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Summer Flowering Bulbs

Summer Flowering Bulbs. Dennis Patton Johnson County K-State Research and Extension County Extension Horticulture Agent. Class Goals. Expanded plant palette Learn best management practices Greater appreciation of the landscape Enjoyment. What is a summer flowering bulb?.

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Summer Flowering Bulbs

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  1. Summer Flowering Bulbs Dennis Patton Johnson County K-State Research and Extension County Extension Horticulture Agent

  2. Class Goals • Expanded plant palette • Learn best management practices • Greater appreciation of the landscape • Enjoyment

  3. What is a summer flowering bulb? • Bulbs that are not winter hardy • Must be dug and stored for winter • Add beauty to the landscape • Large or small flower size • Used in groupings, cut flowers or specimens • Some need to be staked

  4. Bulbs Bulbis any plant that stores its complete life cycle in an underground storage structure. Types of Storage Structures • True bulb • Corms • Tubers • Tuberous roots • Rhizomes

  5. True Bulb Five Major Parts

  6. True Bulbs Tunicate bulbs (paper-like sheath) • Tulips • Daffodils • Hyacinths • Alliums

  7. True Bulbs Imbricate bulbs (no papery sheath) Lily

  8. Corms • A swollen stem base that is modified into a mass of storage tissue. • Does not have visible storage rings when cut in half • Gladiolus and crocus

  9. Tubers • Buds are scattered over the tuber surface from which shoots and roots develop. • Caladiums, oxalis, anemones, potato

  10. Tuberous Roots • Nutrient reserves are stored in an actual root instead of an enlarged stem. • Dahlia and tuberous begonia

  11. Rhizomes • Iris, lily-of-the-valley, cannas • Grow horizontally under the soil surface.

  12. Fleshy Roots • Not bulbs • Peonies and daylilies

  13. Bulb Selection Size • Larger bulbs produce larger blooms • Smaller bulbs are good for naturalizing Firmness • Select bulbs that are firm and free from soft or rotting spots; disease free

  14. Planting Time Summer Flowering Bulbs • Hybrid lilies, dahlias, gladiolus, calla lilies, caladiums, cannas • Plant in the spring after danger of frost is past.

  15. Soil Preparation • Soil drainage and aeration are essential • Add compost, peat moss or some source of organic matter • Work the organic matter into the top 12 to 18 inches of soil • pH between 6.0 and 7.0

  16. Fertilization • Incorporate fertilizer when preparing the soil in the spring: - 3 lbs of a complete fertilizer (i.e. 5-10-5) per 100 sq. ft. (1.5 tsp. per sq. ft.) or • 2 lbs of blood meal per 100 sq. ft (1 tsp. per sq. ft.) • Repeat applications at half rates every four to six weeks through mid-August

  17. Planting Bulbs Rules of thumb • The pointed end goes up • Planting depth is the distance from the bottom of the bulb to the soil surface • Size of the bulb often dictates the depth; the larger the bulb the deeper the depth • Remove air pockets around the bulb (proper watering – deep watering)

  18. Summer Maintenance • Foliage should not be removed until it turns yellow and dies back naturally • Interplant the bulbs with annuals or perennials • Mulch the bulbs to minimize temperature fluctuations and conserve moisture. • Dig and divide crowded bulbs to increase flower size

  19. Digging and Storing • Dig when leaves turn yellow • Use a spading fork to lift the bulbs from the ground • Leave the soil on the bulbs or wash? • Store in clumps on slightly moistened layer of peat moss or sawdust. • Place in a cool, dry basement, cellar or garage • Watch for decay and discard those bulbs

  20. Digging • Loosen soil with fork or spade several inches back and all around plant. • Avoid breaking, cutting or damaging the fleshy skin. • Disease enters through cuts and decreases storage.

