Growing Flowers from Bulbs - Washington State University

Growing Flowers from Bulbs
EM2869E
EXTENSION
GROWING FLOWERS FROM BULBS
I f y ou like flowe rs and enjoy watching them grow, this
4 - H p r o j e ct is for you. Growing flowers is no mystery i f you
“ l e a r n b y doing” as the 4-H slogan sa ys.
I n t he flowe r growing proje ct you will learn a bout
f l o w e r s f r om bulbs. You will learn how to:
- - C h oose bulbs tha t will grow we ll.
- - G et the soil ready for planting.
- - P l ant 12 or more bulbs (at least two kinds).
- - K eep the plants wa tere d and weeded.
- - C are for cut flowe rs.
- - C o mpa re the quality of flowers.
- - G i ve a demonstration or ma ke an exhibit.
ABOUT BULBS
B u l b s that grow a nd bloom in the spring are daff odils ,
t u l i p s , n a rc issus, hya cinths, bulb irise s, c roc use s, a nd
s n o w d r o p s. They are planted in the fa ll and come up in the
spring.
S u mme r bulbs are gladiolus a nd tuberous begonias .
T h e y a r e p la nted in the spring and bloom all summe r.
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A l l flowe rs from bulbs c ome in many kinds a nd colors .
Bu lb s a r e s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d “good nature d” because they
ar e e a s y to g ro w. T h i s i s b e c a u s e a bulb is a storehouse of
fo o d .
T h e le av e s d o t h e i r w o r k o f m a king living matter from
th e p la n t f o o d s i n t h e s o i l a n d a i r. This living matter is stored
th r o u g h th e w i n t e r m o n t h s i n t h e b u lbs.
Bu lb s h a v e t h e h a b i t o f s t o r i ng food from one se ason to
th e o th e r b e c a u s e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s in whic h they grow. They
ar e a b le to m a k e p l e n t y o f f o o d s u p plie s during the summe r
mo n th s w h e n t h e r e i s w a r m t h , m o i s ture, and ric h soil. But,
be c a u s e th e y l i k e t o o p e n t h e i r f l o wers in the sun­ shine they
sto r e th e ir f oo d d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r a nd wa it until spring and
su mme r to b l o o m .
CHOOSING BULBS
Ch o o se b u l b s t h a t a r e f i r m a n d solid a nd have no mold
or sp o ts. L a rg e b u l b s a r e u s u a l l y b e tter tha n sma ll ones.
Ch o o se c o lo rs t h a t w i l l g o w i t h t h e rest of the garde n or ya rd.
I f y o u b u y b u l b s , b u y f r o m a de aler who sells good
bu lb s . Ch e a p b u l b s u s u a l l y h a v e p o or qua lity. Your le ader
ca n h e lp y o u f i n d a g a r d e n s t o r e o r nursery. Be sure to avoid
bu lb s o f in v a s i v e s p e c i e s , w h i c h a r e re adily available on the
In te r n e t. Ch e c k t h e Wa s h i n g t o n S t a t e Noxious Weed page for
cu r r e n t listin g s : h t t p : / / w w w. n w c b . wa .gov.
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WHEN AND WHERE TO PLANT
S p r i ng-flowe ring bulbs should be planted before the
f i r s t o f N ove mber. Summe r-flowe ring bulbs should be planted
i n l a t e M a y (be gonia) or early June (gla diolus).
Bulbs grow best where they can get lots of sunshine and
plenty of moisture. Ask your parents to help you choose a place.
B u l b s can be grown in c lumps or in rows. Keep in mind
t h e c o l o r, he ight, and blooming time of the plants so they will
g o w i t h t h e re st of the garde n or ya rd. Look at the table on
page 5.
PLANTING BULBS
U s e a shove l, trowe l, or dibble to cre ate a hole fo r each
b u l b . S o m e bulbs are planted deeper tha n others. Look at the
t a b l e o n p a ge 5 to se e how deep to plant the kinds of bulbs
y o u h a v e . Then se t the bulbs, pointe d ends up, firmly in to the
ground.
P l a n t bulbs c lose together (3 or 5 inc hes a part) if you
w a n t t h i c k ma sses of flowe rs. Plant them fa rthe r a part (6 or 8
i n c h e s ) f o r rows.
A f t er the bulbs a re covere d with soil, soak the so il
w i t h w a t e r to se ttle it around the bulbs. Mulch the are a with
o rg a n i c m u lc h to a depth of 2-4 inches. Do not a dd fe rt ilizers
o r o t h e r a me ndments unle ss a soil te st report indic ates a
n u t r i e n t d efic iency.
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LEARNING ABOUT BULBS
NAME
COLOR
HEIGHT
BLOOMING TIME PLANTING DEPTH (top
of soil to top of bulb)
Blue
Purple
Yellow
White
4 in.
