The Keukenhof flower festival in Holland has started again (see my Bloomin’ bulbs story last year?) highly recommend you visit their website or google Keukenhof for guaranteed tulip envy.
Growing your own tulips, daffodils and other flowering bulbs in warmer climates is not as hard you might think – all it takes is a little patience and a few inside tips – all worth it for satisfaction you’ll get at flowering time (especially when you’re a little dutch girl like me).
Just gawk below at the babies I had blooming last year. Knock outs aren’t they? I was the toast of the apartment block, they gave me a crown and everything (in my dreams anyway).
Why am I telling you this now? Because, Autumn is the best time to plant – so you gotta go buy your bulbs this weekend - BUT – hold your horses with the planting! Before you get anything in the ground there’s some prep to do…..
Pre-planting prep:
1. Six weeks prior – put your bulbs in the fridge. Yep, you heard right – this sends the bulbs into an artificial European Winter, because it doesn’t get cold enough here you can trick them into experiencing conditions similar to places they grow best.
2. One week prior – prep the soil with a bulb fertiliser rich in nitrogen and compost.
1. Plant the bulbs about 10cm deep / 10cm apart with the roots downside (or if there’s no visible roots, then it’s the pointiest end up)
2. If you’re planting in pots, it’s a good idea to leave them in a dark spot, like your garage or under the house for the first few weeks
3. Move pots to a sunny position when shoots reach about 2cms
1. Get some good bulb feed and spread it around once you’re getting some decent shoots and then again when flowering starts.
2. Enjoy those flowers baby! Take lots of photos and stop and stare at them at every opportunity
If you’re super keen, you can dig your bulbs out and use them again next year. You might even notice a few new baby bulbs that have sprung from your main bulb
1. Once the petals have fallen off cut back the stem
2. Wait for the leaves to die back a bit then pull out the bulbs
3. Pull out the bulbs – dust them off and let them dry out a little.
4. Store the bulbs somewhere cool and dry, like a wooden box or canvas bag
Good luck! Hope you have fun – can’t wait to see pictures when you’re done. Ingrid.
Nature inspired Photography, Design, Art, Surf, Interiors, Architecture, Gardens, Yoga, Travel, Food, Environment etc... Visit Cohabitaire
The Keukenhof flower festival in Holland has started again (see my Bloomin’ bulbs story last year?) highly recommend you visit their website or google Keukenhof for guaranteed tulip envy.
Growing your own tulips, daffodils and other flowering bulbs in warmer climates is not as hard you might think – all it takes is a little patience and a few inside tips – all worth it for satisfaction you’ll get at flowering time (especially when you’re a little dutch girl like me).
Just gawk below at the babies I had blooming last year. Knock outs aren’t they? I was the toast of the apartment block, they gave me a crown and everything (in my dreams anyway).
Why am I telling you this now? Because, Autumn is the best time to plant – so you gotta go buy your bulbs this weekend - BUT – hold your horses with the planting! Before you get anything in the ground there’s some prep to do…..
Pre-planting prep:
1. Six weeks prior – put your bulbs in the fridge. Yep, you heard right – this sends the bulbs into an artificial European Winter, because it doesn’t get cold enough here you can trick them into experiencing conditions similar to places they grow best.
2. One week prior – prep the soil with a bulb fertiliser rich in nitrogen and compost.
1. Plant the bulbs about 10cm deep / 10cm apart with the roots downside (or if there’s no visible roots, then it’s the pointiest end up)
2. If you’re planting in pots, it’s a good idea to leave them in a dark spot, like your garage or under the house for the first few weeks
3. Move pots to a sunny position when shoots reach about 2cms
1. Get some good bulb feed and spread it around once you’re getting some decent shoots and then again when flowering starts.
2. Enjoy those flowers baby! Take lots of photos and stop and stare at them at every opportunity
If you’re super keen, you can dig your bulbs out and use them again next year. You might even notice a few new baby bulbs that have sprung from your main bulb
1. Once the petals have fallen off cut back the stem
2. Wait for the leaves to die back a bit then pull out the bulbs
3. Pull out the bulbs – dust them off and let them dry out a little.
4. Store the bulbs somewhere cool and dry, like a wooden box or canvas bag
Good luck! Hope you have fun – can’t wait to see pictures when you’re done. Ingrid.
Nature inspired Photography, Design, Art, Surf, Interiors, Architecture, Gardens, Yoga, Travel, Food, Environment etc... Visit Cohabitaire