Summer Flowering Bulbs
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HOME AND GARDEN BULLETIN NO.151 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Reserve mi im Summer Flowering Bulbs t V / 5/ SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS Summer flowering bulbs are easy The following alphabetical list to grow, and do well in all parts gives a brief description of how to of the United States. Most of them plant and manage the more com- are grown for their flowers, some monly grown summer flowering for their foliage. bulbs. Among the more popular summer Achîmenes flowering bulbs are tuberous rooted Achimenes (nut orchid) grows 8 begonia, canna, dahlia, gladiolus, to 12 inches high and blooms in lily, and caladium. summer. The flowers are almost Some bulbs may be grown as pot every color. Use achimenes in plants, some as pot or garden plants, shady flowerbeds, as borders, or as and others as garden plants only. pot plants. In the garden, various kinds of Plant the tubers in 4-inch pots in bulbs may be used as foundation early spring. Use a mixture of equal plantings, as borders, in front of parts of peat moss, sand, and gar- shrubs, or in groups for masses of den soil. Keep the tubers indoors at color. 65° F. until after the last killing To grow summer flowering bulbs successfully— frost ; then replant them in the gar- • Select healthy, mature bulbs den or leave them in the pots. Grow and store them in a cool, dry place the plants in a lightly shaded area until planting time. away from direct sunlight. • Prepare the soil in the planting Water and fertilize the plants at site thoroughly. monthly intervals throughout the • Plant at depths, distances growing season. Use a mixture of 1 apart, and planting times recom- teaspoon of 20-20-20 soluble ferti- mended for each kind of bulb. lizer per gallon of water. • Water the plants at regular When the leaves turn yellow in intervals. the fall, dig the tubers in the garden and let them dry. Store them in a cool, dry area at a minimum of The list of plants in this bulletin 50° F. with the soil still clinging includes some that grow from corms to them. In the spring, wash the and tubers as well as those that soil from the tubers and start the grow from bulbs. Corms, tubers, growing cycle again. and bulbs store food for the grow- Store potted tubers in the pots in ing plants. All references to bulbs a cool, dry area at 50° F. Dig, wash, also include corms and tubers. and replant them in the spring. BEGONIA Allium Plant bulbs 2 or 3 inches deep in early spring. Space them 6 to 15 Allium (flowering onion) varies inches apart in clumps of 6 to 12 in height from 9 inches to 5 feet. bulbs. The distance between bulbs Many varieties are grown. Summer depends on the height of the plant flowering varieties bloom in June at flowering time. and July. Flowers are white, red, Leave the bulbs in place for many yellow, blue, or pink. Use allium in years. Dig, separate, and replant borders. them when they become crowded or Some commonly grown kinds of produce small flowers. summer flowering allium and their characteristics are as follows : Amaryllis Azureum—Deep blue flowers ; Amaryllis (hippeastrum) grows grows 2 feet tall ; blooms in July. about 3 feet tall. It blooms in June Giganteum—Blue flowers, 9 inches and July. Flowers are red, pink, in diameter; grows 5 feet tall; rose, white, or salmon. Use amaryl- blooms in July. lis in borders or as pot plants. Unif olium—Pink flowers ; grows 15 Plant the bulbs in May after the inches tall; blooms in July. soil has warmed. Space them 12 to 18 inches apart in clumps of 3 to 5 them to a lighted room that is kept bulbs. Plant only half of the bulb at a minimum of 65° F. beneath the soil. Water thoroughly In 6 weeks after you put the after planting and each time the soil plants in a lighted room, transfer becomes moderately dry. them to 5- to 6-inch pots or out- When flowers begin to form, doors in the garden. Use a mixture water and fertilize the plants every of equal parts of garden soil, sand, other week until late fall when the and leafmold. Grow the plants in a leaves turn yellow. Fertilize with a cool, lightly shaded area. mixture of 1 teaspoon of 20-20-20 If you put pot plants under soluble fertilizer per gallon of fluorescent lamps for 16 hours a water. Avoid getting fertilizer di- day, they will continue blooming rectly on the bulbs. throughout