We Buy Bulbs Wisely

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Most of the flowers are planted by gardeners in the spring or early summer. However, bulbous plants are best placed on the site at the end of the season - in the fall, and sometimes just before the frosts. But in any case, the quality of the planted plant largely depends on the correctly selected seed material, or, in this case, on the bulb. Let's figure it out …

Before buying bulbous plants, first of all, you need to take several mandatory steps:

1. Choose the required type according to a special reference book.

2. Clarify with specialists the conditions of planting, as well as wintering. Make sure your garden has all the plant conditions.

3. In the store, evaluate the quality of the bulbs, read the packaging and available information materials.

4. At home, if the bulbs are packed, release them from the packaging and immediately discard the damaged ones.

5. Immediately before planting, clean them and be sure to treat them from infections.

When choosing bulbous plants:

1. Pay attention to their size. The quality of flowering plants directly depends on this.

2. Inspect the material. The bulbs should be firm enough, not wilted, free of rotten spots and mold, and their bottom should be dense and dry.

3. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of individual plants: for example, in blue, pink and purple hyacinths, the bulbs are broadly conical, in whites - ovoid, and in orange and yellow ones - narrowly conical. The color of the covering scales of the hyacinth bulbs is identical to the color of the inflorescences.

Bulbs of some plants need to be purchased in advance and only in proven places. For example, the beginning of autumn is considered a favorable time for planting lilies. In September, the plants root well, and this is a guarantee that they will successfully overwinter. But in the fall, it is quite problematic to find high-quality planting material. Most often they sell those bulbs that have remained from the spring. Therefore, it is preferable to buy planting material from local producers during this period.

Bulb processing

Undoubtedly, long-distance travel and storage in warehouse conditions do not benefit the planting material. Stores often become a source of pests and diseases for bulbs. It is not uncommon for sellers to purchase bulbs already infected with a disease such as penicillus rot. The neglected form of this rot manifests itself as a grayish-green sporulation on the covers of the bulb. As a result, this material has to be thrown away.

After purchase, all bulbs must be carefully cleaned off stains and sores that cause fungal infections. After that, the knife must be wiped with alcohol or vodka. Sections are sprinkled with fungicide or crushed coal. The cut should dry out within a few days. Immediately before planting, the bulbs are treated in a liquid dressing agent.

Myths or Reality?

Often, sellers in the market go to all sorts of tricks, offering us practically non-existent miracle flowers, which, according to them, are not inferior in beauty to even the most fabulous plants, without requiring any special worries. Here are some of the onion myths:

Lily tree. In fact, there is no such plant, and has never existed in nature. If you see a photo of him on the counter, then remember that this is nothing more than the wonders of Photoshop.

Lilies with huge inflorescences of 100 or more buds. Yes, there really is such a phenomenon. It is called fasciation. This is the fusion of several stems, on which a large number of buds are actually formed. But such an onion is almost impossible to buy from hands for little money. You can find it only from trusted sellers, and it will be very expensive.

Black hazel grouse. Several species of black hazel grouse have been bred. On sale most often you can find the planting material of the Persian hazel grouse. But we draw your attention to the fact that it is quite problematic to grow it in the middle lane. Its bulbs are unlikely to survive a wet winter and are more likely to rot.

Yellow muscari. It is a very thermophilic species with beautiful purple-yellow flowers. In the middle lane, it is grown only in pots.

Nepalese lily. This plant is beautiful, but, unfortunately, in our latitudes it does not hibernate, and even more so it does not bloom.

Ampel and curly lilies. This is just an invention of the sellers. Like the existence of blue tulips, lilies and hazel grouses, these species do not have a gene responsible for such a shade.

Ways to surprise your friends:

1. OT-hybrids of lilies - plants that resemble non-existent lily trees. They are obtained by crossing pipe and oriental lilies. They are resistant to cold and disease. These lilies amaze with the size and beauty of their unusually fragrant flowers.

2. Pink daffodils - varieties are quite expensive, but very effective. There are already more than a hundred varieties of such daffodils, and therefore they can be easily found on sale.

3. Multi-flowered tulips look quite original on a flower bed. Thanks to such plants, you can create a more saturated color spot in the overall composition.