BULB TIME

Early Crocus

     Now is the time to buy and plant spring-flowering bulbs. There are thousands of bulbs blooming at all times of the year. I am referring to the ones we know best -- those  hardy bulbs that need a dormant period in cold weather to prepare for flowering.

     Bulbs can provide some of the earliest signs of  spring. After an endless and dreary February, there is nothing more heartening than the the first appearance of a snowdrop or crocus -- even when it is popping out of the snow.

     For  many, "bulb" conjures up an image of tulips. Tulips have been called  "the king of flowers," and they are  spectacular. But they are not necessarily the best pick for home gardeners. For one thing, squirrels love tulip bulbs. Many a tulip bed  I have known was lovingly planted only to disappear overnight. Some of us over-lay the beds with staked-down mesh and then take it up in the spring. This can be effective but can also be a lot of extra work.

Gorgeous, but a lot of work.

     Tulips demand regular fertilization and even then tend to become  less productive over time until they stop flowering altogether. Many large institutions that plant tulip beds have given up on maintaining them and simply treat  them as annuals, planting anew  every fall.

     I prefer the bulb that requires as little of my labor as possible. Most of my favorites "naturalize," meaning they survive and reproduce naturally without any effort on my part. Plant them once and you are done.

Galanthus

     The first bulbs to appear around here are Galanthus, or Snowdrops. Every spring these stubborn little  plants pop up early, get  buried in snow,  and then pop  up again. A real morale booster.

     They are  followed  by Crocus and Scilla in April. Like Galanthus, they "naturalize" and the small size of the leaves allows  them to be planted directly in the lawn. Their flowers are done by the time you need to get  out your mower. And if you mow  as high  as you should anyway, there will be enough leaf left  to restore the bulb.

Crocus sieberiTricolor

That haunting blue color up and down Longwood
 in spring comes  from naturalized Scilla. 

     Also blooming in April are naturalizers Muscari (or Grape Hyacinth) and Narcissus. These grow too tall for the lawn but do wonders in beds or other un-cut areas of the yard.  Narcissus come in a variety of names, including "Daffodils" and "Jonquils," and many different sizes and shapes. They give you a thousand varieties of white and yellow blossoms.

Muscari aucheri

    Bulbs are best purchased from mail order companies that specialize in bulbs. The time to order is about now. You will  still  get your bulbs in time to plant them. Don't be bashful. Indoors, a single flower  can make a statement on your dining table. Outdoors the same flower is utterly lost and beneath notice. Don't even think about buying less than 100 bulbs.

     Follow the instructions that come with your order as to depth and spacing. The soil temperature should be below 55 degrees but above 32 -- refrigerator temperature. Bulbs like well drained soil with a neutral PH. If you need to, you can do a little soil preparation while your bulbs are in the tender clutches of UPS.

Narcissus mix

     When you plant do not add fertilizer, but do water thoroughly.  After the ground surface freezes you can add a layer  of mulch.

     Finally, keep in mind that after the flowers are spent next spring, larger bulbs will leave a tangle of unsightly foliage. Resist the temptation to cut this down. The leaves collect the sun's energy to restock the bulb for next year's bloom. It is best to plan your bulb patch  to be just behind some perennials. The perennials will be barely visible when the bulbs are in their glory, but will grow to screen the scraggly foliage once the flowers are gone.