Spring flowering bulbs are usually associated with the out-of-doors; planted in the fall, they are ignored all winter and then enjoyed where they were placed sometime in the spring.

Spring flowering bulbs can also be made portable so that they can be enjoyed on the balcony, patio or even indoors. Except for Paper White Narcissi, don't expect your bulbs to bloom at other than their normal time if you live in the Bay Area. The pictures you see of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus and others all blooming at the same time do not apply to the Bay Area unless you have a refrigerated greenhouse.

Paper whites will bloom five to seven weeks after planting (see our Care Guide on Paper Whites) Plant the paper whites in soil, stone chips, marbles or other media and place out of doors in a cool area which gets some morning or afternoon filtered sunlight. When the buds begin to show color, move them to a warmer, brighter area but not indoors. When the buds are almost ready to open, the pots may be brought indoors.

Other spring flowering bulbs will bloom most successfully if their pots are placed out of doors in a bright to sunny area and watered to keep the soil moist. These plants will bloom at whatever time is normal for the plant. They can be brought indoors when the flower buds are almost ready to open.

Best results are attained by planting the bulbs in October or November in Gardener’s Gold Potting Soil so that the nose of the bulb is about one-half inch to one inch under ground.

The bulbs can then be overplanted with shallow-rooted annuals such as violas, alyssum or lobelia to give winter color. The bulb plants will grow through the overplantings. With this arrangement, the pots can be left in place on the balcony or patio through the winter and watered as needed.

For a prolonged bloom with daffodils, select a large pot and plant two layers of 10 to 14 bulbs per layer. The lower most layer should be eight to ten inches under ground, covered with one inch of soil with a second layer of bulbs placed over the first layer. Cover the second layer of bulbs with soil and then overplant or not. Overwinter care is as described above.

Do not plant a mixture of different bulbs in the same pot with the hope that you will have a continuous succession of bloom. It doesn’t work because the various plants have different care requirements, different blooming times and often bloom for different lengths of time which may not match the other plants in the pot. Those pictures showing bowls of different kinds of bulbs all in bloom in advertisements or garden magazines have been carefully orchestrated. As stated, above, you need a refrigerated greenhouse to produce these results. Plant separate pots full of crocus, and/or tulips, and/or hyacinths, and/or daffodils, and/or other bulbs if you want a variety of blooms.

When the pots have finished blooming, dump them in the trash or compost bin. Narcissi can be knocked out of their pots, but not separated, and then planted as a group in the ground.

 

Save gas and time and come to Wegman’s Pumpkin Patch.

Make it a family outing--Choose your pumpkins, fall decorations, and have the kids enjoy the Cosmo Jump!

The Pumpkin Patch offers...1st quality pumpkins in all sizes, gourds, colorful squash and mini pumpkins, hay bales, Indian corn, cornstalks and other decorative accents.

There is still time and selection on roses at the fabulous value of buy 1 get 1 free.

 

It’s time to put in your fall/winter garden while the ground and days are warm. All of the sunny faces of the pansies and violas are waiting for you in our Bedding Department.

 

Lots of you have been asking for them and they are finally here!

We have Elephant Garlic, Shallots, Red (Comred), Yellow (Stuttgarter) and White (Snowball) onions.

Other Helpful Products for Planting Bulbs

Releasable Bulb Planter
Easy squeeze handle to release dirt to make planting bulbs a breeze.

$5.99

Repellex Bulb Saver Concentrate
Repellex Bulb Saver Concentrate keeps small mammals from digging up your newly planted bulbs. This product has been developed specially to protect bulbs and roots from the most common pests--this product should be a staple in every gardener’s treatment plan. Simply apply to your bulbs and roots prior to planting. The dried liquid forms taste and odor barriers that deter squirrels and burrowing pests from digging up your plants. It also offers pre-emergent protection, prevents mold and root rot, and acts as a natural fertilizer.

$11.99 for 16 ounces.