Planting Spring Bulbs in November
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Collapse ▲Taken from article written by Jessica Strickland, Wayne County Extension agent.
Many of us incorporate spring-flowering bulbs into our landscapes to enjoy seeing the first colors of spring. However, the time you plant spring-flowering bulbs is not a time of year that you would typically be thinking about spring color.
Planting Spring-Flowering Bulbs
When and Why to Plant
Spring-flowering bulbs are planted in November when the soil temperature has dropped below 60°F. Spring-flowering bulbs include daffodils, tulips, crocus, and hyacinths, just to name a few. A bulb is like having a pre-packaged plant because everything the plant needs to successfully grow is inside the bulb. Bulbs store the plant’s food and energy needed to survive and successfully grow. The reason that spring-flowering bulbs are planted in November is that most need a 12- to 16-week chilling period to produce flowers. Planting in November will allow for bulbs to meet the needed chilling requirement to produce spring flowers. When bulbs do not receive a long enough chilling period, they usually have shorter stems and bloom close to the ground.
Choosing and Storing Bulbs
When purchasing bulbs, choose ones without mold, bruising, or soft spots. If you purchase bulbs in September or October, they should be stored in a cool area until planting time.
How Deep and How Far Apart to Plant
Planting depth and spacing of bulbs is based on the bulb’s size. Plant bulbs three to four times as deep as the bulb’s width (measured from the bulb’s base). For plant spacing, plant large bulbs 3 to 6 inches apart and small bulbs 1 to 2 inches apart.
Fertilizing for Future Blooms
Fertilizing bulbs will not help with this season’s performance since the bulb already has food stored for the plant; however, it will help for the future seasons.
Choosing the Right Fertilizer
There are two options for fertilizing bulbs. One option is to include a slow-release fertilizer in the soil as you are planting the bulbs. The second option is to apply a soluble, quick-release fertilizer at the time of planting and again when shoots start emerging. A 10-10-10 fertilizer is recommended no matter which option you choose to follow.
Don’t Skip the Soil Test
Along with applying a complete fertilizer, incorporating some additional phosphorus at the time of planting can encourage root growth. Types of phosphorus often used are bone meal or superphosphate. However, it is important to get a soil test of the planting area to determine if there is already enough phosphorus in the soil, which could save you time and money.
Special Note on Tulips
A question that occasionally is asked with spring-flowering bulbs deals with tulips. Often people plant tulips, enjoy them for one season, but are then disappointed when they don’t come back in the second season. In Eastern North Carolina, tulips are thought of as annual flowers in that they would have to be replanted every year. Our climate and soil temperature tend to stay too warm for tulips to come up year after year.
Tulips add vibrant spring color to landscapes, but in eastern North Carolina, they’re best treated as annuals due to warmer soil temperatures. Photo by Becky Kirkland.
Adding Color to Welcome Spring
As we get into the fall season, take time to purchase some spring-flowering bulbs to plant this November. When it is late winter and you are anxiously awaiting spring weather, you will be glad that you planted those bulbs and added color in the landscape to welcome in spring.
Additional Resources
For more detailed information and a list of bulbs grown in NC, visit Chapter 10 of our NC State Extension Gardener Handbook. Lastly, if you want to learn about different bulbs, find photographs, and determine growing characteristics, visit our Extension Gardener Plant Tool Box. By using the Find a Plant feature you can select various plants and bulbs and learn about their specific growing conditions.
Explore the Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox to research bulbs and learn which varieties grow best in your area.
Understanding Hardiness Zones
For bulbs, pay attention to the hardiness zone ratings. Bulbs that overwinter in NC will have a hardiness zone rating of 8 or less (the smaller the number the more cold hardy the plant). Hardiness ratings of greater than 8 should be dug and stored inside during winter as they are too tender to survive in the ground. Some plants with marginal hardiness rating at or just near 8 can be left in the ground but should be mulched heavily. Remember to pull back this mulch in the spring as heavy mulch on bulbs can disrupt growth.
Contact Information
If you have additional questions about bulbs or gardening, then please contact Daniel Simpson, Pamlico County Extension Agent, at 252-745-4121 or Daniel_simpson@ncsu.edu.