HOME AND GARDEN BULLETIN NO.151 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Reserve mi im Summer Flowering

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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 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 , 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 . 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. Stake the tall of 50° to 60° F. Water heavily varieties; they fall over easily. everyday during the growing sea- After the first light frost, cut off son. Reduce watering gradually in the stems of the plants. Then dig the spring and let the tubers dry. the rhizome clumps and let them Fertilize calla every other week. dry. Store them with the soil around Use a mixture of 1 teaspoon of 20- them away from frost. If your stor- 20-20 soluble fertilizer per gallon age conditions are dry, embed the of water. rhizomes in flats of dried peat moss Store the potted tubers in a cool, for the winter. The next spring, dry area in summer. Leave the tu- clean the rhizomes and start the bers in the same pots for many growing cycle again. years. Canna Dahlia Many types of canna are grown. Dahlia varies in height from less Tall types grow 5 to 7 feet high and than 1 foot to more than 6 feet. It dwarf types, 18 to 30 inches. Canna blooms in summer and fall. The blooms for many weeks in summer. flowers are white, yellow, red, Flowers are red, pink, orange, yel- orange, or purple. Use dahlia in low, and cream. Use canna in flower- borders and flowerbeds, or as cut beds. flowers. Plant rhizomes (underground For further information about stems) from March to May in flats dahlias see Home and Garden Bui- letin 131, "Growing Dahlias." Ask Plant gladiolus bulbs in rows 36 your county agricultural agent for inches wide or in flowerbeds. Pre- a free copy or write to the Office of pare the beds the year before you Information, U.S. Department of plant, applying 1 pound of 10-6^ Agriculture, Washington, D.C. fertilizer for each 100 square feet 20250. Send your request on a post of planting space. Thoroughly mix card. Include your ZIP Code. the fertilizer with the soil. Start planting as soon as the soil Daylily is dry enough to work in the spring. Daylily (hemerocallis) varies in Plant the bulbs 4 to 7 inches deep height from 6 inches to 6 feet. By and 6 to 8 inches apart. Continue selecting varieties that bloom at planting every 7 to 10 days until different times, you can have flow- early July ; this assures a continuous ers all summer. The flowers are red, supply of flowers. pink, orange, yellow, or cream. Use When shoots are 6 to 10 inches daylily in borders and flowerbeds, or tall, fertilize the plants with 1 as foundation plants. pound of 10-6-4 fertilizer per 100 Plant tubers just below the sur- square feet of space. Water the soil face of the soil preferably in early around the plants every 10 days in spring or late summer, but they may dry weather. may be planted at almost anytime In the North, dig the bulbs every of year. Space the plants 18 to 24 year about 6 weeks after the plants inches apart. have bloomed. Wash the soil off the Apply a light ring of 10-6-4 fer- bulbs and spread them in a shaded tilizer around each plant three or area to dry for several weeks. In the four times during the growing sea- South, gladiolus are left in the son. Water often enough to keep ground for several years before they the soil moist. are dug. Eemove seed pods when they ap- When the bulbs are dry, separate pear ; they use food needed by the them by size and keep only those plant. Leave the tubers in the that are more than 1 inch in diam- ground until they become crowded, eter. Store them in a well ventilated usually 3 or 4 years. area at 35° to 45° F.

Gladiolus Gloxinia Gladiolus grows 2 to 4 feet high. Gloxinia grows 12 inches tall. It It blooms in summer and fall and produces both single and double produces flowers of all colors. The flowers in many colors. Use gloxinia kinds of gladiolus that are com- as a pot plant. monly grown are grandiflora, pri- Plant the bulbs in 5- to 6-inch pots mulinus, primulinus hybrids, and in late winter or spring. Use a mix- colvilleii. Use gladiolus for cut ture of equal parts of peat moss, flowers or in flowerbeds. sand, and garden soil. Keep the bulbs indoors at 65° F. until after Gloxinia also may be grown from the last killing frost; grow the seed, but this is not recommended plants in a lightly shaded area away because it requires at least 6 months from direct sunlight. to grow a . Water often enough to keep the soil mixture damp throughout the Iris growing season. Fertilize every Iris grows in both tall and dwarf other week with a mixture of 1 tea- forms. Some kinds of tall iris are spoon of 20-20-20 soluble fertilizer summer flowering; they grow 2 to per gallon of water. 21/^ feet high and have white, blue, When the leaves turn yellow in the fall, gradually withhold water purple, orange, or yellow flowers. and allow the bulbs to dry. Store Dwarf iris blooms in early spring. the potted bulbs in a cool, dry area For further information about at 50° F. Eepot the bulbs in the iris see Home and Garden Bulletin spring and start the growing cycle 66, "Growing Iris in the Home again. Garden." This publication is avail-

