SPRING & SUMMER BLOOMS
Bulbs
Bulbs are plants that grow from a root. The roots store food in the form of starches and the plants grow from the bulbous roots to produce leaves and flowers.
Bulbs can be planted at different times of the year and come in many forms and types. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can plant a bulb!
Here are some of the most popular bulbs to plant for spring and summer flowers in Greater Vancouver area:
- Snowdrops are the earliest blooming bulbs.
- Crocus provide a range of colour for early spring blooms.
- Daffodils (Narcissus) are easy to grow and look great by themselves or in combination. They are deer and squirrel resistant.
- Hyacinths are fragrant and are most effective in mass plantings.
- Muscari (Grape Hyacinths) have small blue flowers and combine well with yellow Daffodils or red Tulips.
- Tulips come in many colours and forms as well as a variety of heights and bloom times.
Best Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Spring-flowering bulbs are best planted in the fall after the soil is fairly cool. This gives time for the root system to be established throughout the colder winter months, and flower beautifully in the spring!
Best Summer-Flowering Bulbs
These summer-flowering bulbs can be planted once the ground warms up. We recommend waiting until after the last frost in May, however you may be able to star earlier depending on the weather.
BULB TIPS
Tips For Planting Bulbs in the Fall
How To Grow Bulbs In The Garden
Bulbs are generally planted the same depth as their diameter. If the bulb is 2 inches across it should be planted with 2 inches of soil above it. They can be planted in layers with larger and later blooming bulbs planted below smaller, early blooming varieties. Dig holes a little larger than needed to place the bulbs to ensure they will have loose soil to spread their roots. Mix in some bulb food to help the bulbs establish and produce abundant blooms. Cover over with soil and water in. Keep the bed moist but not overly wet through the winter.
How To Grow Bulbs In Pots and Containers
Planting bulbs in containers allows you to create your own miniature garden and surround yourself with colour and fragrance. This is ideal for people who have a small garden or a patio garden to add an extra splash of colour. Select bulbs of varying bloom times, colour and height to create a longer lasting, interesting planter. Any pot with good drainage can be used however smaller pots, less than 12” in diameter, need protection from frost.
Start by covering the drainage hole(s) with fabric or broken pots to keep the soil from plugging up holes after watering. Next fill partially with potting soil, mixing in some Bulb Food to add nutrients. Then plant the bulbs at their required depth and fill the rest of the pot with soil. Water the pot after planting and keep the soil moist but not wet during the winter. You can plant winter pansies, mums, and/or ornamental cabbage/kale with the bulbs to provide colour during the winter.
Naturalizing Bulbs
Naturalizing bulbs means planting bulbs that will come back year after year on their own with little help. The best bulbs for naturalizing are rock garden narcissi, some daffoldils, crocus, snowdrops, grape hyacinths and botanical tulips. Planting these bulbs in the ground will most often result in them spreading on their own to create a mass of spring colour for years to come. Be sure to plant in a spot the will have adequate light and mix some bone meal into the soil when planting.
Fertilizing Bulbs
What is bone meal?
Bone meal is a mixture of coarse and finely ground animal bones. Bone meal is primarily used as a fertilizer, particularly in organic gardening, as it is an excellent source of phosphorus, calcium.
Bone meal is mostly used to provide phosphorus and calcium to plants and soil. Phosphorus helps plant grow and photosynthesize effectively. Calcium is vital to the formation of healthy cells and helps plants move and retain other elements within themselves. Phosphorus occurs naturally in the soil, but plants often require more of it than the soil can provide without a supplement.
What is bulb food?
Bulb food is a specialized fertilizer that provides bulbs with the best blend of nutrients to ensure they grow healthy and strong. It also promotes lovely blossoms in the spring as well as bulbs capable of storing food and energy over winter.
Bone meal first, then bulb food
Bone meal is good at the time of planting bulbs, then applying a balanced bulb food once the foliage appears above the soil line in late winter/early spring.
There are a couple of reasons for this. Nitrogen can burn the actual bulb, which only need the phosphorus and potash from bone meal to stimulate rooting. But once the bulb is sending out a stem, it needs nitrogen to become strong, so it wont bend over from the weight of the flowers that is sets. This is especially important for bulbs with large heavy flowers, such as tulips, ranunculus, and hyacinth.
It’s also important to dig your holes or trenches a little deeper than the bulb needs to be, applying some bone meal, then a little more soil so the bulb does not sit directly on the food. This encourages those roots a reason to stretch out to the food.