Very early spring
3 in.
2. Daffodils
White
Yellow
Pink
12-16 in.
Early spring
4-6 in.
3. Hyacinths
Blue
White
Pink
Yellow
6-10 in.
Early spring
4-6 in.
4. Irises, bulb
White
Yellow
Blue
Mixed
18-24 in.
Early summer
6 in.
5. Narcissus
White
Yellow
Pink
12-16 in.
Early spring
4-6 in.
6. Snowdrops
White
6-12 in.
Very early spring
3 in.
7. Tulips
Red
Pink
Yellow
Mixed
12-14 in.
Late spring
4-6 in.
10-16 in.
Summer
1/2 in.
36-48 in.
Summer
2-4 in.
Plant these in FALL:
1. Crocuses
Plant these in SPRING:
1. Begonia,
Red
tuberous
Yellow
Pink
White
2. Gladiolus
White
Yellow
Orange
Pink
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CARING FOR THE PLANTS
M u lching keeps the bulbs from a lterna tely freezing
a n d t h a w i n g in the winter. During the re st of the year, m ulch
r e d u c e s w ee d growth, mode ra tes soil tempera ture , and protects
s o i l t i t h e (consistency).
I f weeds a ppear, re move as ne eded. Weeds rob plants of
f o o d a n d water. If your pla nts ha ve dise ase or insects as k your
c o u n t y a g ent wha t to do.
CUTTING FLOWERS
C u t flowers in the morning or in the evening. Us e a
s h a r p k n i f e to cut the ste ms. A pa ir of sc issors crushes the
s t e m i n s t e a d of c utting it sha rply.
C u t the ste m at an angle to leave a large r a re a fo r the
s t e m t o a b sorb water.
P u t the flowe rs immediately into warm wa ter a bout the
t e m p e r a t u re of a bath. Wa rm wa ter move s through the s tem
e a s i e r t h a n c old.
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AFTER BLOOMING
A f te r th e f l o w e r s f a d e i n t h e garde n, cut them off so
th a t s e e d s w i l l n o t f o r m . S e e d s t a k e stored food from the
bu lb s .
D o n o t c u t t h e l e a v e s . L e t t h em die natura lly-­ the gre en
le a v e s b u ild n e x t y e a r ’s b u l b s .
D ig g in g a n d r e p l a n t i n g b u l b s is not necessary for ma ny
sp e c ie s ; th e y w i l l r e p r o d u c e v e g e t a t ive ly below ground. You
ca n d ig u p a n d d i v i d e b u l b g r o u p s whe n they become too
de n s e .
COMPARING QUALITY
Flo w e r s a r e j u d g e d b y t h e w ay they look. Plants should
ha v e g o o d c o l o r a n d s t r o n g s t e m s . There should be fe w signs
of in s e c ts, d i s e a s e , o r i n j u r y o n t h e flowe rs, leaves, or ste ms.
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DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXHIBITS
A d e m o n s t r a t i o n o r e x h ibit will he lp you show othe r pe ople how to
d o s o m e t h i n g y o u h a v e l e a r n ed. They can be made for 4-H c lub meetings,
s c h o o l p r o j e c t s , c o m m u n i t y programs, or for your family and friends.
U s e p l e n t y o f a c t i o n i n a demonstration. Choose a short, catchy title.
H e r e a r e s o m e i d e a s , b u t y o u ’ll probably want to think of some of your
own:
- - W h a t a S i t e ( u s e a d i s pla y of pic ture s, drawings, or a PowerPoint
p r e s e n t a t i o n t o s h o w why you c hose the site for your pla nting).
- - P l a n t O v e r c o a t ( s h o w materia ls tha t can be use d as mulc hes a nd
e x p l a i n h o w m u l c h e s he lp plants).
- - T h e C u t t i n g A n g l e ( s h ow how to cut flowe rs and care for them).
A g o o d e x h i b i t s h o u l d a ttra ct attention and tell a story in a fe w
min u tes . K e e p t h e e x h i b i t s i mple . Use just e nough lettering to te ll the
s to r y an d u s e c o l o r o r m o v e ment to attra ct attention. Possible topics a re :
- - Wi n t e r C o v e r- u p s ( t y pes of mulches)
- - G o o d S t a r t ( c h o o s i n g bulbs)
- - F a i r e s t o f t h e F a i r ( j udging flowers)
EXTENSION
This publication was prepared with the assistance of Dr. Elwood W. Kalin, professor of horticulture, Washington State
University, Pullman.
Issued by Washington State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the Acts of
May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations
on nondiscrimination regarding race, sex, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin; physical, mental,
or sensory disability; marital status or sexual orientation; and status as a Vietnam-era or disabled veteran. Evidence
of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office. Trade names have been used to simplify
information; no endorsement is intended. Revised July 2007. Reviewed July 2015.
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