Garden Success Tip of the Week
If you’d like to enjoy spring flowering bulbs, but live in an apartment, condo, or just don’t have the space for planting, I’ve got the answer. Create your spring garden in a pot! Now, here’s what you’ll need:
-One large wide container, at least 10 -12 inches deep and wide, with drainage holes in the bottom. (The larger the pot, the bigger your spring garden can be!)
-Good grade potting mix
-Espoma’s Bulb Food
-Assortment of spring flowering bulbs, starting with the earliest bloomers to the later bloomers. Try using an assortment of early minor bulbs, a few hyacinths for some fragrances, tulips that will bloom after the minors, then some late blooming daffodils.
1.) Now, remembering how deep each variety of bulbs would be planted outdoors, we’ll plant them the same way in the pot, which will give us a layering of bulbs. The tulips and daffs go the deepest, so fill your container with soil-less potting mix, so that the first layer of bulbs will be about 6-8 inches below the top of the pot.
2.) We’ll put a layer of daffodils first; slightly cover with our soil, then a layer of tulips next. Try to make sure the bulbs are not on top of each other when planting.
3.) Slightly cover the tulips, and then add your hyacinths. Again, slightly cover them with soil, and at this point, let’s sprinkle in a little bulb food.
4.) Add more soil, then plant a layer of the minor bulbs, which should put them about 4-5 inches below the top of the pot. Cover the minor bulbs with soil, lightly tamp, water in well, and your spring garden in a pot is ready.
Remember, these bulbs need to be cold for the winter, so leave this outside until the temperatures are consistently cold, then store the container in an unheated garage or shed for the winter, or simply leave the pot outside and surround it with leaves and mulch. And do make sure it has soil moisture throughout the winter. Come spring (early March) move your spring garden where it can be seen, and watch as each layer of bulbs will flower at different times or slightly overlapping, providing you with a complete spring garden in a pot. After they’re finished growing, give them away to someone who has a spot in the ground for a spring garden!
-According to Witchdoctor Rita, to cure a toothache, spit into the mouth of a frog and ask it to carry away the pain. No kissing, just spitting!
Tags: spring garden in a pot
