Bulbs

BULBS

Nearly everyone is familiar with the common bulbs, usually planted in the Fall to provide a burst of color in late Winter or early Spring. Daffodils, tulips, crocus... these are a few of the more common bulbs. Then there are the amaryllis, bulbs grown as houseplants, especially at Christmas time.

Onions and garlic are also bulbs, grown for food rather than for flowers.

An interesting feature of bulbs is that all these plants also produce seeds. However, collecting and planting the seeds can be difficult and time consuming since many are quite small and most will require a year or more to grow into a small bulb and at least another year before they are ready to bloom. Because of this slow development, we generally purchase bulbs which are ready to perform for us. Few of us has the patience or the space to start these plants from seed.

Bulbs are also quite accommodating in that they will grow larger with time, thereby producing more and more flowers for us, or they will split or form off-sets to produce entirely new plants which can be left in place for many years or can be dug up and divided to increase the size of our display.

Because of the time required to produce the bulb, they tend to be somewhat more expensive than seeds. However, most don't require replanting every season and most will become bigger and better with every passing year.

There are some exceptions to this, however. Remember the amaryllis? If you plant that one outside in most parts of the country, it will simply rot and die. This is a tender bulb which requires the temperatures and conditions found in Zone 10 or warmer. Also, caladium, elephant ears, gladioli and some other decorative bulbs are tender and must be dug up in the Fall before the first frost. If stored properly, the same bulbs can be replanted in the Spring so that you at least don't have to purchase a new supply but they do require some extra work.

written and maintained by Brier Ridge

Punta Gorda, Florida, USA