Mastering Bulb Planting: Tips and Tricks for Blooming Success

Planting bulbs can be an exciting venture, promising a burst of color and life in your garden. While nature sometimes dances to its own tune, we've gathered some valuable hints and tips to enhance your bulb-planting journey. Remember, while we aim to provide accurate guidance, the unpredictability of bulbs, much like plants, can lead to occasional surprises. Here's what you need to know to create a blooming paradise in your outdoor space!

Equipment Required:

• Bulbs
• Fork or Hand Trowel
• Gloves (for skin protection)
• Potting or Bulb Compost
• Bulb Fibre, Sand, or Grit (for heavy and wet soil)

How to Plant Bulbs:

1. Handling Your Bulbs: Upon receiving your bulbs, unpack them promptly to allow them to breathe and cool down. Keep the temperature below 18°C to prevent sweating, which can create a breeding ground for diseases. Ideal planting temperature is 10-12°C.

2. Planting Process: Plant bulbs in a hole approximately 2.5 times their height, using moist compost or soil. Ensure good drainage by adding sand or grit at the base of the hole, covered with compost. Plant bulbs in clusters for a striking mass effect during flowering.

3. Sunshine and Drainage: Bulbs thrive in well-drained soil and sunny spots. For heavy soil, the addition of sand or grit enhances drainage, preventing water stagnation around the bulbs.

4. Post-Flowering Care: Once flowering begins, bulbs require minimal attention. Cutting flowers for vases may impact next year's bloom, as bulbs rely on nutrients from stems and leaves. Preserve these for a healthy future display.

5. Handling Hard-Enveloped Bulbs: Some bulbs, like Anemones, Snowdrops, Crocus, and Begonias, have tough skins. Soaking them in water for 20-25 minutes softens their skin, increasing their chances of successful growth.

Note: Bulbs might have a white mold upon arrival, especially if packed in plastic bags. This Penicillium mold is harmless and disappears after planting, allowing normal flowering.

For any inquiries about your bulbs, don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@greensofireland.ie. Happy planting, and may your garden be a riot of colors and scents!

🌼🌿 #BulbPlantingMagic #GardenersWisdom #ColorfulBlooms #NatureInYourGarden

HOW TO PLANT BULBS:

Once you have received your bulbs, please unpack them straight to let them breathe and reach cool temperature. Any temperature above 18οC will make the bulbs sweat and provide perfect conditions for disease to develop. Best temperature to plant bulbs is 10-12οC.

If possible, plant them straight away in a hole about 2.5 times their height with moist compost or soil. Cover them with more compost and water well. We would recommend planting bulbs in cluster to give a mass effect when flowering. 

Bulbs like well-drained soil and sunny spots. If your soil is heavy, add a layer of sand or grit at the bottom of the hole which you will cover with compost then. This will bring a good drainage to avoid stagnant water at the base of the bulbs.

 Once the flowering starts, bulbs do not require any specific treatment. If you decide to cut the flowers for your vase, it will impact the flowering the following season. The bulb depends on the nutrients inside the stem and leaves to flourish. Without them, the bulb will not grow and might be weak to produce a strong, healthy flower the next year.

Some bulbs, corms or rhizomes have a quite hard envelope. It is recommended to soak them in water for 20-25 minutes to soften up their skin and give them a stronger chance of rotting early. This is particularly true for Anemones, Snowdrops, Crocus, Begonias.

NOTE:

Some bulbs are packed in small plastic bags with holes. Despite our best effort to supply the bulbs in the best conditions, you may find a light white mould surrounding the bulb. This is normal considering the fact has been in a confined environment for weeks. This mould is called ‘Penicillium’ and is harmless for the bulb. Once the bulbs are planted, this will disappear and will produce normal flowering.

Should have any queries about your bulbs, do not hesitate to contact us by mail with your question at info@greensofireland.ie.

Michael