Thinking of winter's garden (while enjoying more summer)

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 577, 14 March 1995, Page 8

Thinking of winter's garden (while enjoying more summer)

BY

BEA

BARNES

With this prolonged hot summer weather it is with some reluctance that we look ahead beyond the coming winter to what needs to be planted for a colourful display in the spring. Spring flowering bulbs are the first which spring to mind and if

we want that host of golden daffodils or a blaze of colourful tulips we must begin our preparations now. Bulbs are now making their appearance in shops and garden centres ready for planting in April or May and if you are looking for

that something a little different, or a choice variety, shop early before they sell out. Preparation of the soil needs to be addressed now.

Bulbs are hardy creatures and will tolerate a variety of growing conditions but as with most things we get out of them what we put

into them and a little effort on our part will encourage them to put on their best performance. Ideally the bulb-bed

should be dug over to a depth of a spade, two or even three times prior to planting and all weeds removed. Allow a week or so between each digging to gi ve any seeds in the ground time to germinate and the next crop of weeds to show their heads. The best soil type for bulb growing is a sandy loam with a proportion of organic matter incorporated into the soil. Heavy clay soils will need the addition of peat moss to help break down the clay. All bulbs prefer a slightly acid soil and peat moss will help to provide this. After the final digging a thin layer of fertiliser may be spread across the base of the bed and covered with a good layer of earth. The growing roots of the bulb should never come into contact with the fertiliser. Where little groups of bulbs are to be planted in an established garden try to emulate conditions similar to those in a prepared bed. The addition of a prepared bulb food will help as this contains the elements the bulbs need for good growth. When planting bulbs which have been packeted follow the planting depths advised by the grower but for all others a good general rule is to plant the bulbs so that the soil above is two to three times the depth of the height of the bulb. In heavy soils plant a little less deeply.

All bulbs need a welldrained soil and if drainage is poor the earth needs to be built up 20-30cm above ground level. A planting guide for some of the popular varieties: Anemone 2.5cm deep x 1 5cm apart; Babiana 6cm x 3cm; Crocus 5cm x 7.5cm; Hyacinth 10- 15cm x 1530cm depending on the size of the bulb; Iris (bulb type) 7.5cm x 15-30cm; Muscari 5cm x 5cm; Narcissus varieties 7.5cmx 10cm;Nerines neck at ground level x 1 5cm; Sparaxis 5cm x 10cm; Tulips 10- 15cm x 10cm. After planting spray the surface of the ground well with water. Most bulbs appreciate a sunny position with a little light shade. For bulbs planted among other garden plants a plastic bulb-protector which can be planted at the depth required and will contain the bulbs therein is now on the market. At the end of the growing season the basket plus bulbs can easily be removed from the soil. As each flower fades it should be cut down to base and at the end of the season the foliage should be allowed to turn yellow before the bulbs are lifted from the soil. Provided that drainage is good hardy-bulbs can be left in the soil from year-to-year where they will form sidebulbs that will flower after a year or two.