Bulbs For Fall Planting

Facts About Bulbs For Fall Planting

Planting fall bulbs is for the patient, faithful gardener. I end up kicking myself every spring when I see beautiful Tulips, Grape Hyacinth and Daffodils when I realize I didn't plant any new bulbs the previous fall.

When and How To Plant Bulbs In The Fall

A lot of gardeners don't know when and how to plant bulbs in the fall. First, the bulbs need to be planted before the ground freezes. When the nighttime temperatures are about 40-50 degrees is best.

A great tip I learned was to use a Holiday in the fall as a reminder to plant bulbs ~ Columbus Day Veteran's Day or Halloween, depending on your gardening zone.

Another method is to look up the frost date for your zone and plan to put your bulbs in around that date.

Try to resist the urge to plant fall bulbs when the weather is still pretty warm. Wait until cooler days even though gardening is generally most pleasant in balmy conditions.

Dig a hole big enough around for the bulb and about 6" deep. Plant bulb with the pointed side up and the roots facing down. Refill the hole and tamp the soil lightly.

Water your newly planted bulbs thoroughly.

You don't want to 'burn' a bulb or its roots, so avoid mixing bulb fertilizer or fresh manure into the hole along with the bulb. There is a high concentration of salts in some forms of nitrogen which can damage to plant tissue when in direct contact. Young roots are easily damaged by these salts as well. Your best bet is to apply a fertilizer as a top dressing.

The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center recommends mixing a slow release bulb fertilizer into the top few inches of soil about once a year. They also suggest fertilizing the bulbs after they are done flowering, which is when they are producing new roots. Nutrients are readily absorbed by these young roots. Waiting until the foliage is brown and dried is too late as the bulbs are no longer taking up nourishment. NOTE: Never cut foliage back after blooming, but let it dry naturally. This is the time a bulb stores food made by the leaves in order to bloom again the next year.

Bulb fertilizers are typically slow release and have a common formula of 9-9-6 which you will see on the packaging. They might go by the name of bulb food, bulb booster, etc. Each type of bulb may require a unique formulation, so research their needs and apply accordingly.

Applying a top dressing of really well rotted manure in the fall will add nutrients along with keeping the soil healthy and filled with oxygen.