Autumn flower bulbs - which species of bulb flowers should be planted in the fall?

What are flower bulbs?

Flower bulbs are a very important part of the plant where its development begins. The bulb is otherwise known as an underground shoot. Its most important task is to store spare substances needed by the plant for flowering.Flower bulbs are divided into 3 basic types:
● annuals
● long-term
● acclimatizing

Annual bulbs

Annual bulbs, as the name says, produce beautiful flowers in the first year after planting. They bloom less abundantly from year to year, until they finally stop producing the aerial part. In order to minimize this phenomenon and make the annual bulbs bloom profusely, they should be dug out of the ground each year. Bulbs are dug up after flowering and stored until fall, when they can be planted again.

Perennial bulbs

Perennial bulbs can grow in one place for several years. They do not need to be excavated to produce a sumptuous bloom each season. After flowering, leave the plants in the substrate and let them dry. For this reason, their cultivation is a bit more convenient and simpler than in the case of annual bulbs.
Perennial bulbs, however, should be removed from the ground every 5 years in order to separate the adventitious bulbs.

Bulbs that acclimatize

Acclimatizing bulbs are planted only once. Like perennial bulbs, they bloom profusely every year. They do not need special care, so they are easy to grow. However, they have a very important feature. Namely, these bulbs put out new bulbs, from which flowers can grow. This is a great advantage because more and more plants may appear in our garden without our active participation. In the onion-kwiatowe.pl shop you can buy good quality bulbs with detailed instructions for planting and care.

How to plant flower bulbs in autumn?

When do we plant? Most autumn flowering bulbs are planted from the second half of August to October. It is important to remember that plants should have time to take root before winter comes and to be able to bloom profusely in spring.Of course, there are exceptions that are planted even earlier and those that can be planted in November. Therefore, before planting a particular species, it is worth getting acquainted with its exact planting date.

Stand for autumn flower bulbs

The stand should be selected depending on the particular plant species. Most of the fall bulbs grow best in a sunny position. However, some prefer partial shade, and some will do both. On the other hand, bulbs will not do well in full shade. It is also worth remembering that too strong sun is also an unfavorable place for planted bulbs.

What soil?

Soil requirements also vary slightly depending on the plant species. Most bulbs like fertile, well-drained and light soil with moderate moisture. For bulbous plants, a neutral pH of about 6.8 - 7.2 is best.Before planting the bulbs, the substrate should be carefully weeded. It is also worth digging the soil to a depth of about 30 cm to loosen it. If the soil is too loamy, sand and compost can be added to it. If, however, it is too sandy, you should mix it with compost in the proportion 1: 1.

Planting depth and bulb spacing

As for the planting depth, there is a general rule that the bulbs should be planted three times their height. This means that the larger the bulb, the deeper we plant it. The spacing of the bulbs depends largely on the size of the target plant. The larger the flower, the greater the spacing of the bulbs should be. Bulbs should be planted in special baskets. These plastic baskets come in a variety of colors and shapes. They also have many advantages.
First of all, they protect the bulbs against rodents such as moles, voles or mice, which often destroy the planted bulbs by biting or even eating them.
The baskets also make it easier to find and dig out the bulbs, so that the bulbs are not damaged during digging. They also prevent the bulbs from wandering in the ground.

Frost-resistant bulb flowers

Frost-resistant onion flowers are those that winter in the ground, so they do not have to be dug out for the winter. Some frost-resistant species successfully overwinter without any protection. Others, however, require cover to protect them from severe frost. For mulching, you can use peat, garden bark or branches of conifers. It is best to start covering the plants after the first frost. Bedding has several advantages besides protecting the bulbs for the winter. It also prevents moisture from escaping from the substrate.

The frost-resistant bulbous plants include:
● crocuses,
● hyacinths,
● imperial chessboards,
● lilies,
● onion bulbs,
● decorative garlic,
● tulips,
● narcissists.

Tulips

Tulips are incredibly popular bulb flowers. Willingly grown in gardens and perfect as cut flowers. They belong to perennial plants. They come in many unique species and countless varieties. Tulip bulbs are ovoid or triangular in shape and may have a diameter of several to several centimeters. They consist of fleshy storage scales surrounded by a dry covering scale. Depending on the species, tulips grow from 7 to 75 cm in height. Tulip varieties differ in size, shape, color and even flowering time. Tulip flowers can be full or single. Many species develop a goblet-shaped flower.
Tulips are planted in the second half of September and October to give the bulbs time to root before the onset of frost.The length of flowering of tulips depends on the variety and the growing and care conditions. Early varieties already bloom in March. And later varieties do not show flowers until April and May.

Popular species of tulips:
● Darwin,
● Botanical,
● Low,
● Parrots,
● Full,
● Ice,
● Triumph,
● Gigantic.

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Crocuses

Crocuses are bulbous perennials. The most popular varieties are purple, but there are also yellow, white and pink varieties.
Crocuses are low plant species, reaching a height of 5 cm to 20 cm. The crocus bulbs are small, round, slightly flattened in shape. They are quite bright from the outside. Autumn crocus bulbs are recommended to be planted from September to October. And they will bloom in early spring.

Popular genres:
● Spring crocus,
● Autumn crocus,
● Large-flowered crocus.