  21. Cleaning • Gently remove excess soil • Washing will remove soil • Glads best left unwashed

  22. Curing • Allows excess moisture to be removed • Warm, dry location out of direct sun • 60 to 70 degrees ideal • Remove old corms • Few days to several weeks

  23. Pest Management • Rot can be a problem • Check often and remove decaying bulbs • Dust with fungicide if you wish

  24. Storing • Label bulbs • Place in sack and label • Write on the larger bulbs or stems • 40 to 50 degrees • Canna, dahlia, freesia, glads, • 50 to 60 degrees • Begonia, caladium, call lily, Peruvian lily, tuberose

  25. Agapanthus • Lily-of-the-Nile • Rhizome, plant ½ inch deep • Morning sun, afternoon shade • Pot bound for best blooms • Move pot into protected area • Blue/white flowers

  26. Alocasia – Elephant Ear • Part sun/filtered light • Protect from winds • High organic soil • Plant after frost • Top 2” below surface • Dig after light frost • Fertilize • Shiny leaves • Up to 6 feet

  27. Alstroemeria • Cool loving; difficult in KC • In ground, early spring • 2” inches • Pot culture • Difficult to store • Cool conditions • Brittle roots

  28. Babiana – Baboon Flower • Extremely difficult • Pot culture • Moist, well-drained • High organic matter • Store in pot

  29. Begonia - Tuberous • “Non-stop” • Dislikes, heat and humidity • Cool, moist summers • Pot culture best • Plant shallow, concave side up • Easiest to store container Butchart Gardens

  30. Brodiaea • Grows along West Coast • Probably not for KS summers

  31. Canna • Variety of colors • 2’ to 8’ tall • Rhizomes, 4” to 6” deep • Full sun to light shade • Dig after first frost ‘Tropicana’ The President

  32. Canna Varieties Wyoming Miss Oklahoma Striped Beauty

  33. Caladiums • Part sun/shade • No direct sun – scorch • Even moisture • High organic matter • Pot culture or ground • Store dry in peat moss

  34. Colocasia - Taro • Moist, fertile soil • High organic matter • Part shade/filtered sun • Plant after May 1 • Dig after first frost • Do not let dry out • Two inches below surface Black Magic

  35. Crocosmia • Marginal zone 5? • Well-drained soil • Full sun to light shade • Red and yellow flowers • Corms – 2” to 3” deep • Dig and store like glads ‘Lucifer’

  36. Dahlia • Tuberous roots • Plant mid-April, 2” to 3” • Filtered sun/shade • Well-drained, organic soil • Protect from winds • Staking recommended • Dig at first frost

  37. Eucomis – Pineapple Lily • Challenging, well-drained • Even moisture • Rich organic soil • Full sun to light shade • Pot culture best • Tip of bulb at surface • Bring pot in for winter

  38. Gladiolus • Moist, well-drained • Full sun • Protect from wind • Mid-April, staggered • Staking for taller • Plant 2” to 6” deep • Dig when foliage yellow

  39. Hymenocallis (Ismene) – Peruvian Daffodil • Extremely difficult • Soil, rich humus • Well-drained • Even moisture • Pot culture • Store in pot • Retain soil mass if digging

  40. Musa - Banana • Pot culture or in ground • Rich organic soil • Even moisture • Hardy varieties, mulch • Dig, wrap roots in plastic • Cut back foliage • Pot, dormant or in home Blood Banana

  41. Polianthes - Tuberose • Showy white flowers • Great fragrance • Plant in mid-April • Well-drained soil • Even moisture • Dig in fall; dry and store

  42. Zantedeschia – Calla Lilly • Plant rhizome 3” deep • Mid-April • Moist, rich soil • Pot culture • Lift and store in peat • Bring indoors, houseplant • Store in pot

  43. Questions • Source: Missouri Botanical Garden • www.mobot.org • Plant Finder

  44. Dennis PattonJohnson County Extension Horticulture Agent 11811 Sunset Drive, Suite 1500 Olathe, Kansas 66061 (913) 715-7000 www.johnson.ksu.edu

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