8 able from the Superintendent of the pots. Keep the storage area dry Documents, U. S. Government and at no less than 60° F. Start the Printing Office, Washington, D.C. growing cycle again the next year. 20402, at 5 cents a copy. Include your ZIP Code in your return Hybrid address. Lilium hybrids are among the Ismene most beautiful plants grown from bulbs. They have many forms, I s m e n e (Peruvian daiïodil) heights, flowering times, and colors. grows 2 feet high and produces The most common types of lilium large, funnel-shaped, white flowers hybrids and some of their charac- that have green stripes down the teristics are as follows : funnel. Use ismene in front of Lilium candidum (white madonna shrubs, as foundation plantings lily)—Blooms in June; grows 3 around the home, and as pot plants. to 4 feet tall; fragrant flowers; Plant the tubers close together in plant in September. a flat from January to mid-May. Lilium excelsum (testaceum) — Use a mixture of peat moss and Blooms in June; grows 5 to 6 feet coarse sand. Cover the planted tall; apricot flowers; plant in tubers with a 1-inch layer of peat light shade. moss. Lilium regale—Blooms in July; Water the tubers often enough to grows 3 to 5 feet tall ; white or keep the soil mixture damp. Eoots yellow flowers. grow from the tops of the tubers; Lilium speciosum and auratum— they must be kept moist and cov- Blooms in August and Septem- ered with peat moss. Keep the room ber; grows 4 to 6 feet tall; many temperature no lower than 70° F. hybrids between these two types. Tubers often rot in cool soil. Upright lily—Blooms in June; As soon as roots develop, replant grows 21^ feet tall ; many hybrids the tubers in 6-inch pots or out- in this group. doors. Use a mixture of equal parts Except as shown in the descrip- of garden soil and peat moss. Grow tions of the types, plant the bulbs the plants in a lightly shaded area, in October and November in a never in direct sunlight. sunny, well-drained area. Plant Water and fertilize ismene at 2 them at a depth that is three times week intervals. Do not allow the the height of the bulb. Space the soil to become dry. Fertilize with a bulbs 6 to 18 inches apart according mixture of 1 teaspoon of 20-20-20 to the height of the plants. soluble fertilizer per gallon of Water and fertilize the plants at water. frequent intervals during the grow- When the leaves turn yellow in ing season. Use a light ring of 5-10- the fall, dig the tubers from the 5 or 10-6-4 fertilizer around each garden and store them with dirt plant. Do not use high rates of high around them. Store potted tubers in nitrogen fertilizers. Remove the seed pods when they son and variety. Flowers are creamy appear on the plants in the fall; white or red. Use lycoris as a pot seeds use up plant food needed for plant in areas where the ground growth the next year. When the freezes in winter. In warm areas, it leaves turn yellow, cut and destroy may be grown in the garden and the stems and foliage. used in flowerbeds in light shade. Leave the bulbs in place for 2 to The two main types of lycoris and 4 years. Dig the bulbs in late sum- some of their characteristics are as mer or fall and replant them as soon follows : as possible ; they will not grow suc- Squamigera—Blooms from late cessfully if allowed to dry out exces- July to October; foliage pro- sively in storage. duced in early spring and dies in early summer. Lycoris Eadiata—Blooms from late July to Lycoris (spider lily) grows 15 to October ; foliage produced in the 18 inches tall. It blooms from late fall, remains green all winter, and July to October, depending on sea- dies in the spring.

