Since most commercial growers plan their crops to be ready for market by a certain date (Valentines Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Christmas), it is important to order your bulbs well ahead of time. This is especially true for bulbs that are forced into bloom in a greenhouse. These bulbs will need a specific cold treatment prior to planting. In our growers guide you will find all the information needed to be a successful forcer. Our technical staff will be more than happy to help you plan a production schedule for the season for your greenhouse.

Upon Arrival

Open boxes and inspect the product immediately upon arrival. If you are not ready to plant right away, and have to store the bulbs for a little while, please store the bulbs in a cool (at least 48 F), dry, dark, and well ventilated area.

Planting

Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in the fall when the soil temperature drops below 54 Fahrenheit. However, they can be planted later in the fall or winter as long as the soil can be cultivated and the soil temperature is not below 40 Fahrenheit.

Since Tulips are native to a cold climate it is a good practice to pre-cool them for a minimum of six weeks prior to planting in zones 7 and 8. They will perform much better this way. We provide this pre-cooling for all of our customers in these zones.

Summer flowering bulbs should be planted in the early spring when the danger of frost is gone, the soil temperature is above 40 Fahrenheit, and it can be cultivated.

For greenhouse production please refer to planting instructions in our growers guide.

Soil Requirements

Flower bulbs thrive in well draining soil. The pH of the soil should be between 6.0 and 7.0. They prefer some organic material or compost nixed in with the planting soil. Acid soils can be adjusted by adding lime. Soils that are high in alkalinity can be adjusted by adding pure peat moss.

It is important to remember, however, that before planting anything you should always cultivate your garden soil. It not only makes planting easier, it also helps the bulb’s new roots get off to a good start.

Bulbs can be planted in pots as well, as long as they contain free draining soil or compost. This way they will not need any additional plant foods during their initial growing season.

For greenhouse production, please refer to soil recommendations in our commercial growers guide.

Planting Your Bulbs

Choose a site that is appropriate for the bulbs that you are ready to plant. Most spring flowering bulbs do well in semi sunny to full shade locations. The icon next to each product picture indicates if your bulbs are suitable for sun or shade. Most growers plant bulbs in the open field and use shade cloth.

For growers, bulbs should be planted in rows or beds for easy maintenance and cultivation. Rows can be created by using a “hiller” to create rows in your freshly tilled field. After creating the rows, you run back over them with a “middlebuster” or “potato plow”. This creates a trench in which the bulbs can be planted. After planting the bulbs run back over the rows with your tractor and “hiller” to close up the trenches.

Please refer to the growers guide for the planting density of your crop.

For landscapers, excavate the area to be planted and loosen the soil in the bottom. Set the bulbs in the bed, following the spacing recommendations. You can also till the soil, use a trowel, and plant each bulb individually. After planting it is important to water your flower bed well. The planting density chart will help you to determine how many bulbs are needed for a certain area.

In areas where frost will penetrate the soil deeper than 2 to 3 inches during the winter months (zones 3-6), you should top-dress your fields with a layer of mulch or straw to protect your bulbs. You can also use “Agryl” or cheese cloth to provide insulation.

Fertilizing

Flower bulbs are little storage reservoirs of energy and generally do not need any fertilizing, especially if you are planting in soils rich with composted material. If you feel that your soil is not adequate, flower bulbs should be fertilized with a regular slow release 10-10-10 fertilizer. This should be done when a considerable amount of soil has emerged from the soil.

Care For Your Bulbs

Most flowering bulbs make great cut flowers. However, if you decide to cut the flower when it is in bloom, the chances of the bulb producing a new bloom next year diminishes. After all, the foliage is what feeds the bulbs after flowering, so it will become bigger, make new bulblets, and stores energy for a new season. After flowering, leave the foliage on the plant as long as it is green. Once the foliage wilts and turns brown, the bulb is finished growing and the foliage can be removed.