October 20, 2024, 3:25 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
In the fall, garden owners should start thinking about the coming spring. If you want your garden to be adorned with beautiful early bloomers in spring, you should plant flower bulbs between September and November. In this article, myHOMEBOOK reveals what you should bear in mind.
When it starts to get colder in the fall, you probably only think of mushrooms, chestnuts, or pumpkins. The forward-thinking garden owner, however, is already thinking about spring and has tulips, daffodils, and crocuses in mind. Various early flowering bulbs can be planted in the ground in the fall. The beds in the garden are suitable, as are the tubs and containers on the patio or balcony.
Overview
- Which flower bulbs can be planted in the fall?
- How long can you store flower bulbs?
- Can you mix different flower bulbs?
- How deep should the bulbs be planted?
- How far apart should they be?
- Can flower bulbs also be planted in pots?
- What is the point of soaking the bulbs before planting?
- Should flower bulbs be fertilized in autumn?
Which flower bulbs can be planted in the fall?
While the bulbs of early bloomers like daffodils and snowdrops should be planted as soon as possible, tulips and ornamental alliums can be planted even after the first frosts. The following bulbs are suitable for early sowing in the fall:
- Snowdrops
- Winter aconite
- Spring snowflakes
- Crocuses
- Tulips
- Hyacinths
- Daffodils
How long can you store flower bulbs?
Flower bulbs can now be found in many shops. In most cases, they can be bought on occasion and buried a little later without hesitation – except for the bulbs of dog’s tooth lilies and imperial crowns. These should be placed in the ground soon after purchase, as they must not be allowed to dry out. The following applies to all other purchased bulbs: they can be stored in a cool, dry place until planting. Bags should be opened.
Can you mix different flower bulbs?
If you want to get the most out of your spring planting, you should put together a mixture of early, medium-early and late varieties. This allows you to extend the overall flowering time of the spring bloomers in the garden. You can also plant flower bulbs using the so-called “lasagne method.”
Even before planting the bulbs, you should think about which colors the flowers will bear and which varieties you will place next to each other in the bed. Ground cover plants are also a suitable companion for early bloomers. It is important to pay attention to the location and soil requirements of the plants when selecting them.
How deep should the bulbs be planted?
Bulbs are generally planted at a depth twice their diameter. So if the bulb has a diameter of six centimetres, then twelve centimetres of soil are placed on top of the bulb.
How far apart should they be?
The distance between individual plants depends on the size of the flower. If this is not stated on the bulb packaging, there is a rule of thumb. As a general guideline, you should space them out at twice the diameter of the flowers.
Can flower bulbs also be planted in pots?
If you don’t have a garden but only have balcony boxes available for planting, this is not a problem for flower bulbs – they can also be planted in pots. However, it is important to provide a drainage layer, for example of broken clay, expanded clay or pebbles, so that the water can run off. The bulbs cannot withstand waterlogging, as it increases the risk of mold growth. Bulbs can be planted more densely in pots than in beds. Experts recommend leaving a maximum of one bulb width between the individual plants.
The bulbs must not be overwatered, so they should not be exposed to constant rainfall. It is best to place the containers in a shady and, above all, dry place. In addition, the temperatures should not be too high. The bulbs need the cold in order to sprout later. Important: Make sure that the plant soil does not dry out. It is therefore important to water regularly without flooding the pot. Excess water should be removed immediately.
Note: If you don’t have pots, you can even use small containers. You just have to follow one basic rule. The pots or containers should be sized to allow a layer of soil three times the height of the bulb itself.
What is the point of soaking the bulbs before planting?
Although they are usually referred to as bulbs, some of these plants do not have bulbs at all, but tubers. One key difference is their winter hardiness – bulbs are hardy, whereas tubers are not. Some bulbs also require an extra care step when planting: Winter aconites and anemones, for example, should be soaked beforehand so that they swell well.
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Should flower bulbs be fertilized in autumn?
For all early bloomers – whether bulbous or tuberous – it is also best to add some fertilizer, such as compost, to the planting hole. Organic fertilizer such as compost or horn shavings can also be added during the budding period. Tulips and daffodils in particular need early support and should be given fertilizer again in autumn, as otherwise they won’t be able to produce flowers.
with material from dpa