Narcissus

Narcissus are popular garden plants and are considered a symbol of spring. These plants are characterized by narrow, gray-green leaves. Depending on the variety, they develop one or more flowers. The flower is located at the end of the stem and has six petals… In the center there is a so-called cupola. Narcissi come in white, orange or various shades of yellow. Narcissus bulbs are characterized by an oblong shape. Their scales are dry and thin. The bulbs are brown in color. Narcissists take root quite slowly, so the sooner you plant them, the better they will prepare for the coming winter. Narcissi is best planted in late summer, around August. Narcissus grown in gardens blooms in March.

Species of narcissus:
● botanical,
● with a split cup,
● fragrant,
● full,
● trumpet,
● large-cup.

Decorative garlic

Decorative garlic consists of a single and smooth stem with characteristic inflorescences. Depending on the variety, garlic grows between 50 and 150 cm in height. It also has characteristic, gutter-shaped leaves that grow from a down-to-earth rose. Garlic inflorescences consist of many tiny and delicate flowers. They have a diameter of a few to several centimeters, it is a bit reminiscent of dandelions. Decorative garlic is usually purple in color, although we can also find them in white or dark red. When to plant and when will garlic bloom? Ornamental garlic should be planted in late September and October. Their flowering period is from late May to August. Much depends on the variety and growing conditions.
Popular varieties of garlic:
● capitate garlic,
● gladiator,
● globemaster,
● giant,
● mars,
● golden garlic.

Lilies

Lilies are bulbous flowers belonging to the lily family. It is characterized by the richness of many different varieties. Lilies come from Asian countries and the Balkans. They were known already in ancient times. They were once considered the royal flower. The lily bulb is made of numerous scales that overlap in a tile-like pattern. They can be large and adjacent or tiny and protruding. Depending on the species, they differ in color and shape. One, straight and thick stem usually grows from the bulb. Each species produces slightly different leaves. They can be, for example, equilibrium, lanceolate, ovate or elliptical. The appearance, shape and size of the flower depend on the species. Most often, flowers resemble a chalice or a crown.In the middle there are stamens and one main pistil. The flowers are of different colors, they can be single-colored or multi-colored. When to plant spring flowering lilies? We plant such lilies at the turn of September and October. If we provide the plant with the right conditions, it will bloom between June and August.

Lily species:
● asian,
● oriental,
● woody,
● trumpet,
● tiger,
● martagon.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths are bulbous plants that are distinguished by a beautiful scent. They grow up to 40 cm. In the lower part of the plant there are long, narrow leaves with a magnificent inflorescence between them. It consists of many small flowers. Hyacinths come in many colors depending on the variety, but the purple hyacinth is by far the most popular.

Hyacinth bulbs are medium sized and vary by species.Hyacinths with white, yellow or cream flowers have light bulbs. Hyacinths can also have bulbs of various shades of purple, which give rise to orange, red, pink and purple flowers. The best time to plant hyacinth bulbs is October. These beautiful ornamental flowers bloom from March to April.

Popular Hyacinth Varieties:
● carnegie,
● prince of love,
● blue star,
● pink pearl,
● red glory.

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How to care for flower bulbs after planting?

In order for the flower bulbs to be he althy and the bulbs to bloom profusely, you should take care of proper care. Fertilization is an important care treatment for most bulbous plants. If we want our flowers to bloom beautifully and effectively, we should feed them regularly, each year with decomposed compost or a small dose of mineral fertilizer.We fertilize the plants for the first time right after planting. Then immediately before and after flowering. For better results, fertilization can be repeated several times during the growing season.
The need for irrigation depends on the species. Before we start cultivating a particular variety, we should find out how often it needs watering.
Most bulbous plants do not tolerate drought and too wet soil, so they should be provided with moderate moisture. We water the flowers directly next to the ground, because the wet leaves are more prone to sunburn. We should also remember that too abundant watering may lead to the rotting of the bulbs, and its lack of it may cause the flowers to dry out.

Digging and storing bulbs

The flower bulbs should be dug out in three cases:

• when they are not frost-resistant and do not winter in the ground
• when they are annual bulbs and need an annual change of place
• every few years (2-4 years depending on species) for more flowers

Digging out allows you to remove diseased bulbs and separate adventitious bulbs. Dig out the bulbs of spring flowering plants when the leaves are dry, usually at the end of July. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the bulbs. After digging out the bulbs, leave them to dry and then clean them from soil and leaves. Autumn flower bulbs are best kept in wooden boxes lined with newspaper. The most suitable for storage are such rooms as a garage or a basement. They must be dry and airy and the temperature should be around 15 ° C. Some species need to be covered with sand or sawdust. Bulbs stored in this way can be re-planted in the fall.

Why is it worth planting flower bulbs?

Flowers are the best home garden decoration. Many people want a beautiful, colorful and fragrant garden.Flower bulbs are perfect for creating such a garden. With their help, we can easily create beautiful flower beds, which can be multicolored or single-colored, low or tall, at your discretion. It all depends on the selection of flowers that can be planted together. Flower bulbs planted in the fall will be a sign of the coming spring and the awakening nature. In addition, onion flowers come in many interesting species, which are characterized by an exceptionally decorative appearance. The bulbs are easy to grow, they do not have high requirements and, as a rule, it is enough to give me just a little attention to bloom profusely. They are an ideal solution for the garden for both beginners and advanced gardeners.