FORGOTTEN BULBS
By Trey Pitsenberger, co-owner Golden Gecko

The daffodils and narcissus you see blooming now were available for planting between November and January. Along with tulips, freesias, crocus, and iris they are considered members of the fall bulbs. Fall bulbs are purchased for planting in fall, but bloom in late winter and early spring. You cannot find these bulbs available for sale now. You have to mark on your calendar that November is the month to buy and plant bulbs you see blooming now. There is another group of bulbs available for planting now. I call these the forgotten bulbs. Spring bulbs bloom in the late spring and summer, and will help to spread the color available from the bulb world from fall through summer.

Spring bulbs include gladioli, dahlia, begonia, cannas, lilies, tuberose, tiger flower, and callas. Also included in this group are bulbs that are purchased as already growing plant such as florists’ cyclamen and daylilies. I think one reason these bulbs and bulblike plants get forgotten is they are available when there is so much other late winter and spring blooming flowers available to capture you attention. The daffodils and other fall planted bulbs never have the competition from other flowering plants to pull you attention from them.

Gladioli are actually corms, not bulbs. They make superb cut flowers and perform quite well in the foothills. Grown in full sun they can bloom from spring through fall, depending on kind of gladioli planted planting time. There is a wide color range available and if you plant at two week intervals over a four to six week period you can extend the period of flowering for months. Space the corms at six-inch intervals. Most gladioli grow to anywhere from three to six feet tall, but baby glads grow to only one and a half feet tall, and make great container subjects.

The begonias generally available for planting now are the tuberous types. Members of this group range from plants with saucer size blooms to multi-stemmed hanging basket types. Mostly these plants bloom in the summer, and will need some afternoon shade here in the foothills. These plants do best in containers. Plant in a rich potting soil and keep moderately moist. Feed these plants during the growing season every month for the biggest blooms. In the fall when the leaves begin to turn yellow and wilt, reduce watering and stop fertilizing. Lift the tubers, shake off the soil and dry in a cool, dry spot for several days. Then store in the garage until spring; when small pink buds appear, plant the tubers once again.

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) is on of the most fragrant flowers that you can imagine. To bloom well tuberose need a long warm season, which we have here in the foothills. Grow in full or part sun, in the ground or in containers. Be sure to bring some of the flowers into the house for the fragrance.

With all the exciting things going on in the garden this time of year don’t forget to consider planting some of the summer blooming bulbs now. Like all bulbs they don’t seem like much when you buy them, but the beauty they provide during the growing season will make you happy you didn’t forget the forgotten bulbs.