{"id":3177,"date":"2015-09-11T20:28:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-12T00:28:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2020-08-13T17:38:19","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T21:38:19","slug":"sharing-my-strategy-on-ordering-bulbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardern.co.za\/2015\/09\/sharing-my-strategy-on-ordering-bulbs\/","title":{"rendered":"SHARING MY STRATEGY ON ORDERING BULBS"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fritillaria palidiflora in a Michigan garden, from last years’ NARGS garden tours – I must order more right now!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nI am certain that your mail box (both the digital one as well as the physical one) is full of Dutch Bulb catalogs. I’ve been growing bulbs now for about forty years, and over that time, I’ve noticed some things which have changed, and which have not changed. What has changed of course is how aggressive or desperate bulb companies seem to be – with catalogs appearing earlier and earlier – even in June just after the spring bulb season is over.<\/p>\n
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Winter will come, believe me – don’t regret not ordering any bulbs this year! Be sure to place your orders early enough so that you can get what you want.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\nI can justify why and how I order bulbs so many ways, and I am certain that some of my reasons won’t even make sense to many of you, as they are personal to the way I garden. I usually factor in rarity, the desire to try a variety or species I have never grown before (Dutch Iris for the greenhouse this year)- so something new has to make my list, then I add something super early blooming to add cheer to February or March (small rarer crocus species), unusual or rare greenhouse bulbs always make my lists as do nostalgic bulbs which I either remember as a child, or which I have neglected for a few decades (poeticus narcissus for example).<\/p>\n
I am going to share my strategies for ordering autumn bulbs in this post, but please share with me any of your questions, either here in the comments section, or on my Facebook Page. I’ll answer all of them- really!<\/p>\n
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\n1<\/b>. Order the fall blooming bulbs ASAP<\/b> – colchicum, autumn crocus and the bulbs which are precious and sell out fast such as rarer fritillary species<\/p>\n
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2.<\/b> Quantities of desirable bulbs are next <\/b>– Move onto the high quantity, early sell out varieties and species such as Camassia, the larger Fritillaria which tend to sell out early as well, but which are also often difficult to find in large quantities in mid-season.<\/p>\n
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I adore miniature narcissus, but they are so expensive and hard to find. I usually just get a couple of new bulbs every year, but rarely have any to enter into a competition such as this collection entered at a local daffodil show.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n3. Be The Early Bird, or loose<\/b> – Search catalogs for anything that says ‘new’, and order that. It’s not hard, since most catalogs look the same year after year – that it, until you spot that amazing tiny dwarf narcissus that hasn’t been listed in decades, and then when you decide that the cost is worth it, it’s gone – just saying’). The early bird my friend, be the early bird.<\/p>\n
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Camassia are all the rage today, and it’s no surprise to me why this North American native is quickly becoming so popular in naturalized plantings, such as this bed in front of our house.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n4. Trendy bulbs will sell out first <\/b>– Deciding what to order first or what to wait on is not really like gambling at all. It’s pretty clear what will sell out fast. My tiering strategies can change with a popular Pinterest image showing a field of bulbs used by Piet Oudolf, and I know that. Like many things, selection is often dictated by fashion and desirability. if you want new purple or black tulips, parrot tulips, dwarf narcissus, yellow velthiemia, and anything with the words ‘snow’ and ‘drops’ in it — plan on it selling out fast. The same goes for trendy naturalizing bulbs like Camassia, the smaller Fritillaria which aren’t Royal Crown’s or the common snake head lilies ( as it’s the small and tall species which sell out fast), and of course – anything that says “limited quanities’ — these are all desirable, and must be ordered now or you may loose out.<\/p>\n
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It’s all about timing when it comes to forcing bulbs, many require 16 weeks for proper vernalization such as these muscari which I forced this past winter.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
5. Forcing bulbs? order them soon<\/b> – I force many bulbs, and since most require at least 12-16 weeks of cooling, the earlier one can pot them them better (except for tulips, which should be potted neither too early nor too late, mid Oct. is perfect.). I also like to order paperwhites and amaryllis early. paperwhites are a great value if ordered in volume – a crate price can reduce the bulb price by half, and it’s such a luxury to have piles of them to play with, or to gift with.<\/p>\n