Planting
Bulbs, corms and tubers
Plant spring-flowering specimens in autumn, summer-flowering
ones in spring and autumn-flowering ones in mid
or late summer. If you obtain any before you are
ready to plant, spread them out in a single layer
and keep them in a cool, dry and airy place.
A rule of thumb for the planting depth of most
bulbs is two-and-a-half to three times the height
of the bulb. For example, a bulb 2in high should
go in a hole 5-6in deep. They will look more natural
if they are grown in irregularly shaped groups
of different sizes and planted in odd numbers
of say, between five and fifteen. Each group of
bulbs can go in a hole large enough to hold them
comfortably – that is, they can be placed
close together but not touching. Spread a layer
of coarse sand on the bottom of the planting hole
if the soil is not a well-draining one.
To plant bulbs, such as crocuses and snowdrops,
in a grassed area, it is not necessary to go through
the rigmarole of stripping a section of turf and
preparing the soil; it is far easier to use a
bulb planter, which involves minimal disturbance
to the turf.
When introducing bulbs into a spot already planted
with other bulbs, you may have trouble locating
the exact position of the earlier planting. So
plant groups of the new bulbs in large pots. Bury
them up to their rims in a spare bit of ground.
When the established bulbs begin to show above
the surface, you can lift the pots, carefully
tap out soil and bulbs as one, and fill any gaps
on the selected site.
Planting depths
for bulbs
Depths, given in inches, are measured from the
surface to the top of the bulb.
SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS
Anemone……………………….……
2-3
Chionodoxa…………………………
2-3
Crocus vernus………………………
2-3
Endymion hispanicus……………….
4-6
Erythronium………………………...
5-6
Fritillaria
imperialis………………...6-8
Fritillaria
meleagris………………....4-6
Hyacinthus orientalis……………….
5-6
Ipheion uniflorum…………………...
2-3
Leucojum vernum…………………...3-4
Muscari
armeniacum………………..3
Narcissus……………………………4-6
Puschkinia scilloides………………..2-3
Scilla bifolia…………………………2-3
Tulipa………………………………..6-8
SUMMER-FLOWERING BULBS
Allium moly………………………….3-4
Allium christophii……………………4-6
Alstroemeria…………………………4-6
Crinum x powellii…………………...10-12
Crocosmia…………………………...2-3
Cyclamen purpurascens……………..2-3
Galtonia candicans………………….4-6
Gladiolus byzantinus………………...4-6
Iris xiphioides……………………….4-6
Lilium………………………………..4-8
Lilium candidum………….Just
below surface
AUTUMN-FLOWERING BULBS
Amaryllis belladonna………………4-6
Colchicum………………………….3-4
Crocus……………………………..2-3
Cyclamen hederifolium…………….2-3
Dierama pulcherrimum……………4-6
Galanthus reginae-olgae…………..2-3
Gladiolus callianthus………………4-6
Leucojum autumnale……………….2-3
Nerine bowdenii……………………3-4
Sternbergia lutea…………………...3-4
Zephyranthes candida………………3-4
WINTER-FLOWERING BULBS
Cyclamen coum…………………….2-3
Eranthis hyemalis…………………..3-4
Galanthus caucasicus………………3-4
Iris…………………………………..3-4
Narcissus……………………………4-6
Scilla mischtschenkoana……………2-3
|
