Probably the easiest way to grow anything, when you buy a bulb you are buying a complete plant squeezed into a tiny package, it already contains flowers and leaves, primed and ready to grow.
Bulbs are natures way of surviving extremes of weather when a bulb has formed, the plant is protected from cold or drought and just needs to wait for the right conditions to grow again. This also makes bulbs the perfect way to pack and sell plants.
Somewhat confusingly spring bulbs are sold in the spring to flowering in the summer, autumn bulbs are sold in the autumn to flower in the spring. this is important to know before you buy.
Bulbs have seasons, they grow, they are harvested (dug up), dried, stored, packed and delivered to the stores, at different times of the year.
There are many types of bulbs but they can be split into three main groups.
Spring sales
Bulbs sold in the spring, they may be called summer flowering bulbs because they usually flower in the summer.
Autumn sales
Bulbs sold in the autumn usually called spring bulbs as they flower in the spring but some can be grown to flower for Christmas.
Indoor
Indoor plants that form bulbs, they may need to grow indoors but some can be grown outdoors through the summer.
Sold in the Autumn
Spring flowering bulbs are harvested in late spring and summer and packed ready to sell in the autumn usually in September and October, but they can be sold right up to Christmas.
When you water or plant the bulb, it immediately starts to grow, the roots develop first followed by the flower shoots. In practice bulbs planted in the autumn grow roots slowly through the winter and start to flower when the weather picks up in the spring.
This is controlled by temperature, a cool spell will develop the roots and leaves. A warm spell and increasing light will make the flowers appear.
Why is that important?
Well, the way the bulbs are stored and sold can affect the quality and final result. If they are kept in warm damp conditions the roots will start to grow, but with no compost to grow in, they become damaged and stunted.
The secret to growing spring bulbs is to plant them as soon as they are delivered, keep them outside aiming to keep them as cool as possible, this will give the roots time to develop. You will find the flowering shoots will start to grow when the temperature rises in the spring, or you can bring them inside to force them to flower quickly
Ideally the roots should appear before the shoots
Sold in the spring
Summer flowering bulbs are harvested in the autumn and packed ready to sell in early spring.
When you plant Summer flowering bulbs, they are looking forward to some good weather, some actually need lots of warmth to start growing. Why does this matter, well unlike spring-flowering bulbs that need planting up immediately you can choose when to plant your summer flowering bulbs?
If you have a warm greenhouse or conservatory you can them pot up early and protect your plants as they grow, ready for planting out in the summer. If you only have a house or cold greenhouse you can plant later, timing it so you can safely plant them outside.
Indoor bulbs
There is no main selling season and indoor bulbs can be sold at any time but usually, they are sold with the spring and autumn bulbs.
When you plant indoor bulbs follow the instructions, but generally, they need warmth to make them grow and you will need to make room for them in the house.
How to buy bulbs.
When bulbs are lifted and stored they are under very precise conditions,
The growers can keep the bulb dormant for months, the temperature and humidity are controlled to keep them perfect.
Unfortunately, when they reach the stores the conditions may not be so perfect, the fluctuating temperature and humidity in-store will fool the bulbs into think spring has started, they will begin to grow or the bulb will dry out and shrivel.
With bulbs, you need to buy them as soon as they come into the store.
Spring-flowering bulbs sold in the autumn should be planted immediately or store them in a cool dry area checking them regularly for problems.
Summer flowering bulbs sold in the spring can be stored for planting later keep them in a cool dry area checking them regularly for problems.
Many bulbs are sold in packs to entice you with colourful pictures, the bulbs are attached using a plastic bag, this does help protect the bulb from drying out. it does make it difficult to check the quality. The temperature the bulbs are displayed at will affect the quality and shelf life. Ideally, they need to be cool but often they end up displayed in the shop or greenhouse which is dry but too warm. If you come across lots of bulbs with green shoots or roots on display save your money and buy them somewhere else.
Big promotional bags of bulbs are often sold, but really bulbs should be stored in shallow layers with plenty of air movement, again you need to buy them as soon as they come into the store. If you buy a big pack make sure to plant straight away or unpack and store in open crates.
Bulbs are graded after harvest into internationally agreed sizes which should be displayed on the label, this is important to know, bigger bulbs contain more or larger flowers and can be better value for money compared to smaller bulbs.
