* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Starting and Growing Beautiful Summer Bulbs
Plant secondary metabolism wikipedia , lookup
History of botany wikipedia , lookup
Evolutionary history of plants wikipedia , lookup
Plant defense against herbivory wikipedia , lookup
Plant use of endophytic fungi in defense wikipedia , lookup
Plant breeding wikipedia , lookup
Historia Plantarum (Theophrastus) wikipedia , lookup
Plant morphology wikipedia , lookup
Plant nutrition wikipedia , lookup
Plant physiology wikipedia , lookup
Flowering plant wikipedia , lookup
Plant evolutionary developmental biology wikipedia , lookup
Plant ecology wikipedia , lookup
Plant reproduction wikipedia , lookup
Glossary of plant morphology wikipedia , lookup
Sustainable landscaping wikipedia , lookup
Garden Expo 2013 Starting and Growing Beautiful Summer Bulbs — Susan Mahr, UW-Madison Department of Horticulture Summer bulbs provide another dimension to gardening. They add beauty and interest to the landscape and, since most of them are tender, they offer a unique challenge to the gardener. The flowering types offer brilliant color, while those grown primarily for their foliage provide color and texture which many summer annuals do not . Some of the more commonly planted summer bulbs that are considered here include caladium, calla, canna, dahlias, elephant ears, gladiola and tuberous begonia. Why Plant Summer Bulbs? Summer bulbs add a lot to the ornamental garden. The bulbs are ready to grow and flower (or produce leaves) right What are Summer Bulbs? away, unlike many perennials Summer bulbs all have that need to get established some type of underground first. Many tender bulbs prostorage structure. They may duce spectacular, brilliant flowactually be bulbs that produce ers, adding a welcome splash flowers, but also include some of color to the garden in mid to heat-loving tropical plants such late summer. Most true bulbs as the elephant ears, gingers have an annoying habit of and more. Although commonly losing their leaves after they referred to as ‘bulbs,’ there bloom, but the gorgeous foliage are a variety of different un- of most tender bulbs remains derground storage structures strong throughout the growing (bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and season. tuberous roots). All of these structures function to store Selecting Summer Bulbs food through the winter to boost You can find summer bulbs plant emergence and provide in stores and garden centers the flowering structure the fol- from late winter through late lowing season. spring. Choose the biggest and Summer bulbs are often firmest. Healthy bulbs are solid referred to as ‘tender’ bulbs. and relatively heavy, so pick They are planted outdoors after them up and check. If they feel the last spring frost. In Wiscon- soft or extremely lightweight, sin, the vast majority of sum- they may not grow well. Almer bulbs are not cold hardy most all bulbs will have nicks and will not survive the winter and loose skins. Don’t worry outside (but may be hardy in about that unless the bulbs are warmer zones). These plants showing signs of mold or rot. need to be dug at the end of Plant your bulbs as soon as the season (or the containers the weather and soil conditions brought indoors) and the stor- permit. If you can’t plant your age structure kept indoors until bulbs right away, store them in the following planting season. a cool, dry place. 1 Starting Indoors Most summer bulbs originated in the tropics and need warm conditions and warm soils to grow well. But in the north that would mean waiting until June or later – a bit late to allow the plants to develop completely during our relatively short growing season. Gardeners in colder areas may want to start their summer bulbs indoors and move them out once the soil has warmed. This will enable the plants to develop and mature early enough to give you a long season of enjoyment, generally blooming in early to midsummer. In most parts of North America, tender summer bulbs can be started indoors four to six weeks prior to the usual last local frost date and then planted outdoors to begin their regular summer growing season. Choose clean containers with drainage holes. Good drainage is essential. Use a commercial potting soil mixed with equal parts peat moss and a drainage material such as sand or Perlite. To start tender bulbs indoors, plant them in pots at the recommended depth and place them 6-12 inches below grow lights or in a window or greenhouse with bright light. If possible, provide bottom heat of about 70F. They will root best and have the showiest blooms if they are grown in soils between 65 and 75F. Exposure to cold early in their develop- Garden Expo 2013 ment can stress bulbs and make them more susceptible to fungus problems and rotting, or may even cause them to abort their blooms. Keep soil moist, but not wet. Once the weather has warmed and the threat of frost is past, you can transplant them into the garden or simply drop them with their pots