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Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

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Buy bulbs now before it’s too late

20 August, 2014 By Dee Nash

by Dee Nash
20 August, 20141 March, 2015Filed under:
  • Bulbs
  • Color
  • Fall
  • Gardening
  • Indoor Gardening
Buy bulbs now. Tulips in terra cotta pot. 'Temple's Favourite', 'Rococo' and 'Orange Princess'

Tulips in terra cotta pot: ‘Temple’s Favourite’, ‘Rococo’ and ‘Orange Princess’ with dark blue pansies planted in early spring.

Consider this your bulb-buying reminder, nay warning. Now is the time to buy bulbs to plant for fall. If you want tulips, daffodils, purple hyacinths, blue chionodoxa, fritillaria in cream, orange, yellow or even dusky purple, you need to order now.

Otherwise, you’ll be sad in November when you sit down to the computer to order bulbs, and see “sold out” on every website.

Order now my friends.

Check out some of my bulb archives for ideas. I’m a bulb nut, and it shows.

Daffodils and tulips in the back garden. They are as colorful as Easter eggs.

Daffodils and tulips in the back garden. They are as colorful as Easter eggs.

Personally, I’m the mix and match sort. I love sprinkling these beauties throughout the garden and just letting “nature” create a tapestry. At least, I pretend Nature does, and the truth is, over time, some bulbs like daffodils will return in abundance, while others like hybrid tulips usually don’t. Before long, with my help every year, the tapestry of color changes.

Daffodil bulbs in the bottom of the pot

Daffodil bulbs in the bottom of terracotta pot

You can also plant bulbs in pots. I did this last year because I didn’t want to dig holes for tulips. Here’s what I discovered. It worked, but I found that the tulips, unless placed in partial shade, bloomed out too quickly in a spring heat wave. I may not do that this year unless I find tulips on sale. I do love a good bulb sale.

The front garden in 2010.

The front garden in 2010.

Instead, I think I’ll go for a color palette of reds and purples in the front garden bed. Added to this will be yellow narcissus that return each year. It will unfold however it likes. I may also still put pots in the front garden. That remains to be seen.

Bulbs in the garage garden in 2013.

Bulbs in the garage garden in 2013.

As for the garage border, I went the easy route there and just chose the Scheepers hybrid tulip mixture. The mix of sherbet hues made my heart flutter. These tulips are all offspring of Mrs. John T. Scheepers, one of the finest single late tulips around if you like yellow. Yellow happens to be my daughter, Megan’s, favorite color.

Late tulips seem to perform best in my Oklahoma garden. The collection includes: ‘Avignon,’ ‘Camargue,’ ‘Dordogne,’ ‘La Courtine,’ ‘Renown’ and ‘Roi du Midi.’ There’s no shame in letting the seller mix your tulip colors for you. This combo should look great with white ‘Thalia’ and the other narcissus growing in this bed. There are also lots of other later bulbs that will bloom after the flush of tulips. I can hardly wait. Longfield Gardens is sending me Tulipa ‘Suncatcher’ which is supposed to change color as it ages, and Muscari Armeniacum to try.

Forcing hyacinths on glass vases.

Forcing hyacinths on glass vases.

Also, don’t forget about forcing bulbs. I’ve written extensively about forcing bulbs indoors, and I think it’s one of the best ways to have a little spring before spring even thinks about showing its sweet face. I bought two varieties of Narcissus tazetta, ‘Erlicheer’ and ‘Early Pearl‘ from Old House Gardens to force, along with the hyacinth forcing and exhibition collection from John T. Scheepers. I had a tremendous amount of fun forcing hyacinths on glass vases last year, and I can’t wait to use my bulb vases for paperwhites that don’t stink. I love ‘Nir’ tazettas too. They smell heavenly.

Hippeastrum 'La Paz', one of the more unique varieties of amaryllis.

Hippeastrum ‘La Paz’, one of the more unique varieties of amaryllis.

One more thing–if you want some amaryllis (Hippeastrum) that are outside the box at your local nursery, and in colors other than red, it’s time to order those too. Brent & Becky’s Bulbs have a large selection of amaryllis. I ordered several double white amaryllis this year because I asked Siri to make a note last December and remind me in August. I was inspired by Pinterest boards with white amaryllis surrounded by green moss and other plants. I can see these with creeping sedums. They will be a bright ray of sunshine in my dark, wood living room this winter. I can’t afford skylights in there yet, but I can definitely buy a few bulbs. Here is my Bulb Forcing Pinterest board for your own ideas. I also have one called Bulb-mania. I can’t fathom why.

All of these will arrive at their appropriate planting times. Definitely tell the seller if you’re planning to force some of them though. They will ship these earlier so that you can refrigerate them. By ordering early, you take the guesswork and panic out of the equation. Next spring, you’ll have your own pictures of blooming loveliness. Buy bulbs now.

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Comments

  1. Jennifer Connell says

    28 August, 2014 at 12:38 am

    Last year I did leave it too late and the ground froze before I got all the bulbs in. A sale is not a bargain if you lose all you bought. This year I will be smarter! I want to ask about the bulbs in pots. Mine all rotted come spring. What should I do differently this fall?

    • Dee Nash says

      29 August, 2014 at 9:24 am

      Hi Jennifer, please tell me where you live so I can help.

  2. Alta Pafk says

    23 August, 2014 at 12:42 pm

    I find myself just saying, can't wait until fall……Such a gardening list of things to do!

    • Dee Nash says

      26 August, 2014 at 3:30 pm

      Hi Alta! I find myself saying I can’t wait until fall because I’m sick of the hot weather we’ve been having. 100F is no fun.

  3. Linda Lehmusvirta says

    23 August, 2014 at 1:23 am

    I'm a bulb freak too! Will be making my list soon.

