October is Time for Fall Bulb Planting

Now is the time to plant spring flowering bulbs.

As in the late winter when the seed catalogs start arriving in the mail, this gardener salivates in the fall looking at the different fall bulbs, which arrive in the garden centers.

Most garden centers in the northeast have their bulb displays up now and for many of us who garden we are like little kids in a candy shop looking at the bulb displays. Quality bulbs they can be ordered though mail order catalogs or on the internet.

Generally, the bulbs for planting now in the northeastern part of the country are:

• Daffodils (narcissists)
• Tulips
• Crocus
• Hyacinths

Some basics on fall planting of bulbs:

• Choose large healthy bulbs and avoid void bulbs that are dry and withered, spongy or moldy.

• Most flowering bulbs prefer full sun in the spring. Therefore planting bulbs in shady areas is acceptable as there will be ample sun before the trees and shrubs leaf out. Don’t plant bulbs in permanently shaded areas (as the north side of a house) as the bulbs will leaf out each year, however there will be all leaves and few flowers.

• In the fall, the bulbs develop their roots and therefore you can plant bulbs as long as the soil is soft enough to dig a hole. However much later than October, you have the risk the bulbs will not have the time to develop sufficient roots.

• Plant bulbs with the pointed side up. The pointed end of the bulb is the stem and the bottom of the bulb is the shriveled roots from the previous season.

• Generally large bulbs like daffodils are planted at depths of 6-8 inches and smaller bulbs are planted at depths of 3-4 inches.

• It is recommended to mix some bone meal or superphosphate into the soil at the bottom of the hole at to encourage strong root growth though admittedly I do not.

• Squirrels and chipmunks do enjoy bulbs---with the exception of daffodils. If you find the bulbs are being consumed and you are tired of replanting, use daffodils. If you are however determined to win the battle of the bulb-eating chipmunk, plant your bulbs in a cage made of hardware cloth or chicken wire. The roots and stems grow through, but the rodents can’t get to the bulbs.

• Water the bulbs after planting and even through the winter if you have a dry winter. Oddly enough, the following years, you will not worry about watering older bulbs as they have developed their own healthy cycle of growth and adjustment to your garden’s environmental conditions.