The season for bulb planting is upon us

“This bud... May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.”

— William Shakespeare

Bulbs have long been a fascination for gardeners. Many can be counted on to bloom annually, after a dormant period and disappearance into the soil. Most bulbs live for years, and it is part of garden magic to anticipate their yearly return.

Bulbs are commonly grouped according to their season of bloom, a purely arbitrary ordering. They make their first appearance at your local nursery in early September, commencing with crocus, ranunculus, bearded iris and narcissus. These are followed by hyacinth, tulip and calla lily, anemone, sparaxis and daffodil — the bulbs of spring. These yield to the tuberous begonias, lilies, amaryllis and gladiolus of summer and early autumn. Gardeners willing to experiment with other bulbs are rewarded with exciting floral surprises.

The best place to shop for bulbs is at your local nursery. You can inspect the bulbs, purchasing only the best ones. Bulbs vary in size and quality, so look carefully before you buy. Generally the larger bulbs will produce more flowers at blooming time. Much like selecting fruit at the market, choose firm bulbs, avoiding the mushy ones. Do not buy bulbs that are infested with either insects or diseases. Prior to planting, tulip, daffodil and crocus bulbs should be chilled (not frozen) in the refrigerator for eight weeks.

Most bulbs prefer a sunny locale and a soil that is not too acidic; a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 is good. It is important that the soil drains well — bulbs can rot if they sit in soggy soil. Heavy, clay soils can be improved by adding redwood compost, peat moss or leaf mold. Unlike nitrogen, phosphorous moves slowly downward, so superphosphate or bone meal should be added at the depth of the future root zone of the bulbs.

The general rule that a bulb should be planted at a depth equal to twice its width is usually safe. However, in light sandy soils, they should be planted a little deeper, and in heavier soils, a little shallower. Tall growers, such as gladiolus and lilies, need the extra support of deep planting to ensure they grow upright. Even then, some bulbs often require stakes for support.

The best time to apply fertilizer is when the first shoots appear. A low nitrogen “bloom” fertilizer is better for bulbs than one high in nitrogen. An organic mulch to cover the bulbs, helps to keep the weeds down, retains moisture, and improves the general soil condition and appearance.

STEVE KAWARATANI is happily married to award-winning writer Catharine Cooper, and four dogs. He can be reached at (949) 497-8168, or e-mail to plantman2@mac.com.