PEONY

10 Outdoors, plant the bulbs 4 hand. Digging around the plants inches deep and 8 inches apart in will injure the corms that are just August. Indoors, plant the bulbs in below the surface of the soil. 5- to 6-inch pots in a mixture of In areas where the ground equal parts of garden soil, peat freezes in winter, dig the bulbs moss, and sand. every year about 6 to 8 weeks after Water and fertilize the plants at the plants have bloomed. Wash the weekly intervals. Use a light ring of soil off the bulbs and spread them 5-10-5 or 10-6-4 fertilizer around in a shaded area to dry for several each plant. weeks. Leaves continue to grow on the When the bulbs are dry, separate plant after it flowers and stay green them by size and keep only those all winter. When the leaves turn that are more than 1 inch in diam- yellow in spring, dig the bulbs and eter. Handle bulbs carefully to store them during the summer. avoid damaging them. Store them in a well ventilated area at 35'^ to Montbretia 45° F. Montbretia grows 3 feet tall. It In areas where the ground does blooms in August and September not freeze in winter, you may leave and produces flowers 4 inches in the bulbs in the ground for several diameter. Colors of the flowers are years. orange, gold, red, or yellow. Use Peony montbretia in borders and as cut Peony grows 2 to 4 feet tall. It fl owners. blooms in late spring and early Plant montbretia bulbs in rows summer. The flowers are white, yel- 36 inches wide. Prepare the rows low, cream, pink, and red. Use the year before you plant, applying peony in borders and for cut 1 pound of 10-6-4 fertilizer for each flowers. 100 square feet of planting space. For further information about Thoroughly mix the fertilizer with peonies see Home and Garden Bul- the soil. letin 126, "Growing Peonies." Ask Start planting as soon as the soil your county agricultural agent for a is dry enoug'h to work in the spring. free copy or write to the Office of Plant the bulbs 4 to 7 inches deep Information, U.S. Department of and 6 to 8 inches apart. Continue Agriculture, Washington, D.C. planting every 7 to 10 days until 20250. Send your request on a post early July ; this assures a continuous card. Include your ZIP Code. supply of flowers. When shoots are 6 to 10 inches Tigridia tall, fertilize the plants with 1 pound of 10-6^ fertilizer per 100 Tigridia (Mexican shell flower) square feet of space. Water the grows 2 feet tall and blooms in mid- soil around the plants every 10 days summer. The tripetaled flowers are in dry weather. a mixture of white, red, yellow, and Weeds should be removed by rose colors.

11 Plant tigridia bulbs in rows 36 May. Space them 8 to 12 inches inches wide or in clumps of 12 bulbs apart in clumps of 6 to 8 tubers. 8 to 12 inches apart. Prepare the You also may grow tuberose in rows or beds the year before you pots. Use 5- to 6-inch pots and plant plant, applying 1 pound of 10-6-4 the tubers in a mixture of equal fertilizer for each 100 square feet parts of garden soil, peat moss, and of planting space. Thoroughly mix sand. the fertilizer with the soil. Water tuberose plants every day. Start planting as soon as the soil Fertilize every other week with a is dry enough to work in the spring. mixture of 1 teaspoon of 20-20-20 Plant the bulbs 3 inches deep and soluble fertilizer per gallon of 4 to 8 inches apart. Continue plant- water. ing every 7 to 10 days until early Dig the tubers from the pots and July; this assures a continuous those outdoors in the fall and store supply of flowers. them; they will not overwinter in Mulch the bulbs with 2 inches of temperatures as low as 40^ F. pine bark, ground leaves, peat moss, or hay to keep the soil from drying. SELECTING BULBS Remove the mulch in the fall. Bulbs are sold in nurseries, drug When shoots are 6 to 10 inches and variety stores, garden shops, tall, fertilize the plants with 1 and through florist or nursery cata- pound of 10-6-4 fertilizer per 100 logs. Buy from a reputable dealer. square feet of space. Water the soil Make sure bulbs are not diseased. around the plants every 10 days in Diseased bulbs look moldy, dis- dry weather. colored, or soft and rotted. Bulbs Dig the bulbs every year about 6 should be firm and have an un- to 8 weeks after the plants have bloomed. Wash the soil off the bulbs blemished skin. and spread them in a shaded area Buy bulbs of varieties that flower to dry for several weeks. together and grow to about the When the bulbs are dry, separate same height. Be sure to buy enough them by size and keep only those of each color and type for a good that are more than 1 inch in diame- display in your garden. ter. Handle bulbs carefully to avoid If you buy bulbs before planting damaging them. Store them in a time, keep them in a cool, dry area. well ventilated area at 35° to 45° F. A temperature of 60° to 65° F. is cool enough to prevent most bulbs Tuberose from drying out until you plant Tuberose (polianthes) grows 2 them. feet high and blooms in late fall. PLANTING Its waxy, white, double flowers are very fragrant. Use tuberose in Some kinds of summer flowering flowerbeds and as cut flowers. bulbs are grown in the garden out- Plant the tubers 2 to 3 inches deep doors and others in pots indoors. in a sunny, well drained area in You can start many bulbs in flats or

