A few weeks ago I discovered a great ebook devoted to – you guessed it – bulb gardening! How to Grow Bulbs is 70+ pages jam-packed with information about all kinds of bulbs, and covers each variety in detail. The author has a couple of decades of experience growing bulbs, from the more common tulips and crocuses to lesser known varieties like freesias (I admit I had to look that one up – they don’t grow here in the frigid north). She also takes the time to remind us that not all bulbs are of the decorative variety. How to Grow Bulbs teaches us about edible bulbs like onion, garlic, and leeks as well.
Each variety of bulb is discussed in-depth, starting with an overview of the plant and which cultivars to try. Ms. Reich teaches us when and where to plant each type of bulb, how to lift and store them for the summer, how to grow them in containers, and tips you need to know to get the most out of your bulb garden, like how to know if you’ve planted your tulips too shallowly.
Of course, you won’t do that, because included with the book is a chart that tells you exactly how deep to plant each type of bulb. You also get her Seasonal Planting Chart, to help you determine the best time to plant each bulb in your area, and a bulb gardener’s progress chart, so you can keep track of where, when, and how you planted each section of garden. This is a must-have for serious gardeners, since you need to be able to replicate what worked – and avoid what didn’t – in your garden for next year.
How to Grow Bulbs also gives you a good primer on pests and diseases specific to bulbs, and what to do about them, along with a troubleshooting guide to help you solve bulb growing problems before they get out of hand.
For the beginner bulb gardener, this book is a fabulous overview of different kinds of bulbs, where they will grow, and how and when to plant them. Advanced gardeners might find the information a little too basic, but you’ll probably still discover some varieties of bulbs to try out in your garden. Overall, I highly recommend every bulb gardener get a copy. You’ll turn to it again and again when faced with questions about bulbs.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It is May in NJ and because of a few very cold nights my Tulips are beginning to disipate, leaving the large green stems and leaves behind. I have a limited amount of planting area so I would like some advice on possibly removing the bulbs and storing them indoors etc. This is my first year doing this. The bulbs been in the ground (and some Potted)since October.
Please advise.
Hi Glenn, I’m going to shoot you an email, too, in case you miss this. But this is such a common question I wanted to answer here in the comments as well.
The tulip flower itself fades pretty quickly, unfortunately, and what you’re left with is a vast expanse of green with no color to add interest. Just because the flowers are gone, though, doesn’t mean the tulip is done growing. In fact, it’s important to let the leaves complete their life cycle. The leaves absorb sunlight and through photosynthesis turn the sunlight into energy, which is then stored in the bulb for next season. If you don’t allow the tulip to complete it’s life cycle the bulb will either die, or fail to produce a flower the following season. So if you really must dig up your tulips at this point, I would discard the bulbs and replace them in the fall.
I have an article that goes into this in more depth here: http://tulipcaretips.com/cultivation/growing-tulips-life-cycle-facts-you-should-know
Thanks for the question Glenn. I hope my answer is helpful to you.
Cindy