Contents
The Basics of Bulbs
How to Choose the Right Bulbs for Your Garden
How to Buy Bulbs
How to Store Bulbs
When to Plant Bulbs
How to Plant Bulbs
How to Grow Bulbs from Offsets
How to Care for Bulbs
How to Store Tender Bulbs
During the Winter
How to Pre-Chill Bulbs
How to Force Bulbs
Other “Bulbs”
Corms
Rhizomes
Tubers
Tuberous Roots
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How to Buy Bulbs
You can buy bulbs from a variety of sources, including nurseries, garden centers, home improvement stores, and even some supermarkets. Alternatively, you can get bulbs through the mail by ordering from print or online catalogs. Though it’s always nice to be able to inspect bulbs in person before you buy them, catalog purchases may be more convenient for you—and they may be the only way for you to get less common bulbs that are grown and sold only by specialty vendors.
What to Look for When Buying a Bulb
If you’re buying bulbs in person, you’ll be able to inspect the bulbs before you buy. There are a number of signs that distinguish a healthy, quality bulb from an unhealthy one.
A healthy bulb is:
- Firm to the touch—neither mushy nor crumply
- Dense and heavy
- Free of mold
- Large, compared to other bulbs of the same type—for instance, the larger a tulip bulb is compared to other tulip bulbs, the better
If You’re Ordering from a Catalog
If you’re ordering bulbs online or from a print catalog, you won’t be able to select which exact bulbs you get. So it’s essential to talk to other gardeners or ask at a gardening center for the names of reputable companies to buy from. It’s not necessarily a good idea to order from whichever company offers the lowest prices—cheaper prices may mean that the company is selling smaller, lower-quality bulbs. Some good bulb sellers include:
- Brent and Becky’s (www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com)
- McClure & Zimmerman (www.mzbulb.com)
- Van Engelen (www.vanengelen.com)
- White Flower Farm (www.whiteflowerfarm.com)
When to Buy Bulbs
Unlike most plants that you grow from seeds, bulbs aren’t available for purchase year round. Availability of a particular type of bulb depends on when it tends to flower:
- Spring-blooming bulbs: Available around Labor Day
- Summer-blooming bulbs: Available late winter
- Autumn-blooming bulbs: Available late spring to summer
Online and print and catalogs will accept orders well before the bulbs are available and then ship the bulbs later, when they’re ready.
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