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AMES, Iowa – Fall is a time of beautiful colors. Trees turn bright yellow and red and pumpkins ripen to deep orange. Fall is also a time to reflect on the colors of spring. The many beautiful spring onions such as tulips, daffodils and squill all grow and bloom in spring, but must be planted in autumn. A little planning, planting, and care in the fall will bear fruit in the spring, according to horticultural specialists at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Which spring bulbs are best for Iowa?
There are a number of types and varieties of onions and tuberous structures such as tubers and tubers that grow well in Iowa. Large species include hybrid tulips (Tulipa), Daffodil (daffodil), Hyacinth (Hyacinths), Ornamental onion (leek), camass (Camassia), imperial crown (Fritillaria imperialis) and surprise lily (Lycoris squamigera). Small species that can grow in Iowa include crocuses (crocus), Snowdrops (Galanthus), Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), Squill (Scilla), Trout lily (Erythronium), Kind-type tulips (Tulipa), reticulated iris (Iris reticulate), Grape hyacinth (Muscari), checkered lily (Fritillaria meleagris), Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoids), Snowflake (Leucojum), striped squill (Pushkinia scilloides), Windflower (Anemone blanda), Trillium (Trillium), Shooting star (Dodecatheon), Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), Spring beauty (Claytonia), Chinese terrestrial orchid (Bletilla striata) and glory of snow (Chionodoxa). Some of these types are readily available in stores and others may need to be purchased from specialist manufacturers or online retailers.
How do I buy high quality blubs?
When buying flower bulbs, choose only firm, firm flower bulbs for planting. Avoid lightbulbs that are shrunk or light. Onions that are discolored by mold or have soft spots should also be avoided.
When choosing lightbulbs, size matters. The bigger the onion, the better the flowers. Smaller bulbs will often bloom, but bigger bulbs are more bang for your buck.
Onions can be bought from garden centers, greenhouses, tree nurseries, large retail stores, and many online retailers. These plants have the advantage of being easy to transport and ship, which makes mail order sources great options, especially for finding unusual or hard-to-find species and varieties.
When do I plant spring onions?
October is the ideal time to plant spring bulbs in Iowa. This allows the bulbs to form and develop good roots before winter. Planting bulbs too early in the season in September, when soil temperatures have not cooled yet, can cause some bulbs, such as tulips, to show up in the fall. Reluctants can still plant spring-flowering bulbs in December, if the ground is not frozen.
Where should I plant spring onions?
Most bulbs should be planted in full or semi-sunshine. Early flowering bulbs are often successful under a highly branching deciduous tree because they usually bloom before the tree is completely defoliated. After the bulbs have bloomed, many can tolerate the light shade of the trees.
Almost all bulbs need well-drained soil. Poorly drained or wet soils often lead to decay and rot, which makes them short-lived in the garden. Improve poor soils before planting by incorporating organic matter like compost or peat.
Plant spring onions in clusters or groups for the greatest visual impact in the garden. When planting large bulbs like daffodils or tulips, plant five or more bulbs of the same variety in one area. Smaller growing plants like grape hyacinths and crocuses should be planted on shoots of 25 or more bulbs. Bulbs planted individually or in rows do not look as good in the garden as large swings or drifting colors. For a naturalized look, just toss a handful of bulbs in the garden and plant them where they land. Consider planting ornamental grasses, hosta, daylily, and other perennials that grow later in the season and hide the onion’s foliage when it turns yellow. Choose a place where their early blooms can be seen and appreciated, e.g. B. along frequently used sidewalks or near the front door. Bulbs with different flowering times can be mixed together for a long-lasting presentation.
How do I plant spring-flowering bulbs?
Plant the bulbs at a depth two or three times their maximum bulb diameter. Larger bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are often planted 6-8 inches deep. The smaller bulbs like squill, snowdrops, and crocuses are often planted 3 to 4 inches deep. Larger bulbs can be 4-6 inches apart, while 2-3 inches is more suitable for the smaller bulbs.
Put the onions in the ground with the pointed end up. With some lightbulbs or pear-like structures, it can be difficult to tell which end goes up. If no roots or buds are visible, you can plant some bulbs on the side. With little additional effort, the bulb finds the sun and flowers normally.
To support the gardener with the bulb planting, bulb planters, trowels and auger attachments for electric drills are available. For bulk planting of bulbs, use a shovel to remove soil to the correct depth in the entire planting area. Place the bulbs in the arrangement or pattern you want, then carefully fill them with soil.
Although this is usually not necessary, fertilizers like 5-10-5, Bulb Booster, or Bone Meal can be incorporated into the soil at the time of planting. Bone meal is often slower and more expensive than the other fertilizers. These fertilizers are more important for the development of next year’s bulbs than for the coming spring flowers.
After planting, water the areas to settle the soil around the bulbs and provide plenty of moisture for root growth, especially when the soils are dry. Avoid overwatering, as most onions do not tolerate moisture well.
Divisible photo: Plant bulbs.
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