By Carol Anderson, Master Gardener in Training
This is the time of year when spring bulbs begin to appear on store shelves…creating a sense of joy and excitement about what awaits us in the garden at the end of a long cold winter in Ontario.
While many gardeners will plan their bulb display in a prominent garden bed with high visibility, what about those of us living in small spaces, or without a prepared bed at the ready. We too can enjoy that first sight of spring by creating and storing a spring planter in the cool temperatures of the Fall.
In my mind, one of the most beautiful container displays is that of a layered spring bulb container planting with a variety of bulbs offering successive blooming. Here is what you need to consider.
Keep in mind that overwintering cold hardy bulbs in a container is not always easy. To force cold hardy bulbs into bloom you must first encourage them to produce new roots. Unlike other hardy perennials that are dormant throughout the winter, spring bulbs when planted in the fall must grow new roots to establish themselves. This can be accomplished by keeping the bulbs cool and moist for a period of time in their container. Dropping the temperature during the cooling period to mimic the shift in soil temperatures that occurs naturally during the winter is a very effective method to encourage rooting.
Bulbs grow right through the winter, producing roots and sprouts. Source: International Flower Bulb Center (from
Laidback Gardener article)
To safely overwinter, either put the entire pot into the ground where the heat radiating up from the earth will prevent freezing or place it in an unheated garage where the temperature remains between 33-46 degrees F. Do NOT place the container in a heated garage or basement as bulbs need the chill period in order to produce bloom in the Spring.
To prepare a layered spring bulb container, consider the mature height of each plant, the timing of flowering, and the colour scheme. For example, a blue, yellow, and white colour scheme can be achieved by planting a white variety of tulip (Tulipa hybrids), yellow daffodil (Narcissus hybrids), and blue grape hyacinth (Muscari botryoides).
Layering is accomplished by planting the tallest bulb first (3 times the height of the bulb), layering soil on top, planting the next layer of bulbs, followed by soil, and finally the third layer of bulbs (the shortest and smallest) with the final layer of soil on top. The container should be watered well and finally stored where the bulbs will have a successful cold period of at least 3 months without freezing.
In early Spring, the container can be moved outside into the warm sunlight to encourage the bulbs to begin their spring growth. Keep in mind that although bulbs planted in a south or western exposure garden may sprout very early (often with snow on the ground), their roots are protected underground from frost penetration.
This is not the case with containers. As such, if there are persistent cold temperatures after the sun sets, you may need to move the container into the shelter of the garage at night until the nighttime temperatures remain above freezing.
Although this may sound like a lot of work, the early blooms of hardy spring bulbs make it worth it…they offer the first splash of colour against the often-dull gray backdrop of winters' end, signaling the beginning of the growing season.
Having the container ready to go can mean that you will have a beautiful display of spring colour to adorn your front porch or deck.
No comments:
Post a Comment