Gardening Tip of the Month

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Saving Summer Bulbs
Tender summer bulbs that will not overwinter in the Tri-State area:

Caladiums
Cannna
Dahlia
Elephant Ear (Alocasia)
Gladiolus
Taro (Colocasia)

Step1: Digging the Bulb

The best time to dig the bulbs is following the first light frost.  The light frost kills off the foliage, yet it doesn’t damage the bulb.  As you dig around the bulb try to be careful not to nick or damage any of the bulbs.  Bulbs that are damaged have a much higher possibility of rotting in storage.  If a bulb is damaged and you would like to try to save it , store it separately in case it does rot so that it does not affect the other bulbs.

Step 2: Drying the Bulbs

After the bulbs have been dug and dirt has been cleaned off, cut the foliage back to just a few inches above the bulb.  Lay them out to dry for a week to ten days.  This is a pretty good rule of thumb for most bulbs with the exception being gladiolus.  Gladiolus need a solid three weeks to dry before storing.  This period of drying prepares bulbs for the next few months of dormancy.

Step 3: Storing the Bulbs

Use a breathable container such as a cardboard box or a bushel basket.  Line the box or basket with a plastic bag after poking 30-40 holes in its bottom and sides.  Layer the bag with several sheets of newspaper.  In the bottom of the container spread a three inch thick layer of barely damp peat moss.  Place the bulbs on top of the peat moss with the root end down.  Cover with three inches of peat moss and repeat, forming several layers of bulbs.  Put several layers of newspaper on top of the top layer of peat moss.

Remember, if you are storing several different varieties of bulbs in the same container be sure to keep a cheat sheet with the container that labels the different bulbs in each layer.  Another tip is to keep track of the different colors of each bulb blooms.  This can either be marked on the sheet as well or you can use a permanent marker to write on the bulb.

Bulbs need to be stored in an area ranging in temperature from 50-60 degrees give or take a few degrees.  For most people, the ideal storage place is a basement.  If the basement is heated, find the coolest place for the bulbs such as a closet or storage area.  Also, be sure that the location where the bulbs are stored is fairly easy to access.  The bulbs should be checked several times over the winter to make sure that none are starting to rot.  The bulbs that are starting to go soft should be thrown away to ensure that they do not affect other bulbs.

Step 4: Next Spring

Once the nightly temperatures have warmed to 45 degrees consistently it is time to plant all your tropical bulbs outside.  For those wanting to get an early start, bulbs can be planted in pots and started indoors.  This is also the time to split bulbs if they grew over the course of last summer.

For any additional assistance on saving your summer bulbs, stop by Delhi Flower and Garden Center and talk to our experts!

Need more information? Visit our Past Tips page for links to more articles and links to other professional web sites.