and should be lifted or protected for winter, usually once their leaves turn yellow. Wash off the soil and cure them in a shaded spot for one to three days. The exceptions are achimenes, begonias, cannas, caladiums and dahlias: leave the soil on and store them in clumps on a slightly moistened layer of peat moss or sawdust in a cool place.
Once dry, store them away from sunlight in a cool, dry basement, cellar, garage or shed at 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, avoiding temperatures below 45 or above 70. Keep stored bulbs no more than two or three layers deep, since they give off heat that can cause decay.
The extension notes that catalogs and reference books can get planting depths wrong for local soils, and suggests checking with a successful local grower or another good local source. The University of Maryland Extension's Talbot County office is in Easton.
Source: University of Maryland Extension
Also: University of Maryland Extension (2)
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