into decorative containers. A general rule of thumb is place them outside when you would plant tomatoes. Summer bulbs prefer warm soil, close to 60F. Or as an alternative you can purchase pre-sprouted plants if you don’t have room or the light to start your own indoors. This will cost more, but you will have a sturdy plant ready to put in the garden. Planting Outdoors Remember you will have to disturb the area each fall to dig the tender bulbs, so summer bulbs are harder to integrate into permanent plantings of perennials and woody ornamentals. Amending your garden soil is the key to making your bulbs thrive. Before planting, add lots of well-decomposed organic matter to your soil—compost, leaves, horse manure, or anything else that will enrich the soil and provide unrefined nutrients. It’s best to do this before planting: Till a 2-6inch layer of organic matter into the soil. Most bulbs, whether tender or hardy, will do best when planted at a depth of three times the height of the bulb. If gardening in heavy clay soil, plant the bulbs shallower than recommended, and make up the difference in depth with a thick top-dressing of mulch, or sand and mulch after the soil in the garden warms to about 70F. This will conserve moisture and keep the foliage and flowers clean. Trying to grow tropical plants that need warm temperatures and sulk when it’s too cold (i.e. below 50F) can be a real challenge in cold, northern areas. You have to be more creative in finding homes where these tender plants will thrive – warm spots in a cold climate. Choose protected sites or use techniques to get the soil warmed sooner, such as using clear plastic over the planting site to help elevate the temperature, or just planting in containers. Overwintering Since these summer bulbs are not winter-hardy in our climate, they need special treatment to save for the next growing season. Many of them are expensive, yet easy to keep, so it is worth the trouble to dig and store the underground portions of these plants. But if you don’t want to bother or don’t have a way to store them, you can just treat them as annuals. Summer bulbs should be dug up in the fall when they are dormant. After the frost has damaged the top growth, dig the bulbs. Remove all foliage and lay them out in a cool, dry location for a week or two. Once their 2 outside has dried, store them in a cool, dry location for the winter. If you grew your begonias or caladiums in containers, you may want to just move the containers indoors. Let the soil dry out and store in a cool, dark place until early spring when you can begin watering them again. Caladium Caladiums are bright, boldleafed plants grown mainly for their foliage. They are native to tropical South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil). The ones most commonly offered commercially are Caladium x hortulanum, a species of hybrid origin. Grown mostly for their interesting foliage display, caladiums perform well in garden borders and containers. All have heart-shaped leaves ranging in size from 6 to 12 inches growing from a tuber. The numerous cultivars offer foliage colors in red, salmon, rose, white, or green with many variegated combinations. Caladiums prefer a rich soil. Most cultivars are adapted to full shade, but some tolerate partial sun or early morning sunlight. Full sun generally reduces the intensity of the foliage color of most cultivars. Start the potato-like tubers 6 weeks before the last frost date. Plant tubers individually in 4-6” pots (or start in trays of moist peatmoss and transplant when the shoots develop). Place the tuber with the eyes up (the knobby side) 1½-2” deep. The roots grow from the Garden Expo 2013 top surface of the tuber which intuitively will cause many gardeners to plant them upside down. To promote more leaves, remove the largest bud in the center of the root. Elephant Ears Elephant Ears is a common name given to a group of tropical plants of several genera — including Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma — that produce huge, lush green leaves resembling the ears of elephants. Native to tropical Asia, they are all members of the arum family (Araceae). These tubers can produce a plant 3-5 feet tall in one season with leaves over a foot across, for a dramatic accent in the garden, giving a tropical look. They grow in full sun or light shade and thrive during humid weather. Ample soil moisture is a must, especially if grown in full sun. They can also be grown standing the shallow water of a water garden (up to the pot edge). They should be fertilized weekly. If your elephant ears don’t produce rapid lush growth, they need either more heat, more water or more nitrogen. Start elephant ears indoors up to 8 weeks before the last frost in your area, placing the blunt down, 1-2” deep. Depending on how they were stored it sometimes takes them a while to come out of dormancy. Calla Calla lilies are native to South Africa, where the plants How to Store Some Commonly Grown Tender Bulbs Elephant’s Ear (Alocasia or Colocasia) Both can be lifted before frost, potted and treated as a houseplant for the winter. Feed lightly throughout winter and water often. Otherwise the tubers can be cleaned and stored in peat moss. Check monthly and cut away any soft spots that develop. Allow the remaining healthy portion to dry before re-storing in peat. Begonias, Tuberous Dig before a hard frost (a light frost can be allowed to kill the tops). Let the tubers dry for 1-2 weeks, with 2-5 inches of the foliage still intact. Remove excess soil and foliage and store at 50ºF. Caladium Lift caladium plants before frost. Allow them to dry in a warm spot for about a week. Cut back the foliage after it turns yellow. Store at a warmer temperature than for most other tender bulbs, at 60ºF. Calla Dry the rhizomes of calla lilies for 2-3 weeks in a warm location, shake off the soil and remove the dried stem. Store at 45-55ºF. Canna Allow frost to kill the tops, but they should not be subjected to a hard freeze which turns the stem to mush. Dry the roots for a day or two. Cleaned roots can be wrapped in newspaper (or layered in peat moss or other packing material if your storage conditions are dry) and stored in paper bags or cardboard boxes, at 45-50ºF. Check periodically to be sure the roots do not dry out; increase the moisture level if necessary. Wait until spring to divide, break apart, making sure there are at least 3 eyes per division. Dahlia Dig before a hard freeze, but their tops may be allowed to die back from a light frost. The tuberous roots bruise easily, so handle with care. Although some people prefer to divide the roots immediately after digging since the eyes or buds are easier to see in the fall, it is best to wait until spring to prevent spoilage in storage. Let them dry for several hours before placing in storage. Check monthly for dehydration and mist lightly, if necessary. Gladiolus Lift the plants in the fall either when the plants yellow or after the first frost. Shake off the soil, but do not wash, cut the stems back to 1-2” and allow the corms to dry. Place them in bright sunlight for a day or two, then move them to a well-ventilated location for about 3 weeks. Remove the old, shriveled portion, keeping only the new plump corms, before packing for storage. grow up to six feet tall in moist areas. Cultivated plants grow 1-4 ft, depending on the variety. White calla lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica, grows 2-3 feet tall with glossy, arrowhead-shaped leaves. The leaves of some species, such as the yellow or golden callas, Z. elliottiana and Z. rehmannii, are blotched 3 with white or semi-transparent spots. Funnel-shaped flowers are white, pink, rust, yellow, lavender, peach, apricot or salmon. They bloom for a month or longer in mid summer. Calla lilies prefer full sun, and rich, organic soils with plenty of moisture. They can be adapted to grow as marginal Garden Expo 2013 plants in water gardens or in containers. After blooming and when the leaves fade, allow the soil to dry out for a few weeks. Plant calla lily rhizomes 1-2 inches deep 6-8 weeks before the average last spring frost in your area. Calla lilies also make great houseplants. rhizome is started into growth, the sooner it will flower. Gladiolus Gladiolus is an African genus with many species conDahlia tributing to the types grown as Dahlias offer a great deal of ornamentals. Gladiolus come variety in the garden. From July in a wide color range and can to October, this tuberous root grow from one to five feet. They produces 2-8 foot plants with make excellent background flowers 8-12 inches across. plants with a strong vertical Offering a wide range of colors, aspect with their long flower Canna blooms shapes, sizes and plant spikes. Only one flower stalk Although this bright, bold- heights, dahlias are sturdy, reli- is produced per corm. They are leafed tropical plant is now able bloomers. There are two often grown aas cut flowers. naturalized in many tropical basic types of dahlias, border The size of the plant and countries of the world, can- and bedding. Border dahlias spike produced is directly renas originated in the Mid- are large plants that are grown lated to the size of the corm Americas from Florida to the from tubers that are kept from that is planted. Plant corms 4-6 warmer parts of the countries year to year. Bedding dahlias inches deep in full sun. They of South America. These tropi- are compact, mound growers can be planted started in midcal herbaceous plants provide that are produced from seed spring over a two month period masses of dramatic foliage as each year. They form a tuber to stagger the bloom period. well as bright, colorful blooms by the end of the season, but Staking may be needed. throughout late summer and they do not store well. fall. Traditionally, cannas grew Dahlias thrive in full sun in Tuberous Begonia 3-8 feet tall, with red, pink, our area and prefer moist, wellTuberous begonias are best yellow, orange and cream drained soil. known