Bulbs

Bulbs

One of the best things about bulbs is that they're a great investment! They're practically guaranteed to perform, at least in the first year, because each bulb comes complete with everything it needs to flower, stored inside. You may only buy, say twenty, but they have little offsets attached which develop into more bulbs, so in a few years you'll have forty or sixty or even more. Before you rush out and buy your bulbs, think about how you'll use them. You could go for a massed display (bulbs do look best planted in large numbers), or you could plant them in containers, that way you can bring them inside when they're flowering, and then move them out of sight when the display is over. Think about the best varieties for your climate, some bulbs just don't do very well in warmer areas.

Best climate

Bulbs which are easy to grow in many areas of Australia include freesias, jonquils, daffodils and bluebells.

Best climate

Others, like tulips and hyacinths, are more suited to cool climates, they need a bit more attention, but are well worth trying.

Old favourites

Jonquils - one of the best bulbs for Australian conditions. Varieties include 'Erlicheer' which is beautifully perfumed, double and a lovely creamy colour. Old fashioned paper whites are single, white and perfumed and very easy to grow, and so are the yellow flowered 'Soleil d'Or'.

Daffodils - there are many colours, shapes and forms, but pure yellows are usually the easiest to grow. 'King Alfred' is a large, golden, early flowering daffodil which is best in colder areas. A similar daffodil for warmer areas like Sydney or Perth is 'Golden Lion'.

Tulips - these spectacular bulbs are at their best in cold climates (for example mountain districts or Tasmania.) In warmer areas they're less reliable but worth a try if you live in a cool micro-climate in a temperate area (Sydney to Perth and south). The key to success with tulips is to buy them in late summer or early autumn and put them in the crisper section of the fridge for six to eight weeks to simulate the cold European winter, and then plant them in very early May for flowers in spring.

Best look

mass plantings, groups or clumps shallow containers, pots cut flowers single hyacinths can be grown indoors in special hyacinth jars

Bulb planters

These take the work out of planting bulbs, especially if you're going for a massed effect and have thousands to put in! Several types are available, Don used a Wolf Bulb Planter rrp $19.95.

Getting started

Spring flowering bulbs are available at most nurseries, chainstores or supermarkets from late summer to autumn, many nurseries also have bulk bulbs for sale. They are also available by mail order from bulb specialists, for example: Tesselaars Bulbs & Flowers, 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan, VIC, 3795. Telephone (03) 9737 9811. They are open 7 days a week, and a mail order catalogue is available.  Bulb Express, 4 Dyson Court, Breakwater, VIC, 3219. Freecall: 1800 677 437. Blue Dandenongs Bulb Farm, PO Box 231, Monbulk, VIC, 3793. Telephone: (03) 9756 6766. Hancocks Daffodils (daffodil specialists), Jacksons Hill Road, Menzies Creek, VIC, 3159. Phone: (03) 9754 3328. Windyhill Flowers Pty Ltd, PO Box 189, Monbulk, VIC, 3793. Phone (03) 9756 6669.

Further information

The March '99 edition of Burke's Backyard magazine is out now, and includes an information packed feature on bulbs. Available at newsagents and most supermarkets, rrp $3.95.

Copyright 1999 CTC Productions