This weekend, I’m going to be busy planting all my hyacinth bulbs. I always leave these until last, because out of all the spring bulbs (including tulips), these are the ones that require the longest chilling period and to be planted at the latest possible time in May, to improve flowering.
I almost didn’t grow hyacinth this year after a not-so-successful season last year. I think the main reason for poor flowering was because the bulbs weren’t chilled. This year I purchased my bulbs in February, thinking I would receive them by early April at the latest and that I would be able to chill them for at least six weeks prior to planting. Unfortunately, lockdown meant that I only received my bulbs half way through May, so they will only have a chilling period of around two weeks before I go to plant them. This isn’t enough, but it’s the best I can do in the circumstances. I don’t think anyone foresaw a global pandemic and if I did, I probably wouldn’t have ordered hyacinths given my lack of success last year. It is possible to grow hyacinths well if you live in a region with warmer winters, but it can be a bit tricky. It also depends on just how mild your winter is, as it varies from year to year. I have put together some tips for planting hyacinth in warm climates.
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Like anemones, ranunculus give you a great bang for your buck. They’re relatively inexpensive to buy. You can get as many as 25 ranunculus corms for only a few dollars. One corm also yields a few flowers, unlike a lot of other spring bulbs. Ranunculus grow on long stems and make great cut flowers, whether in a bouquet of their own or mixed with other flowers in arrangements. This year I’m growing 100 ranunculus (mixed colours), which I purchased from the New Zealand mail order company Bulbs Direct. I hope they give us a beautiful display in spring.
As with tulips, hyacinth and anemones, ranunculus thrive in cooler climates. If you live in a region with mild winters, it is still possible to grow ranunculus and for them to flower well. All that is required is a bit of care. I have written these growing tips with warmer conditions in mind, so if you live in an area with cold conditions, bear in mind that it might not be necessary to pre-chill your ranunculus corms.
To read the forty fifth issue of my FREE weekly newsletter filled with gardening tips, please visit the newsletters section of my website. I have uploaded the latest issue here.
If you're using a smart phone, it's best viewed as a pdf document received by email. To be added to my mailing list, please email me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com and write "subscribe" in the subject field. Have a great weekend! Anita For as long as I have been gardening, I have always planted anemone corms every spring. They’re easy to grow and are one of the best value spring bulbs. You can get a pack of 25 corms for just a few dollars. Unlike a lot of other spring bulbs, corms produce several flowers, giving you even more bang for your buck. This year, I have planted 100 Anemone “The Bride” and 100 Anemone “Blue Poppy corms” I purchased from the New Zealand mail order company Bulbs Direct. I prefer single-flowering anemones to the double-flowering kind you can get, but that’s a matter of personal preference. I think that’s because single flowering anemones resemble poppies. Anemones make great cut flowers, too. They look nice in a bouquet of their own or added to other floral arrangements.
As with tulips and hyacinth, anemones do best in a cool climate. But if you live in the winterless north, fear not. With some care, it is still possible to grow anemones and for them to flower well. Here are some growing tips for gardeners who live in warmer climates.
This week, I’m going to be very busy planting all my tulip bulbs. The New Zealand mail order company Bulbs Direct kindly sent me a selection of their tulips to grow in our garden and follow up on their progress in my blog, newsletter and on social media. Together, we would like to demonstrate that with some care, it is possible to grow tulips in warmer climates with mild winters.
I prefer single tulips to the other kinds you can get, such as lily, peony and parrot. But it’s a matter of personal preference. The single varieties I am growing this year are London (red), Strong Gold (yellow), Snow Board (white), Clearwater (white), Hakuun (white) and Golden Parade (yellow). All of the images of these bulbs were taken from Bulbs Direct’s website. I don’t have my own photographs as it is my first time growing these varieties. I’ll have to make sure I take lots of photos in late spring! I was very lucky that Bulbs Direct chilled these bulbs for me during lockdown, so they only needed a further two weeks in the fridge before they could be planted out into the garden. Thank you for doing this Bulbs Direct! I have put together some tips for planting tulips in warm climates.
To read the forty fourth issue of my FREE weekly newsletter filled with gardening tips, please visit the newsletters section of my website. I have uploaded the latest issue here.
If you're using a smart phone, it's best viewed as a pdf document received by email. To be added to my mailing list, please email me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com and write "subscribe" in the subject field. Have a great weekend! Anita It’s been awhile since I have written a report summarising what I have been up to around the garden recently. Over the past seven weeks since lockdown began, I have achieved the following:
Plant nursery While we were at Level 3, I operated a contactless plant nursery from our home in South Auckland, selling a range of winter veggie seedlings. Collaborations I drafted and submitted collaboration plans for the coming year to the gardening businesses for whom I am a brand ambassador – Italian Seeds Pronto, Egmont Seeds and Awapuni. I am proud to announce that I recently became a brand ambassador for Bulbs Direct, who kindly gave me an extensive range of tulips to grow in the garden this winter. Garden alongside our driveway I have plans to turn the garden to the right of our driveway back into a flower garden for annuals, which it originally was. Previously, it had a mixture of things in it, including rhubarb, peas, swan plants, lilies, spring bulbs and dahlias. For now, I have planted a mixture of brassicas but I have plans to sow annuals in it year round, starting with sunflowers this spring, followed by Iceland poppies next autumn. To improve the condition of the soil, I added lots of compost and sheep pellets prior to planting the brassicas. Potatoes Due to the Covid-19 situation, garden centres have been a bit late in getting seed potatoes in and I haven’t seen them in stores yet. Normally I plant potatoes on the shortest day (21st June), for harvesting in early spring. As soon as the varieties I like become available, I intend to purchase some as it takes a while for them to chit (sprout) before they can be planted into the ground. To read the forty third issue of my FREE weekly newsletter filled with gardening tips, please visit the newsletters section of my website. I have uploaded the latest issue here.
If you're using a smart phone, it's best viewed as a pdf document received by email. To be added to my mailing list, please email me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com and write "subscribe" in the subject field. Have a great weekend! Anita To read the forty second issue of my FREE weekly newsletter filled with gardening tips, please visit the newsletters section of my website. I have uploaded the latest issue here.
If you're using a smart phone, it's best viewed as a pdf document received by email. To be added to my mailing list, please email me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com and write "subscribe" in the subject field. Have a great weekend! Anita |
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