for their showy flowers. flowers. But new hybrids and Plant the fleshy light brown These hybridized plants with selections include shorter and tubers horizontally about 6 large leaves and fleshy stems dwarf forms. All varieties can inches deep and 18-24 inches originated from South Amerireadily be grown in pots and apart. Larger types benefit can species with large pink tubs, but the smaller varieties from staking; put stakes in at and yellow flowers. Cultivated are particularly suited to pot planting time to avoid damag- tuberous begonias come in a and patio cultivation, where ing tubers. range of flowers sizes, shapes they will begin to flower early Use a low-nitrogen fertil- and colors. while still quite short. izer and use sparingly so as to Grow tuberous begonias During the growing and not promote leaf growth over in rich, moist soil in full sun to flower season, cannas require flower growth. To encourage partial shade as bedding plants little attention and usually don’t the growth of bushier plants or in containers. Fertilize every require staking. Plant in full sun pinch out the center shoot just two weeks. Protect from strong in well-drained soil. Fertilizer above the third set of leaves. wind, stake to keep the fragile monthly. Tubers can be started in- stems from breaking, and keep Start canna rhizomes in- doors 6-8 weeks ahead, but well watered. Pinch out the doors 4-6 weeks before the are often planted directly in primary growing tip at about 2 average last frost date in your the garden once all danger of inches high on basket varieties area in large pots. Place them frost is past. Bury the tuber, but to ensure that there are lots of 3-4 inches deep; there is no leave the crown exposed at the branches that hang gracefully. “right way up”. The earlier a surface of the potting mix. Larger, double male or center 4 Garden Expo 2013 flowers will develop if the two side single female flowers are removed as plants develop. Plant the enlarged hypocotyls (“tubers”) indoors 8 weeks before the last frost (or when pink sprouts appears). Place the concave or indented side upward with the tubers at or just below soil level (they rot easily if planted too deep.) Other Summer Bulbs There are many other tender plants grown from bulbs or other storage organs. Acidanthera or Peacock Orchid is actually a gladiolus, Gladiolus murielae. It has fragrant, 2-3” wide white flowers with a purple blotched center in late summer. Plants grow about 2 feet tall with upright, sword shaped leaves Agapanthus or Lily-ofthe-Nile, from South Africa is a rhizome that produces round clusters of blue or white flowers in mid to late summer on tall stalks. Plants grow up to 40” tall (height varies by variety). This plant is best grown in containers in Wisconsin. Montbretia (Crocosmia species from South Africa) is a corm that produces spikes of 1-2” bright red, orange or yellow flowers in mid-summer for about 4 weeks. The swordshaped leaves grow 24-36” tall Pineapple lily (Eucomis spp.) is a true bulb that grows 1-1/2 to 2 feet tall with strap-like foliage and bottle brush-like inflorescences. Gloriosa or Climbing Lily (Gloriosa rothschildiana) is another South African native. This is a climbing vine that grows to 6 feet and produces yellow and red flowers that look like lilies in late summer. Peruvian Daffodil (Hymenocallis narcissiflora) produces clusters of fragrant, 4” white flowers with slender, petal-like segments surrounding the central cup of the flower. One variety, ‘Sulfur Queen’, is a beautiful pale yellow. And many more... • Alstroemeria, Peruvian lily • Bletilla striata, Chinese ground orchid • Freesia hybrids • Galtonia, summer hyacinth • Ixia, African corn lily • Nerine, Guernsey lily and others • Ornithogalum, Star of Bethlehem • Polianthes tuberosa, tuberose • Scadoxus (=Haemanthus), blood lily • Sparaxis tricolor, harlequin flower • Tigridia pavonia, tiger or Mexican shell flower • Watsonia, bugle or sword lily • Zephyranthes, rain lily Resources on Summer Bulbs Summer-Blooming Bulbs, edited by Beth Hansen (Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, 2001) 112 pages — chapter topics include botany, care, design and a mini-encyclopedia. Summer Bulbs: Simple Steps for Growing Beautiful Glads, Dahlias, Begonias, Cannas, and Other Tender Bulbs, by Henry Jaworski (Houghton Mifflin, 1998) 128 pages Taylor’s Guide to Bulbs: How to Select and Grow 480 Species of Summer-Hardy and Tender Bulbs, by Barbara W. Ellis (Houghton Mifflin, 2001) 439 pages — includes spring bulbs and tender bulbs to grow for summer color—or in containers, with detailed instructions on propagating bulbs, how to overwinter tender bulbs, forcing bulbs for indoor flowers, and more. Summer Flowering Bulbs — Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet HYG-1244-92 ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1244.html Year-Round Care of Summer Bulbs — Brooklyn Botanic Garden www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/plants/handbooks/summerbulbs/4.html 5