As you develop this plan, keep in mind that bulbs bloom at different times. Some spring bulbs have overlapping bloom periods, but they still maintain the order in which they bloom. Spring bulbs will bloom from early February to mid June. Summer bulbs will bloom from early summer to fall. The following is a general idea of various flower's bloom sequences: These bloom cycles are for general reference. The following sequence depends a great deal on the weather in your area as well as the variety of bulbs you plant.
To see a sample of the bulbs that grow during each bloom cycle use our filters on the web site to sort by bloom time. You likely know which bulbs are planted in fall, and which to plant in spring. But by doing a bit of bloom-time planning, you'll achieve a nonstop display of colour from early spring through summer - just by using easy-to-care-for bulbs! Very Early Spring Blooms: Early Spring Bulbs like Snowdrops : Snowdrops, or Galanthus, are often the first spring flowers to appear in season - and they're a great choice for areas that stay cool a bit later in the year.
These short-statured plants with small white blooms are incredibly hardy, and most early spring bulbs will flower before the last day of winter! Snow crocus: The early-blooming varieties within the Crocus genus produce small flowers, with a longer blooming season, than giant crocuses.
They'll start blooming in late winter, and can flower in colours of pink, purple, yellow, white, or even blue, depending on variety. Winter aconite: Imagine a golden floral carpet replacing your winter snow cover!
That's very nearly what you'll get from these yellow, early blooming flowers. Winter aconite offers great coverage for bare flowerbeds in early spring. The leaves are very attractive as well!
Early snow glories: Glory-of-the-snow, or Chionodoxa, are another "northern" plant that can actually perform well in both northern and temperate climates. These fabulous blue star-shaped flowers are among the earliest spring flowers you'll see each year.
They're also great for naturalizing in yards or flower beds! Dwarf iris mixture: Some varieties of Dutch irises bloom extra early - usually low-growing dwarf irises! Try a mixture of dwarf irises, such as this one from Breck's. They'll grow year after year and offer early-spring ground cover well before the larger bearded iris bloom. Early Spring Blooms: Grecian Windflower: Grecian windflowers, a daisy-shaped species of anemone, bloom in shades of pink, blue, violet and white in early spring.
These perennials make a nice, low-growing groundcover. Giant crocus: Just like smaller species of crocuses, giant crocus are great for naturalizing. Plant a drift of giant Dutch crocuses of a single colour, or mix colours for a more natural effect. Their larger flowers usually 4" to 6" in height provide a lovely, low-growing pop of brightness. Trumpet daffodils: Trumpet daffodils are the classic daffodils, with cups longer than their petals. They feature a single flower per stem and are very hardy - and bloom soon after the snow melts!
Hyacinths: Jewel-toned hyacinths are early blooming flowers that grow in dense spikes and are among the brightest colours you'll see in early spring. They're often associated with Easter celebrations, and some gardeners "force" the bulbs to bloom in indoor pots for spring decor.
Early tulips: Dwarf tulips, such as the Wild Blue Heart tulip, are low-growing species that provide perfect early spring blooms! Emperor tulips, or Fosteriana tulips, also bloom early in the season. Fosteriana varieties feature large-brightly-coloured cups on stocky stems. Mid Spring Blooms: Tulips: Tulip bloom time typically falls around mid-spring.
Mid-season-blooming tulips include jumbo varieties, classic apeldoorn tulips Triumph and Darwin tulips. Many of these tulips make up the traditional Dutch tulip fields, and are great for planting in large, multicoloured drifts.
Darwin and Triumph tulips are hybrids bred for exceptionally long bloom times - they may last for a month or longer! If purchased before planting time, store them in a cool, dry spot until planting. If timed right, this should be as soon as possible after purchase. However, bulbs can be stored in the refrigerator if needed until planting. See Helpful Hints below for more information on storing bulbs in the refrigerator.
