Summer Bulbs

By Richard Flowers, ACCNP – Green Thumb Nursery, Ventura 

This information applies to people living in mild climates like Southern California, where the soil doesn’t freeze and winters rarely experience prolonged hard frosts.

As the soil warms and dries after a cool, wet winter, spring is nearing, making it the ideal time to plant your garden for the future. Bulbs are making a comeback because they are simple, rewarding, beautiful, and long-lasting. Many of the bulbs we offer attract hummingbirds and butterflies, have fragrance, and can be used as cut flowers. Spring bulbs are planted in late winter or early spring and bloom in summer. Our selection includes bee-friendly and deer-resistant varieties. We also carry a wide range of cheerful colors. Many bulbs return year after year, allowing you to enjoy them repeatedly. Green Thumb offers premium 2-year bulbs from our grower in Holland and packing/distribution facilities in Pennsylvania.

When choosing bulbs, look for ones that are firm and healthy. Mushy bulbs usually haven’t been stored in a cool, dry place and will rot, leading to poor performance. When buying tubers, select ones with 3 to 5 eyes and some initial root development. Good examples of tubers include Begonias and Dahlias. Bulbs are simple: “Dig, Drop, and Done.” When they sprout, you’ll be delighted. As a rule, plant bulbs at a depth three times their diameter, or about 5 inches deep, except for dahlias and begonias, which should be planted just below the surface. Space gladiolas 5 inches apart, Begonias and Dahlias 16 inches apart, and lilies 12 inches apart. For continuous color, plant them closer together, but be prepared to thin them later. For a big impact, plant large groups of bulbs en masse. For a natural look, scatter a few handfuls of bulbs and plant wherever they land. To extend bloom time, plant a few bulbs at a time over several weeks, creating a longer, more gradual bloom instead of all at once. You can also plant bulbs in your lawn or under trees for a woodland effect. To achieve a wild meadow look, interplant bulbs among grasses, Agapanthus, Daylilies, Kangaroo Paws, Agaves, Gazanias, Lavender, Salvias, and other perennials to add height, interest, and color year-round. For shade-loving bulbs like Tiger lilies and Asiatic lilies, interplant with Ferns, Heliotrope, Campanula, Cane Begonias, Lilly Turf, Carex, Heuchera, and Hellebore. Planting other plants around the bulbs will help disguise the yellowing and dying foliage and blooms at the end of the season when they go dormant. For year-round color, plant late-winter and early-spring-blooming bulbs in November. You can also add late spring, mid-summer, and fall-blooming bulbs now, and plant annuals that you change out every few months, creating a constantly changing, festive, and eye-catching display throughout the year.

Our bulb selection not only features stunning flower colors but also includes edible delights such as onions, seed garlic, GMO-free strawberries, asparagus, and potatoes. Our potato varieties come in purple, brown, and white/tan hues. In a few months, you’ll be able to enjoy the delicious, nutritious fruits of your labor and continue harvesting for years to come. Add these to your edible garden or mix them with other bulbs and ornamental plants. Asparagus is not only tasty but also attractive, with its ferny foliage. We also offer a few types of strawberries and onions. Don’t forget the large-leafed tropical Elephant Ears to wow your curiosity. Visit us and explore our wide selection of bulbs. Our premium bulbs include detailed signage showing flower colors and beautiful photos, and each package contains high-quality bulbs, planting instructions, and variety information to help you succeed. Stop by today and choose the best ones while supplies last.

We offer a wide variety of Hardy Lilies, Tiger Lilies, Cannas, Dahlias, Begonias, and Gladiolas that can be planted now as bulbs to produce stunning, vibrant flowers in just a few months. Some lilies are fragrant, while others are pollen-free. The warm colors these beauties offer come in shades and blends of orange, pink, or red. Lilies also look charming when planted among annuals in late spring and summer. Canna lilies give a tropical vibe, with bold leaves and bright colors. They prefer regular watering, warmth, plenty of sun, and organic compost in the soil. They do well in containers or in open ground near a pond. One of my favorite bulbs is the gladiola. In my personal garden, I once had “Glads” planted along a fence. They looked wonderful; the pink and yellow flowers were vibrant and attracted hummingbirds and butterflies. Since they grew about 4 feet tall, the fence served as a perfect support, helped by some clear poly tape. Glads also make nice cut flowers, and so do lilies.

