Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Spring flowering bulbs are planted in the fall. They require a freeze and period of dormancy -- when the spring thaw comes, they will be among the first to bloom and provide early season color in your garden, while your other plants are still developing. Because they can withstand (and even require) a frost, they are often referred to as hardy bulbs.
Popular Spring Bulbs
Probably the most popular of the spring-flowering bulbs is the classic Dutch tulip, but other popular species include the daffodil (or narcissus), the iris, the lily, the cyclamen, and the crocus. Click one of the popular bulb species listed below to find out more.
Choosing and Storing Spring Bulbs
Choose bulbs that are healthy and firm with strong growing points and unblemished skin. Small, soft, moldy, or diseased-looking spring bulbs should avoided. Compare your bulbs to others of the same type -- smaller sized spring flowering bulbs will not produce flowers during their first season. You should select flower bulbs in colors and forms to complement your garden, bearing in mind that most spring-flowering bulbs need at least six hours of sun per day.
If you buy your bulbs before planting time, store them in a cool, dry area, preferably between 60-65 degrees F. This keeps the bulbs cool enough to preserve their energy until they are planted. If you store them at too high a temperature for an extended period, the flower buds within the bulb might be damaged.
Planting Spring Flower Bulbs
Bulbs like company! They look best when planted in groups or masses, to give the effect of a wave of color across the landscape. Buy enough flower bulbs to get a good display in your garden.
The dates vary from zone to zone, but as a general rule spring flowering bulbs should be planted in late September through October, when soil temperatures fall below 60 degrees F. This allows the bulb to develop a root system before the ground freezes. Flowering bulbs that mature early in the spring can be planted near deciduous trees because they will bloom and die back before the trees shade them out. However, if you want your bulbs to flower again in years to come, you should plant them in an area that gets 6-8 hours of full sun per day. Be wary of planting bulbs in a southern exposure near a building or wall, as the reflected heat from the wall might cause the buds to emerge too early and be damaged by a late frost.
When planting a new bed of spring bulbs, loosen the soil to around 4 inches below the bulb's suggested planting depth, i.e. if the bulb should be planted at 6 inches, loosen 10 inches of soil. You should do your planting when the soil is fairly dry, otherwise wet soil will pack tightly around the bulb and retard its growth.
Place the bulb in the hole with the pointed end up and the basal plate with developing root system pointing down. Replace the soil around the bulbs and pat it firm so that there are no air spaces. Give the bulbs a good, thorough watering. You'll want to continue giving them an occasional watering until the frosts come. Add a mulch cover to protect the bulbs in late fall, when frosts are threatening.
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