| Overview |
Much of the glory of the summer garden comes
from the spectacular flowers produce by bulbs
and tubers. Cannas, dahlias, lilies, caladiums,
tuberous begonias, gladioli, tuberoses and
elephant ear are among the beauties that
can add a lush or exotic feel to any garden.
They look fabulous in containers. These bulbs
come in a huge variety of sizes, textures
and colors. They can be purchased at garden
centers, but for maximum choice, specialty
catalogs and online sites are best. They
are easy and inexpensive to ship.
Consider the following if you
want to grow
summer bulbs:
- Because most of these plants are tropical
or Mediterranean in origin, they cannot be
planted until the soil warms up to 60 degrees.
For best results in colder climates, buy
your bulbs about eight weeks before you plan
to put them outside and pot them up in 6
inch pots. Starting them indoors will give
you a head start on the season.
- All these bulbs need well drained soil. Those
that flower usually need full sun; bulbs
such as caladiums, grown for their beautiful
foliage, do best with some shade.
- Many of these bulbs will not winter over
in the ground in colder climates. If you
want to save them for the next summer, wait
until the foliage dies back in the fall.
Then gently dig up the bulb and clean off
the soil. Cut back some of the roots and
let the bulbs dry in the sun for a day or
two. Put the bulbs in a paper, not plastic,
bag. Label the bag with the name of the plant
and store it in a cool, dry place. Do not
let the bulbs freeze. Better yet, treat these
bulbs as annuals and plant new varieties
and colors next year!
If you forget to start your bulbs
eight weeks
before planting, you can probably
find some
of them already going in pots
at a good garden
center. |
| Where to Shop (click to visit) |
DirectGardening - Use special coupon # G5666 for 3 free
Peacock Orchid Bulbs with any purchase.
To advertise your web site here, go to CliqueRouter Ads. |
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