    • Dee Nash says

      26 August, 2014 at 3:30 pm

      Bulb freaks unite!

  4. Unique by Design Landscaping & Containers says

    21 August, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Thank you for the reminder!

  5. Beth @ PlantPostings says

    20 August, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    Oh yeah, thanks for the reminder! I just remembered that I planted some in pots already, too, so I’ll have to remember to put the pots in the garage or wrap them in bubble wrap.

    • Dee Nash says

      21 August, 2014 at 10:15 am

      Beth, you already put some in pots. We can’t do it yet because it’s too hot. I’m looking forward to fall.

  6. Peter/Outlaw says

    20 August, 2014 at 7:45 pm

    An excellent reminder. Some years I don’t plant new bulbs and rely on the many already in the garden but this year I placed a large bulb order and look forward to squeezing them in in October. The Darwin hybrid tulips are reliably perennial for me. I’ve had some last for ten years so far. The others are a bit iffy as far as their return but it’s fun having them anyway. How wonderful it is to see the bulbs bloom in spring and remember planting them in the autumn, an act of faith that spring will come.

    • Dee Nash says

      20 August, 2014 at 8:13 pm

      Peter, I can’t wait to see what comes up for you next spring. We’ll all share our beautiful bulb pictures. Yay!

  7. ginnytalbert says

    20 August, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    Pleased to see you made it into the Washington Post Sunday Magazine last week in the article on Washington’s fave pastimes (gardening #1). It gave the BH&G garden blog list for 2014… and there you were! Yay!

    • Dee Nash says

      20 August, 2014 at 7:43 pm

      Oh Ginny! You made my day, no, my week! I had no idea. How wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with me.~~Dee

  8. @aCLTgarden says

    20 August, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    Buy bulbs now before it’s too late http://t.co/eoELn3qSYp #tulips #daffodils #gardening

  9. Lisa at Greenbow says

    20 August, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Great to make everyone (especially me) aware that you need to buy now.

    • Dee Nash says

      20 August, 2014 at 8:04 pm

      Yes, please join me in the madness Lisa!

  10. Amber says

    20 August, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    How do you know what bulbs are okay for your zone? I was looking at the heirloom bulbs at Baker Creek, but don’t know what to buy…

    • Dee Nash says

      20 August, 2014 at 6:15 pm

      Amber, most bulbs do well here. I looked Baker Creek, and it appears they sell daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. The only problem might occur if hyacinths don’t get enough cold period. The amaryllis are to be grown indoors. I hope that helps.

      • Amber says

        21 August, 2014 at 8:46 am

        I would think it would get cold enough here (Ohio, 5a), my concern was that it would get TOO cold for them?

        • Dee Nash says

          21 August, 2014 at 10:15 am

          Not unless you’re buying southern bulbs like jonquils, crinums and a few others. Most bulbs love Zone 5a.

          • Amber says

            21 August, 2014 at 10:29 am

            Now I have to decide what I want to buy…and if I want to buy a bunch or wait a year to see what is already here since I just bought the house…

      • Amber says

        21 August, 2014 at 8:49 am

        Also, what are your favorite places to buy bulbs?

        • Dee Nash says

          21 August, 2014 at 10:14 am

          Hi Amber, I linked to several of them within the post, but here are several of my favorites. Van Engelen if you’re going to buy a lot of bulbs. They have a minimum. John T. Scheepers is their retail outlet. Old House Gardens is my favorite for older bulbs. They are a super company with excellent customer service. Brent & Becky’s Bulbs are also wonderful. Nice people, cool new daffodils around every turn and great customer service. I’ve never bought bulbs from Baker Creek although I love their seeds. I’ve also gotten good bulbs from Longfield Gardens. ColorBlends is also great. Those are my favorites, not necessarily in that order. I buy different things from different companies. HTH~~Dee

  11. Patrick says

    20 August, 2014 at 3:42 pm

    Guess you’re partial to purple hyancinths ss you duly noted only that color. Best value out there is the Daffodil 100 blend from Colorblends with 85 guaranteed to be different. I placed 100 amongst my daylily collection last fall and am adding another this fall. You have to check it out and try it, my dear Dee. One of my funnest gardening experiences ever as I eagerly awaited the end result!

    • Dee Nash says

      20 August, 2014 at 6:16 pm

      No, actually my favorite hyacinth is the double creamy chestnut. The group I bought have lots of different colors although not the double. It doesn’t force as well. I also love creamy ‘Haarlem.’ Sounds like a fun time with the daffodils Patrick. Cheers.

  12. Vickie says

    20 August, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    Thanks for the tip on the tulip bulbs in pots. It sounds easy but I can see how our quirky weather in the spring could confuse the little darlings!

  13. Donna@GardensEyeView says

    20 August, 2014 at 11:48 am

    I was almost too late to get my garlic bulbs. I almost forgot to order them. I just put up another post on my veg garden to add to your virtual garden club, Dear Friend and Gardener.

  14. @Naturesta says

    20 August, 2014 at 10:44 am

    Buy bulbs now before it’s too late http://t.co/at1SQfDBOC #garden

  15. Kathy Purdy says

    20 August, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    I agree! Buy bulbs now! And later, when the last of the best are on sale!

    • Dee Nash says

      20 August, 2014 at 6:19 pm

      Yes, get what you really must have now, and then when on sale, add more. 🙂

Trackbacks

  1. Buy bulbs now before it's too late - Red Dirt R... says:
    20 August, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    […] Consider this your bulb-buying reminder, nay warning. Now is the time to buy bulbs to plant for fall. If you want tulips, daffodils, purple hyacinths, blue chionodoxa, fritillaria in cream, orange, yellow or even dusky purple, you need to order now. Otherwise, you’ll be sad in November when you sit down to the computer to […]  […]

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