Working with bulbs for the home garden
Bulbs continue to be some of the most popular of all plants for the home gardener, and it is easy to understand why. Bulbs are hardy, easy to plant, easy to grow, and they can often return year after year on just one planting. In addition, some of the most popular flowers in the garden, from the tulip to the daffodil, are actually grown from bulbs.
One of the most important considerations to the successful bulb garden is the selection of the bulbs themselves. Fortunately, it is much easier to pick out healthy bulbs than to pick out healthy varieties of many other types of plants. A good bulb should be firm to the touch. A bulb that is too soft may have been exposed to too much moisture.
In addition, a good bulb will be surprisingly heavy given its size. A good bulb will have a substantial feel to it, while a bulb that is too light, or one that appears dry or shriveled, should be avoided.
It is also important to know that in general the largest bulbs will produce the most abundant blooms. Of course, the largest bulbs will also be the costliest, so many experienced gardeners prefer to buy smaller, less expensive bulbs and allow them to grow from season to season.
Of course choosing the bulbs is only have the battle; in order to thrive the bulbs must be planted properly. When planting bulbs, it is important to get them into the ground as quickly as possible. Some varieties of bulbs can be stored, but in general it is a good idea to plant them as soon as weather conditions permit.
The exact depth for planting bulbs varies from variety to variety, but the general rule of thumb with bulbs is to plant them three times as deep as the bulb is wide. Therefore, a 1″ wide bulb would be planted 3″ deep, with a 2″ wide bulb being planted at a depth of 6″. While this rule of thumb generally holds true, it is important to consult the planting requirements of each variety of bulb you purchase.
More info you can find at: Flowers