12 SELECTING BULBS

DISCOLORED, TORN OR DAMAGED SKIN SKIN INTACT \

DARK AREAS" ON BULB SCALES

BULB PLATE BULB PLAT SOFT OR FIRM AND DISCOLORED UNBLEMISHED UNHEALTHY HEALTHY pots indoors in winter or early soil packs tightly and retards plant spring and replant them outdoors growth. If you can crumble the soil when the danger of frost has passed between your fingers, it is dry in the spring. Specific planting enough for digging and planting. times are given in the list of bulbs. Spade the soil 8 to 12 inches deep. Most bulbs need full sunshine. As you dig, remove large stones Try to select a planting site that and building trash, but turn under will provide at least 6 to 10 hours all leaves, grass, stems, roots, and of direct sunlight a day. Bulbs anything else that will decay easily. planted in a southern exposure near Add fertilizer, sand, and coarse a building or wall bloom earlier peat moss to the soil. Use % pound than bulbs planted in a northern (1 rounded cup) of 10-6-4 fertilizer exposure. for a 5- by 10-foot area, or a small Before preparing new flower- handful for a cluster of bulbs. Place beds, test the drainage of the soil. a 1-inch layer of sand and a 1- to Dig a hole about a foot deep and 2-inch layer of peat moss over the fill it with water. The next day, bed. Thoroughly mix the fertilizer, fill the hole with water again and sand, and peat moss with the soil. see how long it remains. If the Use a small handful of 10-6-4 water drains away in 8 to 10 hours, fertilizer and equal parts of garden the soil is sufficiently well drained. soil, peat moss, and sand for each If water remains in the hole pot plant. All bulbs require low after 10 hours, it will be necessaiy levels of fertilizer. Avoid frequent to improve the drainage of the applications of high nitrogen ferti- planting site. Dig furrows along the lizers; this will promote rotting in sides of the bed and add soil from the bulbs. the furrows to the bed. This raises Plant bulbs upright, and press the the level of the bed above the level soil firmly over them to prevent air of the ground. pockets underneath. Water the Dig and plant your flowerbeds planted beds thoroughly to help when the soil is fairly dry. Wet settle the bulbs in the soil.

13 PLANTING BULBS

ADDITIONAL DRY FERTILIZER ADDITIONAL DRY FERTILIZER ON SOIL SURFACE, DIRECTLY ON SURFACE, IN A CIRCLE OVER BULB \ AWAY FROM BULB

BULB PLANTED BULB PLANTED AT TOO SHALLOW —«„.^ A DEPTH THREE TIMES IN GROUND ^^ DIAMETER OF BULB

DRY FERTILIZER DRY FERTILIZER MIXED ONLY IN SOIL MIXED THROUGHOUT NEXT TO BULB SOIL AREA

AIR POCKET- HANDFULOFSAND UNDER BULB; UNDEREACH BULB— BULB EASILY ROTS ^1 IF SOIL IS VERY HEAVY AND DRAINS SLOWLY NO SOIL PREPARATION BENEATH BULB; THOROUGH SOIL VERY POOR DRAINAGE PREPARATION BENEATH BULB- EXCELLENT DRAINAGE

