After the dreary gray days of winter, the first sign of spring in the garden is often when the bulbs start to peek up. Depending on where you live, crocus flowers can bloom as early as February (in my Alabama garden they come up that month, and nothing makes me happier than seeing some color in the garden), while daffodils and tulips appear a bit later – from March to May.
If you want spring blooms next year, it’s time to start planning because spring-blooming bulbs need to be planted in the fall. They should go in the ground about six to eight weeks before it freezes so that they have time to establish roots before the true cold sets in. In cooler zones (4 and 5), plant in late September and early October. In warmer zones, starting with zone 8, you can wait until late November.
Think about what you want to plant – consider bloom time, color palette, and how much space you’ll need. Besides the popular daffodils and tulips, there are many beautiful lesser-known bulbs to try.
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Allium, a type of ornamental onion, comes in shades of purple, white, and yellow, often with round, orb-like blooms.
Herman Bresser
There are varieties of Anemone that grow well in zones 4 to 10, so be sure to check the growing zone before buying. Their star-like blooms grow beautifully in pots and planters since their bulbs are quite small.
TorriPhoto
With their bell-like flowers, Fritillaria are a very special class of bulbs. There are short varieties for the front of the garden and tall ones for the back of beds. Fritillaria need to be planted in well-draining soil as soon as they arrive in the mail because they lack a protective outer layer.
Bag of 25 Daffodil Bulbs
While local nurseries and even some big-box stores, like Home Depot, sell bulbs, many online retailers offer a wider range of common and rare varieties. Check out Longfield Gardens for an extensive collection of showy tulips and grape hyacinths (Muscari). On the White Flower Farm website, you can search by hardiness zone to ensure you’re getting plants suited to your area.
The Essential Guide to Bulbs: Grow a Bounty of Beautiful Bulbs in Gardens and Containers
For an extensive guide to planting bulbs, renowned gardener Jenny Rose Carey is releasing a new book, The Essential Guide to Bulbs, in early October. Add it to your Amazon cart now so you’ll be ready to start planting as soon as your bulbs arrive!
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