BULB TIPS
Tips For Planting Bulbs in the Fall
How To Grow Bulbs In The Garden
Bulbs are generally planted the same depth as their diameter. If the bulb is 2 inches across it should be planted with 2 inches of soil above it. They can be planted in layers with larger and later blooming bulbs planted below smaller, early blooming varieties. Dig holes a little larger than needed to place the bulbs to ensure they will have loose soil to spread their roots. Mix in some bulb food to help the bulbs establish and produce abundant blooms. Cover over with soil and water in. Keep the bed moist but not overly wet through the winter.
How To Grow Bulbs In Pots and Containers
Planting bulbs in containers allows you to create your own miniature garden and surround yourself with colour and fragrance. This is ideal for people who have a small garden or a patio garden to add an extra splash of colour. Select bulbs of varying bloom times, colour and height to create a longer lasting, interesting planter. Any pot with good drainage can be used however smaller pots, less than 12” in diameter, need protection from frost.
Start by covering the drainage hole(s) with fabric or broken pots to keep the soil from plugging up holes after watering. Next fill partially with potting soil, mixing in some Bulb Food to add nutrients. Then plant the bulbs at their required depth and fill the rest of the pot with soil. Water the pot after planting and keep the soil moist but not wet during the winter. You can plant winter pansies, mums, and/or ornamental cabbage/kale with the bulbs to provide colour during the winter.
Naturalizing Bulbs
Naturalizing bulbs means planting bulbs that will come back year after year on their own with little help. The best bulbs for naturalizing are rock garden narcissi, some daffoldils, crocus, snowdrops, grape hyacinths and botanical tulips. Planting these bulbs in the ground will most often result in them spreading on their own to create a mass of spring colour for years to come. Be sure to plant in a spot the will have adequate light and mix some bone meal into the soil when planting.
Fertilizing Bulbs
What is bone meal?
Bone meal is a mixture of coarse and finely ground animal bones. Bone meal is primarily used as a fertilizer, particularly in organic gardening, as it is an excellent source of phosphorus, calcium.
Bone meal is mostly used to provide phosphorus and calcium to plants and soil. Phosphorus helps plant grow and photosynthesize effectively. Calcium is vital to the formation of healthy cells and helps plants move and retain other elements within themselves. Phosphorus occurs naturally in the soil, but plants often require more of it than the soil can provide without a supplement.
What is bulb food?
Bulb food is a specialized fertilizer that provides bulbs with the best blend of nutrients to ensure they grow healthy and strong. It also promotes lovely blossoms in the spring as well as bulbs capable of storing food and energy over winter.
Bone meal first, then bulb food
Bone meal is good at the time of planting bulbs, then applying a balanced bulb food once the foliage appears above the soil line in late winter/early spring.
There are a couple of reasons for this. Nitrogen can burn the actual bulb, which only need the phosphorus and potash from bone meal to stimulate rooting. But once the bulb is sending out a stem, it needs nitrogen to become strong, so it wont bend over from the weight of the flowers that is sets. This is especially important for bulbs with large heavy flowers, such as tulips, ranunculus, and hyacinth.
It’s also important to dig your holes or trenches a little deeper than the bulb needs to be, applying some bone meal, then a little more soil so the bulb does not sit directly on the food. This encourages those roots a reason to stretch out to the food.
FAQs
Dahlias with their many shapes and colours add dramatic beauty to any garden. They will reward you with show stopping blooms from July until frost.
The ideal location for Dahlias is in full sun; however, they tolerate some shade.
Dahlias thrive in a loose well drained sandy soil with a neutral ph.
Planting after the last frost, mid-April to June is ideal planting time. Dahlias can vary in height
from 1-7’. Check each variety for its rated height and plant where suitable.
After tubers are about 6” tall, water once a week. Water more often when buds begin to form or during the heat of summer. A thorough deep watering is much better than a light sprinkling.
Click here to download the full Dahlia Care Guide
In pots: Start by covering the drainage hole(s) with fabric or broken pots to keep the soil from plugging up holes after watering. Next fill partially with potting soil, mixing in some Bulb Food to add nutrients. Then plant the bulbs at their required depth and fill the rest of the pot with soil. Water the pot after planting and keep the soil moist but not wet during the winter.
In the garden: Bulbs are generally planted the same depth as their diameter. If the bulb is 2 inches across it should be planted with 2 inches of soil above it. They can be planted in layers with larger and later blooming bulbs planted below smaller, early blooming varieties. Dig holes a little larger than needed to place the bulbs to ensure they will have loose soil to spread their roots. Mix in some bulb food to help the bulbs establish and produce abundant blooms. Cover over with soil and water in. Keep the bed moist but not overly wet through the winter.
Click here to download the full Bulb Planting and Growing Guide
