When should you plant bulbs?

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When to plant bulbs - hyacinth

table of contents

  • Different planting times
  • Planting time in spring
  • Planting time in summer
  • Planting time in autumn
  • frequently asked Questions 

Flower bulbs not only beautify the waiting time in spring, they also add bright color accents with unusual flower shapes almost all year round. But when is the best time to plant?

In a nutshell

  • Bulbs are planted at different times of the year
  • Planting times in spring, summer and autumn
  • Plant hardy summer bloomers in autumn before frost sets in
  • Insufficient hardy varieties and species from around April / May
  • some late blooming bulb flowers even in midsummer

Different planting times

Bulbs can be planted all year round. You can read in the following sections what you need to consider when planting at different times.

Planting time in spring

March to April

The planting times vary depending on the type and flowering time of the flower bulbs. So between March and April is the ideal time to see hardy or cold weather. to plant onions that are less sensitive to frost.

  • Often planted in early or mid-March
  • as soon as the last night frosts are over
  • usually bloom in summer
  • from June / July to autumn, depending on the variety
  • Leave hardy onions in the ground for the winter
  • get bigger and more beautiful every year
  • Handel now offers the largest selection of flower bulbs
African lily (Agapanthus) and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)
African lily (left), lily of the valley (right)

The flower bulbs that should be in the ground as early as March include: a. some species of lily such as B. Ornamental lilies (Agapanthus) or Turkish lily (Lilium martagon), lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), ixia (sticky sword) and summer hyacinth (Galtonia).

Tip: Frost-resistant summer bloomers can also find a place in pots, window boxes or tubs in spring.

Late April to May

From the middle / end of April, after the last frost period, the time has come to grow bulbs that are not or only moderately hardy. Summer bloomer to plant.

  • Soil should have a temperature of at least ten degrees
  • Be sure to wait for the last frosty nights
  • especially in very rough locations
  • even with particularly sensitive varieties
  • some of these beauties of exotic origin
  • sensitive shoot tips could be damaged or freeze to death
  • most summer bloomers cannot stay in the ground all year round
  • Dig up in late autumn and overwinter frost-free

If necessary, these summer bloomers can be driven in the house at 15 degrees. Summer bloomers, which can be planted at the end of April at the earliest, include both annual and perennial species. The majority love warm, sunny and sheltered locations. The daylily (Hemerocallis), for example, can overwinter in the bed.

Yellow-red daylily - Hemerocallis fulva
Yellow-red daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

Tip: The group of frost-sensitive summer flowers includes u. a. Anemone (anemone), ismene (Hymenocallis festalis), Jacob's lily (Sprekelia formosissima) and poppy lily (Eucomis).

Planting time in summer

Some special flower bulbs that are planted in summer have the longest preparation time and take less than a year to open their flowers. The onions should therefore be planted in midsummer of the previous year. These include a.

  • Autumn gold cup (Sternbergia lutea)
  • Imperial crown (Fritillaria imperialis)
  • Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum)
  • Reticulated Iris (Iris reticulata)
  • Steppe candle (Eremurus)
Imperial crown (Fritillaria imperialis) & Madonna lily (Lilium candidum)
Imperial crown (left), Madonna lily (right)

Planting time in autumn

Autumn is the main planting time for flower bulbs. Now the numerous can Spring bloomer to be planted. Spring bloomers should be brought into the ground in the still warm days in autumn. But then you need a cold period, i.e. winter, in order to be able to bloom. The flowering time of these bulb flowers extends from March to June, depending on the type of plant.

  • Optimal planting times in September and October
  • Soil still warm and already moist enough
  • depending on the weather
  • The ground should not be frozen yet
  • Planting in frost-free soil possible until December
  • Ideally, the floor temperature is permanently below 12 degrees
  • better wait if the weather is too mild
  • Root growth is then not optimal
  • The consequence can be premature budding

A small selection

Pushkinia (Puschkinia scilloides) & grape hyacinth (Muscari)
Pushkinie (left), grape hyacinth (right)

Cyclamen daffodil (Narcissus cyclamineus), squill (Scilla), fire lily (Lilium bulbiferum), spring crocus (Crocus vernus), spring star (Ipheion), Garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), dog-tooth lily (Erythronium dens-canis), little snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), spring cup (Leucojum vernum), Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus), Pushkinia (Puschkinia scilloides), iris (Iris), grape hyacinth (Muscari), tulip (Tulipa) and ornamental onion (Allium).

frequently asked Questions 

How long can bulbs be stored before the actual planting time?

Typically, bulbs are sold at a time they can be planted. Ideally, they should be planted immediately after purchase. If short-term storage is necessary, it should be dry, cool, well ventilated and protected from light, for example in a garage or a cellar that is not too humid. If you store them too long, the onions can dry out and become unusable. You definitely lose quality.

When can driving be useful?

In the case of spring flowers from the trade, you can usually do without it. They were exposed to the urgently needed cold stimulus in the cold store in the form of artificial cold. Direct planting is therefore possible. It makes more sense to advance summer bloomers. The best time to do this is around three months before the desired flowering date.

What happens when driving?

The normal winter dormancy is interrupted and the conditions required for budding are brought about in a targeted manner. This leads to a head start in growth, the flowering is brought forward. So you can put the plants that have already been grown in the garden at the actual time of planting and thus take advantage of the growth advantage. However, you should gradually expose them to the sun or get used to the new conditions.

Can bulbs forgotten in autumn still be planted in spring?

Some species can still be planted in spring, but not all. As already mentioned, early bloomers need a cold period in order to be able to bloom. If you missed the right time, you can put them in plant pots and then put them in a cool, but frost-free place. As soon as they start to sprout, put the pot outside

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