on’t base bulb buying on quantity

Size more important than number when planning fall planting purchases

Geoff
Tobiasson

EVEN THOUGH it may
sometimes appear other-
. wise, I really do hate
repeating myself.

Rehashing old topics such as
this should not be viewed as the
simple manifestation of an ianate
tendency to shirk the work. I
simply feel that timely topics such
as these should not go by without
a reminder. (My wife has that I-
believe-y ou-dear-but-millions-
wouldn’t look on her face.)

Be her face as it may, I feel
compelled to throw out a few
suggestions for those of you who
are thinking of buying a few

~ bulbs.

First and foremost, do a little
planning before threwing your
fistful of dollars at the nearest

- garden centre clerk,

A quick skeich will help you
with decisions regarding the
varieties and quantities you should
belooking for. —

If you feel unqualified filling in
thé ‘blanks yourself, take your
masterpiece in with you. A well-
run store will have qualified staff
to help you with your design.
‘Next, do it now. Selections are
good and getting worse. You
needn’t (and shouldn’t in most
cases) begin planting until the end
of the montl. Keep them stored in
-a cool, dark, well-ventilated ioca-
tion unti! then. ;

Do not wait too long to plant
daffodils. and narcissi; they are

* best.in. the ground by mid-Oc-
tober. The same can be said of
most smali bulbs; if you leave

-OVER THE GARDEN GATE

them out too long, they could dry
out.

Speaking of tiny bulbs, let’s
bring up the subject of size. Do
not base your estimates of value
on how many for how much; it
should rest on how big for how
much. :

It stands to reason; bulbs store
energy, the bigger the bulb the
more stored energy, the more
energy the better and fonger will
be the display. Do not w; “te your
time and money on undersized
merchandise.

It is a good idea to treat those
gorgeous, glossy photographs with
a. certain amount of skepticism.
However, it is quite alright to
succumb to temptation and try
one ‘or two new varieties every

44 Bulbs store energy... the more
energy the better and longer will be
the display. 99

year if the picture strikes your
fancy. Just don’t go overboard. It
is better to let experience be your
guide rather than com-
puter-enhanced photography.

Now let’s look at getting them
in the ground. Keep in mind it is
bulbs you are planting and not a
picket fence.

The best looks are achieved
with random groupings of one
variety, not a dog’s breakfast of
one of these and one of those and
one of the other, all planted in a
row.

It is quite alright to mix distinc-
tly different groups of one species
in with those of another. .

They may bloom at differen
times and stretch out the flower-

ce

ing season or they may simply be
used to fill in the gaps between
plants of differing size. An exam-
ple might be groups of early red
tulips such as t ‘Red Riding
Hood’ surrounding smaller more

widely spaced clusters of taller, -

white daffodils such as n. ‘Mount
Hood’. :
After having been asked the
same questions again and again, 1
developed my own ‘‘pat’’ answers
for the spacing between and depth

“to plant each bulb. Three times

3

the greatest diameter of the bulb
is a good rule-of-thumb
measurement for both.

As a general rule, bulbs like
good drainage. Most evolved their
bulbous characteristics as a

defence against excessively dry
periods of the year in their native
habit.

The idea is to store water (and
energy) over the wet season, then
recede into a dormant state during
the drought and spring back to
life in the spring.

Overly wet sites bring on home-
sickness, even to the point of
death.

Most nurserymen will try to sell
you insecticida! and fungicidal
dusts along with your purchase.
Forget it. If you plant in a well-

. drained site and use high-quality,

healthy bulbs, chemicals are not
necessary.

That goes for the fertilizers as
well. As far as | am concerned,
bonemea! is the only thing you
should add to the planting hole.
Its high percentage of phosphorus
and calcium will assist in the de-
velopments of roots and flowers
for the best display possible next
spring. .

OK, that’s it. I have finished
repeating myself. Until next year,
that is. Well, you might see some
familiar words in the days ahead
on composting, fall grass care,
pruning, etc.

Oh, what the heck, gardening is
a cyclical thing and I’m just trying

-to pedal along like the rest of us.

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