the winter. Keep the Dig and store the bulbs each fall. room temperature at a minimum of It is important to retain the roots on 65° F. the bulbs from year to year. Keep Fertilize begonias at least every roots moist by storing bulbs in other week after you replant them in moistened peat moss or vermiculite. pots or in the garden. Fertilize with They can be forced to flower indoors a mixture of 1 teaspoon of 20-20-20 as a pot plant in the winter. soluble fertilizer per gallon of water. Begonia Water often enough to keep the soil moist. Water early in the day so Begonia that is grown for sum- the flowers and leaves will dry mer and fall flowering is tuberous quickly ; they rot easily. rooted. It grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Flowers are red, pink, orange, When the leaves turn yellow in salmon, yellow, or white and they the late vsummer or early fall, dig grow up to 13 inches in diameter. the tubers in the garden. Store the Use begonia as a pot plant, for cut potted tubers in the pots and the flowers, and in lightly shaded dug tubers with the dirt around flowerbeds. It blooms throughout them in a cool, dry place away from the summer. frost. Start the growing cycle again Plant the tubers in February or in February or March. March in flats (shallow boxes) in- doors. Use a mixture of equal parts Caladium of peat moss and coarse sand. Press Caladium is grown for its showy, the tubers into the mixture; make sure the "growing eyes" are upward. colorful leaves. The flower buds Space them 2 to 3 inches apart. should be removed as soon as they Keep the flats in a dark room at appear so the leaves can develop 65° F. Water the tubers often fully. enough to keep the sand and peat- Many varieties of caladium are moss mixture damp. When pink grown. Dwarf varieties grow up to shoots appear, add ^ inch of the 9 inches. Ordinary tall varieties mixture over the tubers and move grow up to 18 inches, and elephant's ear grows up to 6 feet. Use caladium or in tubs or boxes; replant the tu- in front of shrubs, as foundation bers of other varieties outdoors or plantings around the home, and as in 6-inch pots. Use a mixture of pot plants. equal parts of garden soil and peat Plant the tubers close together in moss. Grow the plants in a lightly a flat from January to mid-May. shaded area, never in direct sun- Use a mixture of peat moss and light. The leaves burn easily. coarse sand. Cover the planted tu- Try to balance the light and bers with a 1-inch layer of peat shade to get the most color in the moss. leaves. When plants are grown in Water the tubers often enough to deep shade, the leaves will have keep the soil mixture damp. Roots more green coloring and less pink grow from the tops of the tubers; or red. they must be kept moist and covered Water and fertilize caladium with peat moss. Keep the room tem- at least every other week. Do not perature no lower than 70° F. Tu- allow the soil to become dry. Ferti- bers often rot in cool soil. lize with a mixture of 1 teaspoon of As soon as roots develop, replant 20-20-20 soluble fertilizer per gal- the tubers of elephant's ear outdoors lon of water. When the leaves turn yellow in filled with peat moss. Cover the the fall, dig the tnibers from the gar- rhizomes with 1 inch of peat moss den and store them with the soil and water them often enough to around them. Store potted tubers in keep the peat moss damp. the pots. Keep the storage area dry When shoots appear, replant the and at no less than 60° F. Start the rhizomes in 4-inch pots. Use a mix- growing cycle again the next year. ture of equal parts of garden soil, peat moss, and sand. Leave the pot €alla plants indoors until all danger of frost has passed. Then plant them Calla is a large plant and may outside in full sunshine. grow 4 to 5 feet tall. It blooms al- Dig the planting site thoroughly most anytime. Flowers are white, and mix well-rotted cow manure red, pink, and yellow. Use calla as into the soil. Plant the rhizomes just a pot plant. below the soil surface. Space them Plant tubers in 6-inch clay pots 12 to 18 inches apart. in October. Use a mixture of equal Water and fertilize the plants at parts or garden soil, peat moss, and 2 week intervals throughout the sand. Barely cover the tubers with growing season. Apply a light ring the mixture. of 5-10-5 or 10-6-4 fertilizer Grow the plants in a temperature around each plant.