Catalogues should be arriving now almost daily loaded with color- saturated pictures of tempting, bulbous beauties. While it may seem out of season to be thinking about tulips, daffodils and all the little "minor" bulbs, August is the perfect time to plan, scan offerings, and order.

Spring flowering bulbs are planted in fall. Planting is usually finished before the weather gets too cold, and low soil temperatures stop root growth. If they go in in time, bulbs have an opportunity to settle in, anchor themselves with roots, and prepare for the big spring push.

Most bulb companies ship in time for planting...which means in the next couple of months. In order to have your selection available to you, you have to order BEFORE the season gets too advanced--and that means now.

Talk to fellow gardeners about their bulb planting experience...and who their favorite bulb companies are. There's a fair amount of variation out there and reputation counts.

Bulbs give gardeners perhaps the biggest bang for the buck. Early, mid and late season displays packed with flowers in exchange for a little work now and some digging in fall. Individual bulbs are so inexpensive that they are often sold in lots (you've all seen the displays at your local nurseries, garden centers...even grocery stores).

So put in a few...or a few thousand.  

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Copyright  2006- 2007 by Carlo A. Balistrieri.
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