Posts Tagged: bulb
Still Time for Daffodils.
By Susanne von Rosenberg, UC Master Gardener of Napa County For spring cheer, few flowers...
Daffodils (anton-darius-unsplash.)jpg
More Daffodils (markus-winkler-unsplash)
Colors of Narcissus (amazon.com)
Paperwhite narcissus, multiple flowers on a single stalk (plantsam.com)
Wee short little daffodils (aneogarden.wordpress.com)
And tall ones (flowerpicturegallery.com)
Daffodil on 18th Century glass (pintrest.com)
Bulb planting depth (gardenofeaden.blogspot.com)
Snail on daffodil (flickriver.com)
Daffodils in garden (jeanne-lovemygarden.blogspot.com)
Storing and Planting Early Spring Bulbs
Client's Request: What bulbs can I plant in the spring? Where can I buy them? Thanks
Help Desk's Response: Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk with your question about bulbs that can be planted in spring.
There are a number of bulbs that are planted in spring, although some are actually planted as early as February. Examples are amaryllis, tuberous begonias, dahlias, gladiolus, and tuberose. The UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County have put together a list of bulbs and their planting and blooming times: http://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Sacramento_Bulb_Planting_Schedule/
Note that the times are for Sacramento County. If you are in central or eastern Contra Costa County you should be able to follow the Sacramento timing. In western Contra Costa County, you may be able to plant those bulbs a bit earlier (several weeks) since there is less danger of frost.
In terms of where to buy bulbs, I suggest checking with a local nursery. The big box and some other stores also carry them. I would suggest you carefully examine them all as the local box store where I live in central county often sells them displayed outdoors in full afternoon sun which isn't recommended as they should normally be out of direct sun and in a cool environment. Napa MG has published an excellent guide on storing bulbs (https://www.ucanr.edu/sites/ucmgnapa/files/153521.pdf). There are also many bulb growers and suppliers who sell online, and for many, they will probably be end-of-season pricing.
I hope this helps. Let us know if you have additional questions or need further information.
Good luck with your summer-blooming bulbs!
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (ECS)
Notes: Contra Costa MG's Help Desk is available almost year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays (e.g., last 2 weeks December), we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 2380 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520. We can also be reached via
telephone: (925) 608-6683, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/. MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog.
An Iris Primer, by Iris Craig
An Iris Primer, by Iris Craig My mother loved flowers: she named me Iris. Having a flower name has...
Amaryllis Help
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
MGCC's Help Desk Response: Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk about the issues with your precious amaryllis bulb.
Two things that we discussed when reviewing the status of your prized amaryllis:
1. The container may be too large for the bulb. Amaryllis bulbs like to be potted in narrow and shallow containers.
2. The soil in your container appears to be moist. As mentioned in our previous emails on this subject, amaryllis do not like wet feet. They like to be kept in fast draining soil and only watered when the top two inches of soil feels dry.
We suggest that you correct these issues first in order to successfully grow your bulb.
For potted amaryllis, you don't need a great quantity of potting mix, because the bulbs grow and flower best when not over-potted. A 4-inch bulb only needs a pot 6 inches wide by 6 inches deep. The top one-third of the bulb should not be covered with soil, but left bare and protruding above the soil. As the bulb grows, move it gradually to larger pots, but still with a pot not much larger than the bulb itself. This prevents over-watering and waterlogged soil, which would rot the bulb.
We identified your flying insect as a fungus gnat. They are common in poorly drained soil or soil that is constantly wet (over-watered). Fungus gnats are a type of fruit fly that unfortunately either already exist in other potted plants in your home or patio, or may have come in with a new bag of potting soil.
Most of the fungus gnat's life is spent as a larva and pupa in organic matter or soil, so the most effective control methods target these immature stages rather than attempting to directly control the mobile, short-lived adults.
Physical and cultural management tactics—primarily the reductions of excess moisture and organic debris (such as dead leaves)—are key to reducing fungus gnat problems. We also suggest considering the use of the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (BT). This product is readily available in retail nurseries and garden centers, so it may be the most convenient for you to use. Just ask your favorite nursery for BT and then follow the package directions.
Here is additional information about fungus gnat control and prevention:
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7448.html
Also, please see the attached information on proper use of pesticides:
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74126.html
The beauty of amaryllis bulbs is that they are forgiving and easy to grow, so we want to help get you to the point of little worry and care for your grandmother's bulb!
If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SLH)
Note: The UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions. Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. We can also be reached via telephone: (925)646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog (//ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).
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Understanding Bulbs
By Carolyn Faulkner, Butte County Master Gardener, November 25, 2016. For many gardeners, fall...