Flower lovers who want to meet spring in a beautiful blooming front garden take care of planting bulbous plants in autumn. The main thing is to correctly determine when it is better to plant them and according to what rules.
For example, perennial bulbous plants can be transplanted both in autumn and in spring. After overwintering under a layer of snow, they strengthen their immunity and receive serious hardening. In spring, perennials are already fully adapted to weather changes and temperature jumps and can calmly develop and delight with their flowering. They will no longer need to get used to new living conditions. But early bulbous and small-bulbous flowers (for example, daffodils, tulips, snowdrops and hyacinths) must be planted in September - October.
What flowers to choose?
Bulbous plants include a huge number of plants that attract attention when buying with beautiful pictures on the package. But when choosing flowers, you must remember that not all types and varieties of bulbous and small-bulbous can withstand the harsh winter climate. Therefore, when choosing plants, it is recommended to focus on the climatic conditions of the area in which you live.
The most popular bulbous plants among flower growers are tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses... But from small-bulbous ones, they are in high demand anemones, woodlands, decorative bows, corydalis and snowdrops.
How to choose the right one?
Planting material for a flower garden can be chosen according to many factors: plant color, height, aroma, flowering duration. All this will depend on the selected species, variety or hybrid of the bulbous plant. Real professionals make sure to take all these factors into account when buying seeds. But if a beautiful, attractive and unique garden plot or flower bed is more important for you, then you can purchase a mixture of planting material, consisting of different varieties and types. Usually, in such sets of flower growers' bulbs, a surprise awaits in the form of different colors and a set of plants of the same type. Even an experienced seller will not be able to say with certainty what the result will be in the spring on a flower garden.
If we talk about the choice of bulbs for quality characteristics, then it is necessary to pay attention, first of all, to their size and integrity. The planting material must be large and free from the slightest damage. When buying, it is advisable to carefully inspect each bulb. Bulbs with unusual growths, cracks, dark spots or signs of decay should not be purchased. All this may indicate a disease, and a good plant from such planting material will not grow.
In what conditions to store and when to start planting?
Purchased bulbs can be stored for several months in a cool dry place with a low air temperature (about 8-9 degrees). For long-term storage, a loggia or balcony, as well as a refrigerator, are suitable. On the balcony, the planting material must be protected from sunlight.And in the refrigerator, it is better to put the bulbs in the vegetable compartment, where the appropriate level of humidity is maintained.
Shortly before planting, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures that are aimed at disinfecting the bulbs and protecting against various diseases. The usual method is to soak the bulbs in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for about 30-40 minutes. You can purchase in retail chains and special solutions and means for processing planting material. The instructions on the package will explain in detail in what proportions to use the product, and for how many bulbs.
The most favorable time for planting bulbs is September or early October, or rather, not less than a month before the onset of frost on the soil surface. Early spring flowers have different planting dates, but they are roughly similar.
The most important thing when planting bulbs in autumn is to determine the correct planting time. Planting too early or too late will result in the death of the planting material. Having planted the bulb long before the cold weather, the planting material will germinate, and at the first frost it will immediately die. If you use a late planting, then the bulb simply does not have time to take root before the cold weather and freezes.
It is recommended to plant small-bulbous plants much earlier than bulbous ones, because they need more time for rooting. But in early spring, they are the first to appear on the site, sometimes even through snow thawed patches. Tulips are considered the most frost-resistant; they adapt faster than other plants to changing weather and seasonal temperature changes.
