March 8, 2023

Planting Tender Bulbs for Summer Color

planting tender bulbs in spring

for summer color

One of the best ways to get gorgeous cut flowers for homemade bouquets is by planting tender bulbs like Cannas, Dahlias, Gladiolas, Caladium, Alocasia, Calla Lilies, and Tuberous Begonias. They’ll perform even better if started indoors in pots in early spring, which gives them a jump-start on the growing season that results in faster flowering in late spring/early summer.

how to do it best

quick tips for planting

Planting with fresh potting soil and an organic, slow-release fertilizer such as Espoma Organic® Bulb-tone® will give your plants plenty of energy to grow beautifully for you this season!

  1. Canna Lilies – Plant deeply in the pot and give them plenty of space! We recommend one tuber per 2 gallon pot.
  2. Gladiolas, Pineapple Lilies & Calla Lilies – Plant the corms pointy-side up. Space according to package directions.
  3. Dahlias – Typically a cluster of tubers attached to a woody stem, Dahlias need to be planted in the bottom 1/3 of the pot with the woody stem sticking out of the soil. Continue to fill the pot with soil as the stem grows to provide more support.

when the weather is warm

transition them outdoors

Whether you start tender bulbs indoors in early spring, or you opt to plant them directly in the ground, you want to wait to plant these types of bulbs outdoors until after our average frost-free date, which is May 15 in Northeast Ohio.

how to cut stems

for fresh arrangements

Once the flowers start flushing, they continue non-stop until the fall frost and put on an amazing show both in the garden and in fresh bouquets. When harvesting for use as cut flowers, it’s best to cut stems first thing in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler. As always, we recommend sanitizing your pruners or trimming tools before cutting. Cut stems at a 45° angle to allow flowers more surface area to absorb water and keep your bloom hydrated longer.

 

NOTE: Dahlias will not continue to open once cut, so be sure to cut fully mature blooms to enjoy indoors!

Calla Lily
Alocasia
Canna Lily
Dahlia
Calla Lily
Gladiolus
Dahlia
Pineapple Lily

winter prep

digging & storing

By definition, tender bulbs are not “hardy” to Northeast Ohio’s zones (zones 5-6), where we get our fair share of snow and freezing temperatures. In other words, they will not survive the winter, if left in the ground. When you see the first frost of fall hit the plants and they start to shrivel, that’s your indication it’s time to lift the tender bulbs and store them, if you’d like to re-plant them next season.

In order to keep tender bulbs, corms, and tubers viable for the following spring, it’s important to handle them gently, keep them dry, and store them properly.

3-part video series

Over the course of the 2021 growing season, we created a video series to show you exactly how to plant and store tender bulbs, answering key questions that will help Northeast Ohio gardeners be successful. Hosted by Noelle, a degreed horticulturist and Petitti’s Manager of Education, and Jason, our Annuals Manager at Petitti Strongsville, this three-part series breaks down the process of growing your own cut-flower garden from start to finish.

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