Spring-Flowering Bulbs for Fall Planting
BOTANICAL AND SPECIES TULIPS are native to Europe and Asia; are generally shorter; do better in poor soil; tolerate heat better; and bloom longer than hybrid types.
•Greigii—late flowering, attractive purple-striped foliage
•Fosteriana and Kaufmannia—early flowering
HYBRID TULIPS are generally showier flowers on taller stems and come in a wider range of colors. Hybrid tulips are classed by time of bloom.
EARLY SEASON (late March to April; sturdy stems and long lasting flowers)
•Early Double—excellent for cutting
MID SEASON (April)
•Darwin hybrid—large blooms, 22-30” stems
•Triumph/Mendel—earlier than Darwin, large flower, 16-26” stems
LATE SEASON (late April to May)
•Parrot Tulips—fringed, ruffled flowers; exotic and spectacular
•Double Late—peony-like blooms
•Single Late/Cottage—oval, very tall, originally from English cottages
•Lily Flowered—pointed petals with reflexed tips, elegant
•Fringed—petals have a fine fringe along the outside edges; often used as a focal point
•Viridiflora—unique tulips all marked with green stripes or bands
(includes all bulbs called narcissus, daffodils or jonquils)
•Daffodils—generally large single trumpet shaped flower
•Jonquils—smaller, multiple flowers on each stem
•Crocus—small; early flowering; good for naturalizing in lawn areas, woodland settings and rock gardens; good repeaters
•Hyacinths—clusters of fragrant flowers in early spring; best in groups
•Minor bulbs (small)—Grape Hyacinths, Snow Drops, Dutch Iris, Scilla, Frittilaria, Allium, Leucojum
•Minor bulbs (large)—Fritillaria, Giant Alliums
How Many Dutch Bulbs Do I Need?
Many customers are stumped by this question. They end up buying “some” bulbs and are often disappointed with the results. You can plant the correct number of bulbs by following the chart below:
|Bulb Type||Spacing||Planting Depth||Bulbs per 100 sq. ft.|
|Crocus / Smaller Bulbs||2" - 3"||3" - 4"||1600|
|Dutch Iris / Hyacinths||4" - 6"||4" - 6"||900|
|Narcissus||6"||6" - 8"||400|
|Tulips||6" - 8"||4" - 6"||200|
|Large Bulbs||10" - 12"||8"||100|
For example, if you have a 100 sq. ft. area you want to plant with narcissus, you will need to purchase 400 bulbs. Use these numbers as a guide when shopping ... keeping in mind that this is just a guide. For a more spectacular show, purchase a larger quantity of bulbs.
More Bulb Planting Tips
1. Choose a location that gets full or part sun. You may plant most bulbs from September to December.
2. For best effect, plant bulbs in clusters. Don’t plant in rows ... they will never bloom perfectly straight. It is better to use staggered or random spacing. Try just tossing them in the bed and planting them where they fall.
3. It is best to dig the entire bed area to the proper depth before planting the bulbs.
4. Work in Cotton Burr Compost and gypsum to condition the soil. Good drainage is essential.
5. Mix Hi-Yield Bone Meal into bottom of hole to provide a slow-release fertilizer.
6. Plant bulbs with the pointed end up.
7. Cover bulbs with soil. Use Dutch Bulb Food fertilizer on the surface.
8. Water in with ferti•lome Root Simulator. If the weather is dry, water bulbs once a month through winter as long as the ground is not frozen.
9. Mulch to keep soil moisture in and ground temperatures even.
When choosing tulip or narcissus bulbs, remember that larger bulbs mean larger flowers. Earlier-flowering types will be shorter.