Bulbs, Tubers, Corms and Rhizomes

Bulbs are a large group of flowers that produce beautiful displays year after year and require little care. Included with true bulbs are corms, rhizomes, tubers and tuberous roots. Plan your garden and yard program to create a colorful display that will continue to bloom from early spring through late fall. Make a list to see which will work best for you, how many of each bloom you will need and the color scheme you would like to create. Early bloomers include crocus, tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, lilies and iris. These are considered hardy bulbs. Different varieties of all of these flowers bloom at various times throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons.

Plant your bulbs in the fall before a deep frost hardens the ground. In areas with frigid winters, plant early so bulbs can produce a good root system. The areas you have chosen for your flowers should provide a little shade at the warmest times of the day. This will help your flowers thrive and grow bigger and better. Drainage of the soil is another important factor in the growth of healthy plants. In heavy clay soil mix in sand and peat and work it to a depth of twelve inches. If soil is sandy add peat or compost.

To prepare the bed it is wise to add a fertilizer high in calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. Work it into the soil evenly or you can work in bone meal at the bottom of the bed, if you prefer. After flowers start blooming, add a well balanced fertilizer. Bulbs are planted between 3 and 9 inches deep and several inches apart depending on the variety of the plant you have chosen. Planting a little deeper can produce healthier flowers. Placing a cluster of the same color makes a dramatic display. As you plant the bulbs it is a good idea to label each area with the color and name of what is located there.

In the fall, to avoid the danger of pests, such as mice, clean all areas of the lawn and garden of waste. Plant bulbs away from walls and house foundations. If any plant or bulb look diseased or are infested with insects, it is better to remove and destroy them to prevent the spread of these pests.

Some tender bulbs, corms and tubers include dahlia, gladiolus, and caladium. Caladiums are actually richly colored leaves that prefer shady areas. They require special care and must be dug up before the frost and stored for the winter in a cool dry place. Gladiolus is a favorite of all gardeners. They make beautiful cut flower arrangements inside the home. At about 6 to 8 weeks after the last blooms fade or after the first frost, cut tops to a few inches above the corm then place in a box or old onion sack. Store in a cool dry room at 40 degrees. The calla lily and the canna lily are best planted in corners or borders of the yard. Dig up the flowers near the first frost. Calla lilies should be dug up and dried in the shade for a few days, and then placed in a box and covered with sawdust or sphagum moss. Canna lilies should be dug up near the first frost and stored as is, leaving about 14 inches of the top attached. Store for a a couple of weeks in a warm room, then dust with fungicide and hang up with stems down. Store both lilies at about 50 degrees and keep dry through the winter months.

Now you can rest and relax for a while until you are ready to start this procedure all over again.