COLLEGEVILLE (Montgom
ery Co.) A little attention to
detail in the fall when you are pur
chasing spring flowering bulbs can
benefit die garden next spring.
When selecting bulbs for the gar
den, remember that they are living
items with many of the same prop
erties as other bulbs such as
onions. The same criteria you app
ly to selecting onions for kitchen
use should apply to your flowering
bulbs.
In the food store you wouldn’t
purchase items that are soft and
mushy if quality is measured as
product firmness. The same is true
for bulbs: they should be splid and'
firm when purchased. Check the
surface quality of the bulbs too.
Rough handling in die store or dur
ing transit will show up as bruised
spots on the surface of the bulb.
Rough handling will also result in
missing coverings on the bulbs or
even mold which results when fun
gi breaks into the outer skin of the
bulb. Missing skins will also cause
the bulbs to shrivel from loss of
moisture. Shriveled bulbs are gen
erally poorer quality and may not
produce good flowers in the
spring. Never purchase bulbs that
have sprouted. Sprouting means
they have been exposed to mois
ture. Bulbs that sprout before they
are planted, start off weakened
because they are using stored ener
gy from inside the bulbs.
If you are buying bulbs from a
nursery or garden center, look for
those which carry bulbs loose in
bins. This will allow you to hand
pick good quality bulbs. When
buying bulbs, big is better because
the larger the bulb, the more food
the bulb has in reserve for next
spring. Larger bulbs are more like-
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Fall Care
ly to produce stronger stems arid
more blooms. Initial bulb size also
influences how long bulbs last
Unless you shop around, you
can’t know what large is when
comparing one bulb to another.
Variations among species will
make the selection more difficult
Become familiar with the different
sizes and shapes of the bulbs you
plan to purchase. Flip through a
few catalogs that mention grades
and sizes, make notes if they give
actual dimensions, and use this to
select die largest bulbs for that
species.'
Avoid buying bulbs at a grocery
or discount store that sells bulbs
packed in mesh bags. It is difficult
to see what you are getting and
there are often a few small bulbs in
with a few larger ones, not unlike
that one large potato in front of the
mesh window in the potato bag. It
is also not a good idea to purchase
bulbs from anyone offering a large
assortment of bulbs for a single
low price; these ads commonly
appear in the Sunday paper. When
this occurs you may be getting
quantity, but no quality. Compa
nies that make such offers general
ly buy lower quality bulbs that are
culled from production.
Once you obtain your quality
bulbs, handle them much the same
as onions. Keep them in a cool (40
degree to 50 degree F), dark, and
well-ventilated area. If you are
working with small numbers and
the weather remains warm, place
the bulbs in a paper bag. and place
them in the refrigrator crisper until
they ate planted. Proper planting
and the subsequent care of the
bulbs in the landscape will assure
you of many colorful seasons from
your investment Most gardeners
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Benefits Spring Bulbs
know that bulbs are planted with
the pointed end up and at die depth
shown in the directions that
accompany each species.
Bulb fertilization at planting
time, however, is viewed different
ly by different sources. There is
some reserve “food” in the bulb at
planting time, but it is much better
to incorporate additional plant
nutrients into the soil when the
bulbs are set. By incorporating a
time-release fertilizer into the soil,
nutrients will be available for the
roots next spring.
Bonemeal was long-considered
a standard bulb fertilizer. Howev
er, newer processing techniques
result in lower nitrogen levels in
the bonemeal, even though the
phosphorus remains high. Bulbs
need a complete fertilizer for opti
mum growth and development
The nitrogen is essential for both
growth and blooms, phosphorus
for root growth and bulb longevity,
and potassium for healthy growth
and disease resistance.
Work a complete fertilizer such
as 5-10-5 into the soil at the bottom
of the planting hole. In new beds it
is advisable to work up the entire
area and incorporate the fertilizer
at rates of up to two to three pounds
per each ICO square feet of planted
area. The newer coated fertilizers
would be very good because of
their time-release action allows the
nutrients to become available over
a longer period of time.
Warm soil temperatures are
necessary in the fall to develop a
strong root systems on the bulbs.
For this reason get the bulbs into
the soil well before the soil freezes.
Don’t worry if grape hyacinth or
daffodils produce some foliage in
the fall; it won’t interfere with
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flowering.
Research indicates that sunlight
on the bulb reduces the number of
blooms. Keep the bulbs in their
package until the time they are
placed in the soil, or plant on a
cloudy day.
Once the bulbs have been set it
may be advisable to cover the beds
with chicken wire or hardware
cloth to protect them from digging
squirrels, chipmunks or dogs.
Wbeu '.mall areas are planted.
WESTMINSTER, Md.—On
Saturday, October 7 and Sunday,
October 8, Fall Harvest Days will
be celebrated at the Carroll Coun
ty Farm Museum in Westminster,
Maryland from 10 a.m. until S
p.m. each day. Admission is $4 for
adults; ages 7 to 18, 60 and over
are $2; ages 6 and under are free.
The historic Farmhouse will be
open for tours. Visitors will be
received from 10 a.m. until S p.m.
There will be no extra charge to
HERSHEY (Dauphin Co.)
On the second Saturday of each
month, September through May,
the Hershey Museum will offer
participatory activities for walk-in
visitors. The activities, which will
be offered continuously from 1 to 4
p.m., include simple crafts and
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 7, 1995-B9
Fall Harvest Days
Walk-In Fun
got mi
some gardeners set the bulbs in a
wire basket to protect them. A
three to four inch layer of mulch
over the planted area will help
retain some warmth in the soil
while the roots develop, but will
not keep the soil from eventually
freezing later in the winter. Reduce
the thickness of the mulch to two
inches next spring as the foliage
emerges and enjoy the colorful
display.
tour the Farmhouse. The Living
History Center will be filled with
artisans demonstrating old-timey
skills. Other crafts people include
a blacksmith, a broommaker. a
quitter, and spinner. Visit the Vet*
erinary Surgeon’s Office and talk
with the Vet on duty for the day.
Farm animals are located in the
pasture area.
For more information, call
(410) 848-7775; (410) 876-2667;
or 1-800-654-4645.
interactive experiences such as an
archaeological dig, a taste test, and
a factory assembly line. The activi
ties are appropriate for families
and small groups of Scouts. For
more information contact Lois
Hartmann at (717) 534-3439.
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