WRONG RIGHT

In loose, sandy soil, plant bulbs hoe or other weeding tool ; these im- 3 to 4 inches deeper than the depths plements may injure plant stems recommended in the list of bulbs. and surface roots. Be sure to plant bulbs at recom- Normal rainfall usually provides mended distances apart because enough moisture for summer flower- many of them need room to develop ing bulbs. But during dry weather, new offshoots. you should water the plants at You may allow space for over- weekly intervals. When you water, plantings of dwarf marigold, pe- soak the ground thoroughly. tunia, ageratum, alyssum, coleus, or When plants bloom, fertilize them verbena. These annuals provide lightly with 5-10-5 fertilizer. Use excellent color contrast and flower no more than % pound for a 5- by display with your bulbs. 10-foot flowerbed or a light ring Instructions on how to grow around each plant. Many flowerbeds annuals are given in Home and Gar- will be fertile enough from fertil- den Bulletin 91, "Growing Flower- izer used on other plants grown in ing Annuals," For a free copy, ask the bed. Avoid high nitrogen your county agricultural agent or fertilizers. write the Office of Information, U.S. Be sure to keep fertilizer off the Department of Agriculture, Wash- leaves and away from bulbs and ington, D.C. 20250. Send your re- roots ; it will burn them. quest on a post card. Include your In addition to 5-10-5 fertilizer, ZIP Code. you can use bonemeal as an extra source of nitrogen to promote plant CARE OF PLANTS growth for the next year. Bulbs decay when too much nitrogen is If weeds grow in your flower- used at one time. But decay is un- beds, you can usually pull them by likely when you use bonemeal be- hand. Be careful when you use a cause it releases nitrogen slowly.

14 Apply bonemeal at flowering CARE OF BULBS time. Use no more than 3 pounds for a 5- by 10-foot bed. Mix it Although bulbs, corms, and thoroughly into the soil. Do not use tubers are all referred to as bulbs, bonemeal on pot plants. they differ in appearance. When flowers fade, cut them off A true bulb is composed of layers to prevent seed formation. Seeds of flesh, or scales, that overlap each take stored food from the bulbs. other like the layers of an onion. After the leaves turn yellow, dig A complete flowering plant devel- the bulbs and store them for re- ops inside the bulb. Each year, the planting the next year. Destroy the growing plant replaces the bulb dead stems and foliage of the plants. either partially or entirely. Foliage left on the ground may carry disease to new growth the A corm is a swollen underground next year. If disease is severe, plant stem that grows upright. Each year, bulbs in a new location. the growing plant produces a new Besides the general instructions corm on top of the old one. The given here for the care of plants, be plant grows from the top of the sure to follow the special instruc- corm. tions given for each plant. If the A tuber is the swollen end of an general instructions conflict with underground side shoot that has the special instructions, follow the eyes, or growing points. Each eye special instructions. produces a separate plant.

CUTTING FLOWERS

FLOWER SHOOT WITH OLDEST FLOWER SHOWINGFIRSTCOLOR; WILLGIVEMAXIMUM NUMBEROF DAYS DISPLAY IN THE HOME

FADED FLOWERS

SLIDING CUT UP THE STEM LEAVES MAXIMUM AMOUNTOF FOLIAGE FOR GROWTH OF BULB THE FOLLOWING YEAR PULLING FLOWERS FROM BULB LEAVES PERMANENT DAMAGE

WRONG RIGHT

15 Tubers multiply from year to dry basement, cellar, garage, or shed year and may be cut apart, or di- at 60° to 65"^ F. Avoid temperatures vided, to increase the number of below 50° or above 70° F. unless plants you can have in your garden. different instructions are given for When tubers are divided for re- a particular bulb. planting, each division must have Inspect your bulbs for signs of eyes on it. Tubers without eyes will disease. Keep only large healthy not grow. bulbs that are firm and free of spots. Most summer flowering bulbs Discard undersized bulbs. should be dug and stored when the If you have only a few bulbs, you leaves on the plants turn yellow. can keep them in paper bags hung Use a spading fork to lift the bulbs by strings from the ceiling or wall. from the ground. Wash off any soil Store large numbers of bulbs on that clings to the bulbs, except for trays with screen bottoms. Separate bulbs that are stored in pots or with your bulbs by species or variety be- the soil around them. fore storing them. Leave the soil on achimenes, be- Be sure that air can circulate gonia, canna, caladium, dahlia, and around your stored bulbs. ÎTever ismene bulbs. Store these bulbs in store bulbs more than two or three clumps on a slightly moistened layer layers deep. Deep piles of bulbs of peat moss or sawdust in a cool generate heat and decay. place. Wash and separate them just before planting. DISEASES AND INSECTS Spread the washed bulbs in a See your county agricultural shaded place to dry. When dry store agent for information on control of them away from sunlight in a cool. diseases and insects.

Prepared by ^ Henry M. £at^ey Crops Research Division Agricultural Research Service

Issued August 1968 Washington, D.C. Slightly revised February 1971

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 15 cents

16

•¿rU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1971 O—413-121