Bulb Bonanza You Can Paint A Time-Delayed Explosion Of Spring Color By Planting Bulbs In The Fall

Planting bulbs is one of the most enjoyable - and rewarding - ways to spend an autumn afternoon. A few hours in the garden will result in an almost miraculous burst of color the following spring when the leaves and flowers shoot up from the earth.

Tulips and daffodils are popular spring-blooming bulbs - and with good reason. They are among the easiest to plant and grow and they come in a vast range of beautiful varieties. I have masses of tulips, daffodils and other bulbs in my gardens.

Here are some tips for planting and caring for them:

Buying bulbs

Look bulbs over in the garden center before you buy them. Or, if you’ve ordered them from a mail-order source, inspect the bulbs as soon as they arrive.

Good bulbs are solid, firm and heavy. If they feel light, airy or soft, don’t buy or use them. They should be free of any mold or rotten spots.

It’s best to plant bulbs as soon as you get them, but if this isn’t possible, store them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place.

Tulips and daffodils bloom in the spring, but that doesn’t mean they all come up at the same time. There are early-blooming, midseason and late-season varieties of each kind of bulb.

Take this into consideration when planning your garden. Do you want all the bulbs to bloom at once or throughout the spring? Choose bulbs accordingly.

Also be sure that the bulbs you select will grow in your area. Though many bulbs need a cold winter, there are lovely varieties of daffodils, lilies and other bulbs that are well-suited to warm, southern winters.

Suppliers often include instructions on how to plant and grow their bulbs. If you’re ordering something unusual or unfamiliar, be sure to read their recommendations.

Three good sources for bulbs are: The Daffodil Mart (800-255-2852), John Scheepers Inc. (860-567-0838) and Jacques Amand (800-452-5414).

Planting bulbs

For the most dramatic effect, plant bulbs in clusters of at least 15 to 20. They’ll be much more striking than just a single row or two.

I like to plant smaller bulbs, such as grape hyacinths, in with my groupings of tulips and daffodils for a truly impressive show. Plant the larger bulbs first in deep holes, then plant the smaller ones in between, in shallower holes.

Spring-blooming bulbs should be planted in the fall, once the weather is cool. Check with your local garden center about optimal planting times in your area.

When choosing a spot in the garden, look for an area that receives full sun in the spring.

Bulbs also need rich soil with good drainage. Prepare the soil by adding composted manure or other compost, and bulb booster - fertilizer made especially for bulbs (available at garden centers).

Use a garden fork to loosen the soil, digging down about 10 inches for average-size bulbs. The aerated soil will allow the bulbs to grow strong, healthy roots.

Bulbs need to be planted quite deep. The holes should be at least three times the bulb’s height. To prolong the life of the bulbs, I suggest making holes even deeper, about four times their height.

All of that digging may sound like a lot of work, but there’s an excellent tool that makes it almost effortless: a step-on bulb planter. You insert the tip into the soil, then put your weight down onto the foot bar, making a hole wide and deep enough for your bulbs. These are available at garden centers and from catalogs. (Choose a good-quality, sturdy, cast-metal version.)

For small bulbs, use a hand-held tool called a dibber or a trowel to make holes.

Plant average-size bulbs, such as tulips, about 4 inches apart. Larger bulbs should have a bit more space between them; smaller ones can be closer together.

Use the planter to make holes, then place one bulb securely at the bottom of each hole, with the pointed side up. Fill in the holes with soil.

As you finish each cluster, add a sprinkling of lime and mark with wooden labels, recording the name, height and date of bloom.

Caring for bulbs

Water the beds occasionally in the fall and spring if there’s not much rain (less than about an inch each week).

In northern climates, mulching will protect bulbs through the winter. Cover the beds with 2 to 3 inches of pine needles or hay at the first hard frost. Remove the mulching as soon as you see shoots in the spring.

Deer, squirrels, mice and other rodents love most bulbs, so it’s best to take precautions against them. Planting the bulbs deep is your best defense. You can also sprinkle the area with an organic deterrent, such as blood meal.

Next spring

After the flowers fade, deadhead them and let the plants die down naturally. Don’t cut back the foliage until it yellows or falls. This way, the bulbs can store their strength for next spring’s show.

MEMO: Questions should be addressed to Martha Stewart, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10168. Questions may also be sent to Stewart by electronic mail. Her address is: mstewart@msl.timeinc.com.

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