Wednesday, March 3, 2010

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Bulbs are easy to grow By Oscar Philips: Bulbs, as far as most gardeners are concerned, include corms, tubers, or rhizomes. They are easy to grow and require little attention. BULBS: A bulb is a modified shoot with layers of fleshy scales, which are closely folded over one another, which are filled with reserve plant foods, including protein, starch or sugar to carry it through the dormant period. In some bulbs such as onions, narcissus and tulip the swollen scales completely envelope the bulb. These are known as scaly bulbs. It should be noted that the parent bulb sometimes dies during the course of the season leaving one or two large offspring bulbs and possibly a few smaller ones. Shallots and garlic produce several offspring bulbs in the course of a season. These off-shoots are known as cloves. RHIZONES: Also known as "Iris or lily of the valley," these are creeping underground stems, thick and swollen, which root and send up from the shoots, leaves or flowering stems. TUBERS: Thickened shoots which include the well-known potato and ornamentals such as dahlias, tubers begonia and cyclamen. Potatoes produce new growth from eyes while dahlias new growth cone from crown buds which appear at the base of the previous year's flower stems. CORMS: Gladioli which consist of a solid flesh is the best example of a corm. During its growth, a new corm is formed and the original shrivels and eventually disappears. Tiny bulblets form around the root base of the new corm, and take about two years to grow into flowering bulbs. DEPTH FOR PLANTING: Flowering bulbs should be planted to a depth equal to twice their diameter measuring from the top bulb. The importance of planting a bulb with sand in heavy soil is recommended as it forms an excellent padding. SOIL FOR PLANTING BULBS: A light, well-drained sandy loam is the best for bulbous plants but will do well in any soil of similar consistency. If your soil is heavy, I recommend, that a little sand be mixed in and around where the bulbs are planted. Well-rotted horse or cow manure placed in the area would benefit your flowering bulbs. Foliage should not be removed until the bulbs have quite gone to rest. Removing the foliage prematurely ripens and weakens the bulbs and stops them flowering the following season. LIFTING BULBS: It is desirable that you lift your bulbs every two or three years during their resting season. PLANTING GUIDE FOR FEBRUARY VEGETABLES: Beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn celery collard, cucumber, eggplant, onion, parsley, peas, pumpkin, peppers, potatoes, radish, spinach, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip and watermelon. FLOWERS: Ageratum, alyssum, African daisy, aster, begonia, balsam, calendula, candyturf, celosia, carnation, cornflower, dianthus, delphinium, gaillardia, gerber, hollyhock, larkspur, lupine, marigold, nasturtium, pansy, petunia, phlox, salvia, shasta daisy, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, sweet william, verbena and vinca. GRASSES: Bahia, Centipede Grass and Zoysia Grass. Tuesday February 2, 2010