14 - Friday, November 2, 1990 - North Shore News HOME & GAR ‘Traditional bulbs still tops in Canada EXPERIENCED CANADIAN gardeners report thes grow lois of bulb flowers but are stl focusing largely on the mast faniliar types. These results were obtamed through a survey conducted recently by othe Netherlands Flowerbulb Information Centre -— Canada of a selection of the most conmnitted hontehobbs gardening enthusiasts across the country. The survey sample included 10,000) gardeners who made a significant purchase of seeds, bulbs and other plants from one of two well-known Canadian cata logue companies kest) year. The return rite, even without a post- ave paid reply vehicle, was 12 per cent — well above the norm es- pected for such a mail survey. Given the choice of beginner, intermediate or advanced gardener, the majority of the respondents (61) per cent) tabel themselves in the middle category. Elsewhere, 44 per cent state they have had 20 or more years of gardening experience and 67.8 per cent said they grow bulbs regular- ly and know them well. In fact, 30 per cent of the respondents claim 20 or more years of growing bulbs. However, at the other extreme of the gardening spectrum are those who say they are just discovering bulbs, in that they have begun gardening with them only during the pust five years. Reflecting the population groups across the country, the majority of respondents live in southern Ontario, the Montreal to Quebee City corridor, southern British Columbia, and Nova Scotia. The bulb choices identified by the survey respondents confirms that most Canadians, even experi- enced gardeners such as these. for the most part still grow the ‘told favorites.” For instance, 82 per cent of the respondents state that they grow early tulips, 62 per cent grow middle-flowering varictics and 43 per cent have tried fate-blooming types, but only 23 per cent have used botanicals in their gardens. Similarly, 74 per cent of the respondents say they grow all kinds of narcissus but only 20 per cent have tried rock garden varieties. (Botanical — or species — bulbs are those modern, cultivated varieties which most closely resemble the original flowers as Thes onee erew oan forests and figids around the works) Other traditianal spring flower- ine favorites also aire well repre sented in Canadian gardens: 6% Per cent show das: OS per cent crocus und 88 per cent yaciuiths, In addition, 38 per cent sind thes prow more fits (he. spr ing-flowermye) than tender (ee. summer-flowering) bulbs. Howes. er, about ene-third of the group — 35.4 per cent — claim to grow equal numbers of cach. Other bulbs thar have rarely been tried by the respondents in- clude the fall-flowering and, so- called “hule’ bulbs. For example, only 7.7 per cent bad tried the autunin-flowering colehicum; just under 20 per cent had experience with chionudoxa; anly $8.8) per cent had grown eranthis; 8.7 per cent, Iescojum and just under 10 per cent had included puschhinia in their gardens. Sn the summer-flowering cate- gory, the situation is much the same: that is, survey respondents report gardening fairly extensively with the best known bulbs, corms and tubers but even these experi- enced individuals had hardly tried any of the lesser Known types. Por instance, 67 per cent grow gladiolus, 6% per cent grow dahlias. $7 per cent grow tuberous begonias. 55 per cent grow lilies and 49 per cent grow daylilies. On the other hand, eremurus was represented in the gardens of only five per cent of the respon- dents; valtonia, the summer hya- cinth, was reportedly tried by only 3.7 per cent. Furthermore, homeria had been the subject of experiment by j just 2.6 per cent of respondents; i ia by 4.7 per cent: nerines by 5.5 per cent: sparaxis by 6.1 per cent; tigridia by 9.6 per cent, and zephyranthus by just 3.7 per cent of respondents. Those responding too the survey state that they gras bidbs pramarily ty chee vardens -- 92 per cent. Floweser, 400 per cent dle depart vraaing bulbs indoors dod another 40 per cent sas thes traturatize bulbs on their property toe. leave them planted to matue tally propawate and spread bys bulb ipuluplication and selt- seeding). One surprise detisil cmerged from the surves results. That is, comventional wisdem is that Ca- nadian yardeners are not interest ed in difting and storing tender, sumimer-flowering bulbs over the winter, Also, the thinking Canadian are all heated now and it ts dit- ficult to find a suitable, cool but frost-Iree storage location. Never- theless, 66.3) pee cent of respon- dents report that they store tender bulbs over winter, Not surprisingly, the main reason respondents gave for grow- ing flower bulbs — $2 per cent — is that they flower year after year, or can be lifted and replanted for repeated bloom. Other major reasons for gardening with bulbs were that bulbs help extend the flowering season (30 per cent) and are easy to grow (23.4 per cent). Canadian gardeners also are very book and resource text oriented: 66.3 per cent say that they get their primary information on growing bulbs from books, and 57.5 per cent turn to Cana- dian gardening magazines. The in- structions on bull) packaging are the next most importint source, according to 48.7) per cent of respondents, followed by garden centre staff at 45.3 per cent and then friends and relatives with 39.) per cent The purpose of the study was to the current degree of bulb and knowledge. NEED A FALL CLEAN-UP? LANDSCAPING? Let us care for your garden as if it was our own, We do pruning, bulbs, fall color, fert 2. plant upkeep and removal, lawns, weeding, raking, and tree, rock and leaf removal. Lez us plan and plant a glorious spring garden, The time to plant bulbs is NOW! Available also is regular maintenance with a focus on improvements. 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