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Summer Flowering BulbsSoon it will be time to add flowering bulbs to containers and in the gardenIncluded in the wide array of summer flowering bulbs, you will find cut flowers, fragrant blooms and colorful foliage plants.
Soon it will be time to change out the containers on my front porch from cool season spring flowering annuals to the summer tropicals that I love. When the soil is warm, it is time to begin planting the bulbs for colorful flowers and foliage all summer long. For some gardeners, cannas seem to go in and out of fashion. To me, they never go out of style. I absolutely love the pattern of the foliage of 'Pretoria', a variegated canna, as the leaves push up out of the soil and begin to unfurl. 'Tropicana' has dark foliage with colorful stripes and orange flowers. Both are suitable for containers and in the garden. Banana Canna might be better suited for the garden with its mature size of 8'. Last year one of my favorite containers had Cannas, Ice Dance Sedge, Angelina Sedum, Blackie Sweet Potato Vine and Million Bells. The colors and textures were wonderful. Years ago I sold cut flowers at a city market and gladiolas were always a hit. Glads are available in a wide variety of colors and flowering times. Packaged mixes can be found that are economically priced. Caladiums brighten shady areas with foliage colors ranging from soft pinks and whites to vibrant reds and greens. Elephant Ears are another easy to grow foliage plant for shady spots. Try containers of Callas to add a touch of elegance to the landscape. Oriental lilies will add fragrance to the garden. There are gardeners that are fanatics about Dahlias. Give them a try and find out why. Garden centers, DIY box stores, discount retailers, and mail order are all sources for purchasing bulbs (including rhizomes, corms and tubers). Look for healthy bulbs that are firm and heavy. As mentioned earlier, you can wait until the soil is warm to plant in the ground or get a jump on the season by starting them now in pots. Bulbs grow best in sunny locations. The soil can be amended with compost and bone meal. The planting depth for the bulbs is three times the bulb's diameter. Spacing will depend on the mature size and your preferences. Often in pots, the spacing is much closer than you will want in the garden. Prior to planting, take a moment to examine the bulbs to determine the top from the bottom. Normally, the bulbs will have small roots beginning to emerge from the bottom side. In the fall, the bulbs can be lifted from the garden, remove spent flowers and foliage, shake off the soil and store through the winter in a paper sack in a cool, dry place. © Susan Mertz, May 2006. All rights reserved. Click on Plants and Bulbs for more articles by Susan Mertz.
The copyright of the article Summer Flowering Bulbs in Plants & Bulbs is owned by Susan Mertz. Permission to republish Summer Flowering Bulbs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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