After planting dormant Dahlia tubers, you should be rewarded with an impressive display of vibrant flower colors from mid-summer (sometimes earlier) to fall. A general guideline is that when it is time to plant tomatoes and peppers, it is also time to plant dahlias. Among the varieties we offer, including Proven Winners and premium flower bulbs, these beautiful types feature unique flower shapes: some look like pom-poms, others have loose petals, and a few form tight clusters; all produce large flowers. Shorter varieties can be used as borders, while taller ones make excellent background or screening plants. Several weeks before planting these Mexico/Guatemala natives, it’s important to prepare the planting area by mixing organic matter into the soil to a depth of one foot. I prefer to use Acid Planting Mix. It’s also a good idea to incorporate a granular, slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer such as EB Stone or an equivalent bone meal or bulb food into the soil (adding bone meal or bulb food when planting all bulbs is always beneficial). When planting, place the tuber in the center of the hole with the growing point facing upward. Cover the tuber with soil, then water thoroughly. As the shoot grows, gradually fill in the remaining hole with soil. For taller varieties, drive a 4- to 5-foot stake off-center from where you planted the dahlias to support the plants.

The Begonia is a well-known shade-loving plant that prefers a spot in the garden facing east, under a lath or beneath an evergreen tree’s shade, or in another area that receives bright, indirect light. Lilies, Asiatic Lilies, and Tiger Lilies also thrive in shady areas. Both Lilies and Begonias can truly brighten up a shaded space. Wouldn’t it look lovely to have Lilies, Ferns, and Begonias growing underneath a Japanese Maple? Often, Tuberous Begonia flowers resemble the classic form of the beloved rose. Most Tuberous Begonias grow 1-2 feet tall, and the number of blossoms they produce relative to the plant’s size highlights how incredible they are. You may have to use a bamboo stake to support the Begonia, as the plant can bear a tremendous amount of blooms and may struggle to stand upright. These plants are excellent choices for window boxes or a shaded front porch. Begonia varieties include picotee bicolor, multiflora, and odorata types. These tropical and subtropical natives require regular light feedings and well-drained soil to thrive. They dislike waterlogged soil. When watering begonias, please avoid spraying the leaves, as they are prone to fungal diseases; instead, water the soil beneath. These lovely plants prefer rich, humus soil with plenty of organic matter. Acid Planting Mix is ideal for them, and your Begonias will greatly benefit from it. All the bulbs mentioned above should be planted with Acid Planting Mix. When planting Begonias, examine the tuber to identify the indented side, which should face upward in the planting hole. Cover the tuber with 1/4 inch of acid planting mix.

When your Begonias have about 1.5 to 2 inches of new growth, you can start fertilizing them. Use liquid fish fertilizer first to give a good boost, applying one tablespoon per gallon of water. Feed every week to 10 days, and the new growth will develop quickly, with leaves becoming very lush and large. When you see buds forming, switch to a lower-nitrogen water-soluble fertilizer, such as 2-10-10 or 0-10-10, or a similar formula, to encourage bigger blooms. Keep feeding on the same 7- to 10-day schedule. You can also use this fertilizer plan for Dahlias, Lilies, and other flowering bulb plants to keep them healthy.

It is the end of the season; your bulbs have finished blooming, and the leaves are starting to turn yellow and brown, looking as if they are dying. This is normal and expected. They go dormant. From this point forward, you have two options: leave them in place or dig them up and store them. It all depends on your preference. I prefer to leave them in place; that way, I get a surprise next year when the beautiful blooms return. When lifting and storing them, I tend to forget to replant them. When leaving them in place, I like to put small flag stakes at the bulbs’ locations, so I don’t accidentally dig them up when planting something else. When leaving them in place, it’s not advisable to cut the leaves because the foliage is still photosynthesizing and producing energy for next year’s bloom and growth. The dead and dying foliage will naturally break down in the soil and provide some energy for the next generation of growth and bloom. Once all the foliage has died back, reduce watering and fertilizer, and apply mulch over the bare areas to keep the soil cooler during the heat of summer and fall. As the mulch breaks down, it will provide additional nutrients to the soil and dormant plants. On the other hand, if you choose to lift and store the bulbs, do so when all the leaves are brown and yellow. Cut the remaining stems down to just above the ground. Lift with a garden fork, clean the bulbs of soil, but don’t use water; damp bulbs may rot. Examine the bulbs for any issues and discard any that are rotting or insect-damaged. Store them in a brown paper bag or cardboard box with slightly moistened vermiculite, sawdust, or peat moss in a cool, dry place. When spring arrives again, they can be replanted in your garden, and the process starts over.

The bulbs we offer are larger for better results, and it’s as simple as “Dig, Drop, and Done,” then enjoy. Browse our wide selection of spring bulbs at your favorite Green Thumb Nursery while supplies last. These are available for a limited time, so get yours now before they’re gone.

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