A guide for overwintering your Crocus, Tulip and Daffodil fall bulbs
Though we hate to see the warm, sunny days grow shorter, fall is one of our favorite seasons here in Maine. It's sweater weather, the foliage is vibrant and everywhere, cozy socks are being dug out of the back of our drawers - it's time for LL Bean boots and bulb planting!
Whether you're growing Daffodils, Crocus, Alliums, Tulips or any combination thereof, bulbs should be planted once the ground has cooled - usually when temperatures average between 40-50 degrees at night or about 6 weeks before the ground freezes.
They can be set in your garden beds or in your choice of decorative pots. Group them by type or mix up your displays for a vibrant spring color display - just make sure you know which depth your particular flower type prefers.
Our bulb depth chart is the perfect guide and comes with every bulb order:
TIPS FOR PLANTING IN THE GARDEN BED:
- Choose a spot that will get at least 6 hours of sunlight when spring finally arrives. Be sure to take into account any trees with leaves that may grow when the weather changes so your bulbs won't end up in areas that are too shady😎
- Dig a hole just deep enough for your particular bulbs - In the video, Matthew is planting Tulips so the hole is about 8 inches deep.
- Add some compost
- Spread about 1/4 cup of Fish Bone Meal or Blood Meal (note: meal can be added before or after bulbs - in this video, it goes in first)
- Place your bulbs pointy end up and spaced at least 1-2" from the bulb next to it
- Cover with more compost, soil and give it a good watering
TIPS FOR PLANTING IN OUTDOOR POTS🪴
- Choose a pot that's both deep enough and wide enough for your chosen bulbs:
- 8-10 gallon/16" wide for planting Daffodils
- 6 gallon/12" wide for Tulip bulbs
- Find a nice cool, dry place to store your pots once the bulbs have been planted. A shed, garage or under a deck will do nicely. Avoid storing anywhere they will get wet consistently particularly if using terracotta pots; they hold onto moisture and as temperatures fluctuate, the moisture inside the soil and pot will contract and expand leading to cracks in your pottery
- Add 2"-3" of compost and loamy soil
- Place your first layer of bulbs pointy end up and spaced at least 1-2" from the bulb next to it. Of our top three, the Daffodils are the first layer we pot, followed by Tulips and then Crocus
- Spread about 1/4 cup of Fish Bone Meal or Blood Meal (note: meal can be added before or after bulbs - in this video, Matthew spreads it on top of each layer of bulbs)
- Add 2"3" more inches of compost and loamy soil
- Repeat with the next tier of flower bulbs
- Cover your final layer of bulbs with soil and leave a bit of room at the top. As the soil contracts and expands with temperature changes, it will need room to exist. There's no need to pack your soil all the way to the top of your pot
- Give it a good watering
- Leave your pot outdoors for the first 48 hours to let it settle and then move to it's home for the winter months.
Got questions? Email us: help@superseeds.com