Zones 8 to In warmer climates, spring-flowering bulbs will need to be chilled in the refrigerator for 6 to 10 weeks depending on the bulb until the ground cools enough for planting. As long as you ensure that your bulbs have good drainage and sunlight, you can plant them just about anywhere. Drainage is critical to keep bulbs from rotting. They like loamy or slightly sandy soil because it provides the drainage and nutrients they need.
However, they'll only bloom well the first year, as they'll need sunlight later in the season for the leaves to gather enough energy for next year's flowers. Bulbs can be grown in many ways — formal gardens, meadow gardens, scattered in lawns, under trees, or strategically planted throughout beds and borders.
Many bulbs will naturalize in an area and multiply, coming back year after year, so plan carefully and you can have years of enjoyment from one planting. Bulbs can be planted in layers by digging up an entire area down to the proper depth, placing the bulbs and covering; or in individual holes dug for each bulb.
Individual planting is made easier with a bedding plant auger pictured. Not only good for Sunday dinner, lasagna planting is great for bulbs. The idea is to plant bulbs with different sizes and staggered bloom times in layers for a continual bloom.
This works great in large containers that are deep and wide enough. This planting method can be used in-ground as well for a concentrated area planting. It can also be adjusted to fewer layers in smaller pots. For all bulbs, after blooming, cut only the flower stem back.
Leave foliage intact until it turns yellow and wilts to the ground; the leaves are gathering and storing energy for next year. Join the RHS today and support our charity Join now. Save to My scrapbook. Planting bulbs in a container.
Quick facts. Timing Plant spring-flowering and hardy summer-flowering bulbs in autumn, tender summer-flowering bulbs in early spring, and autumn-flowering bulbs by late summer Difficulty Easy. Jump to Suitable for When to plant bulbs Where to plant bulbs How to plant bulbs Problems. Suitable for When to plant bulbs Autumn Plant spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils , crocus and hyacinths , preferably by the end of September Plant tulips in November Plant hardy summer-flowering bulbs, such as lilies, alliums and crocosmia, in September and October Spring Plant tender summer-flowering bulbs, including gladioli, in early spring Summer Plant autumn-flowering bulbs, such as nerines, by late summer.
Where to plant bulbs Some bulbs need specific siting; Most hardy bulbs, including tulips and daffodils, prefer a warm, sunny site with good drainage as they come from areas with dry summer climates Bulbs from cool, moist, woodland habitats, such as Cardiocrinum , need similar garden conditions. Improve light or sandy soils with garden compost and heavy soils with compost plus grit. How to plant bulbs Most bulbs are acquired and planted when dry, in a dormant, leafless, rootless state.
Planting in borders Aim to plant in groups of at least six, as the more bulbs that are grouped together, the better the display. This method applies to spring-, summer- and autumn-flowering bulbs: Dig a hole wide and deep enough for your bulbs. Plant most bulbs at two to three times their depth.
Avoid treading on the soil as this can damage the bulbs If the ground is moist or the bulbs are autumn-planted, watering is not critical. In containers Most bulbs are ideal for growing in containers, but this especially suits those with large, showy flowers, such as tulips, lilies , arum lilies and alliums.
Here are some tips for success: For bulbs that are only going to spend one season in their container, use a mix of three parts multi-purpose compost with one part grit. For long-term container displays, use three parts John Innes No 2 compost mixed with one part grit Plant at three times their depth and one bulb width apart Water bulbs once after planting then regularly when in active growth, but you can reduce watering once the leaves start to die down and then through the dormant season.
However, continue to check pots in winter, ensuring they do not dry out completely To promote good flowering next year, feed the bulbs every seven to ten days with a high-potassium fertiliser such as a liquid tomato feed. Begin feeding as soon as shoots appear, and stop feeding once the foliage starts to die down at the end of the season If you bring pots of hardy bulbs indoors during flowering, put them in a sheltered spot outside as soon as flowering is over.
Missed planting your bulbs at the right time? See also You may also like. Bulbs for Christmas flowering.
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