Flowers

Storing summer flowering 'bulbs'

25.09.11

Our gladioli, cannas, tuberous begonias, dahlias, caladiums and calla lilies have truly paid their dues by beautifying our summer gardens. Now it's our turn to provide some well-deserved rest for them until we all meet again next spring. Today, we are talking about storing all these summer flowering bulbs that aren't hardy enough to withstand our northern winters.

Just so we are clear as to who we are chatting about, its the bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers you planted after the last spring frost of the season, which have flowered for you this summer. Those that are for sale now, such as daffodils and tulips, are categorized as spring-flowering bulbs. They are planted now and left in the ground, because they not only tolerate the cold but require it in order to flower.

Lastly, rather than recite each proper term every time I refer to them, let's just agree to call this menagerie all bulbs. Now, onward to the facts we need to know:

Timing: You want to leave the bulbs in the ground for a full two weeks after the season's first killing frost lays its white fingers over our gardens for two very good reasons. Trees, shrubs and perennials begin to re-route the sugars produced during photosynthesis down to their roots, once the cooler weather sets in, and the same holds true for these bulbs.

Source: Albany Times Union