HOW’S YOUR GARDEN BY L OIS T R IG G C H A P L I N
Time to Illuminate Bulbs Fall and winter is the prime time for bulbs – either for planting in the garden or enjoying “forced bulbs” indoors. These are called forced by the nursery industry because they are brought into bloom prematurely by first chilling the bulbs, then growing them in pots in a warm greenhouse for flowering. Pots of forced bulbs are usually sold from Christmas through winter, and then may be transplanted to the garden after the blooms fade, usually in January, February or March. On the other hand, dry bulbs bought in bulk in fall – daffodils, hyacinths and other spring-flowering bulbs – need to go into the ground this month. This will give
them the cool period that they need before blooming next spring. Healthy bulbs will feel firm, like an onion. Any that have become soft in storage may be rotting. If tempted to buy remainder discounted bulbs that are already sprouting, they are probably okay if they don’t show signs of rot; plant them immediately or pass that bargain by. Ideally, bulbs would root underground before sprouting their tops, but there is a little room to fudge with a big, healthy bulb, but only a little. Don’t let sprouting bulbs sit around.
SIMPLE TIMES
Pine Cone Mulch?
THE CO-OP PANTRY
“Forced Bulbs” growing in a greenhouse setting
When I saw this corner of a bed covered with a mulch of pine cones, the idea of a pine cone mulch immediately piqued my curiosity. Seems like it would be a good way to discourage pets from lying in flower beds, maybe even discourage squirrels and chipmunks from digging. Would it discourage rabbits from browsing new growth? I’d love to know. And, of course, it’s a good way to recycle organic matter that falls from the trees back into the ground below. So, if you have a profusion of pinecones in the yard this fall, you might want to give this a try and see how it works. They’ll last longer than typical organic mulches because of their woody nature and high resin, but
Pine cone mulch
November 2021
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