What is the right way to plant a bulb?

Answer 1

Each species of flowering bulb needs to be planted according to specific guidelines in order to ensure best results. There are some rules of thumb, but with the wealth of information available for free on the internet, why risk your expensive bulbs? Here are two of my favorite gardening websites where you can look up the planting directions for all kinds of bulbs:

http://www.gardenguides.com/

http://www.jerrybaker.com/

FYI: Jerry Baker is a nationally recognized "Master Gardener".

Good luck with your gardening.

Answer 2

A rule of thumb is twice the depth of its diameter; this goes for the small types. Standard bulbs, such as tulips are 6", but I get freeze/thaw cycles big-time, which causes soil heaving, so I try for 8", which saves the bulbs. Anything less than 6" for larger bulbs is risky in Zones 6 or lower. Okay, this is the permanent spot for the bulb, so always amend the soil. Use bone meal; it is an awesome fertilizer for everything that grows, but its phosphorus level is just right for flowering and fruiting plants. The pellet kind is slow-released over a period of up to 2 years or so in the soil, and it is not expensive. Just don't breathe it in, even though it is organic. If planting tulips, squirrels and other creatures will dig and eat them, so interplant with daffodils, which are toxic to them and they will leave the others alone, too (to an extent.) All bulbs store food for the following season through the processes of the leaves, until the leaves are dead. So even after the flower is gone, the leaves are making next year's flowers, so allow them to die right down, and this act, along with the bone meal, will give you great flowers every year. And grow some hyacinths; their scent is just the pick-me-up people need in the early spring when it looks like winter will never end. Good luck!

Answer 3

Bulbs are planted, roots down. Planting depth depends on the variety. Tulips are planted 6 inches deep and Crocus 3 to 4 inches. Read the package, it usually have it written on it.

Answer 4

depending on the type of bulb dig a hole just a bit bigger than the bulb and the proper depth for that type of bulb, put the builb in the hole pointed end up or feet (root) down lightly pack the soil over it and water . . .I like to mix some bulb booster in with the soil before I pack it .

Answer 5

It depends on the type of bulb Roy, in general......plant with fertilizer and bone meal.....the depth and time of planting is critical and varies depending on the bulb.

Answer 6

the roots that are attached to the bulb should be planted faced down.

Answer 7

Depends on the type - some need to be deeper than others. If there is not indication on the packet - go for about 6 inches and make sure that you get the 'growing end' uppermost.