Growing Gardens

with Julia Hancock

Spent bulbs

Growing spring bulbs is often a hit and miss affair in the subtropics. Despite a winter of unusually heavy and frequent frosts my jonquils have been disappointing, their flowering season over before it's hardly begun. For sentimental reasons I persist with them, but I am considering cultivating them differently next year.

In the meantime as bulbs die down it's important to keep fertilising them so the maximum nutrients are sucked back into the bulb for next year. Nipping off their dead heads to prevent them from setting seed also helps in this regard.

When clumps of bulbs become unproductive it is often a sign that they need dividing up, and because bulbs multiply surprisingly quickly this job needs doing more than many of us think it does. Whilst they have still got seed heads on mark the clump that needs attention, so that when the foliage dies down it can be found without a lot of exploratory digging.

Clean off the bulbs, label them and store them over summer in a cool, dark, rodent-free place. Hanging them up in old onion nets works well. Placing them in a sealed container is not a good idea because they will rot.

After Christmas, select the best bulbs and place them in the crisper in the fridge, clearly labelled so other members of the family don't mistake them for onions. The rest of the bulbs can be given away to friends, family, fundraising stalls or garden clubs.

When it is time to plant next March I intend to put my bulbs into large plastic pots in good quality potting mix, and plunge these into the ground, so that when it comes time to repeat the whole process it will be a lot easier in future. Also, as soon as the bulbs have finished flowering, the pots can be lifted from the ground and allowed to die off out of sight.

Lismore Garden Club News

The city of Lismore 2004 Garden Competition judging took place Sunday to Monday, September 5-6. The prize presentation is today, September 9, at St Andrews Anglican Church Hall at 11am. The gardens will be open for public inspection from September 11 to 19. Entry is free.

The Lismore Adventist Church is taking a bus day trip to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers on Sunday, September 19. The cost is $20. Anyone can go. Book your seat with Terry on 6624 1140 (evenings).

Jobs to do in the Garden: If you haven't already done it, mulch all your garden beds, shrubs and trees to preserve moisture and boost the health of your soil. Almost any of the popular mulches are ok. If you are a late starter and haven't prepared the soil for your spring planting yet, do it now. However it's best to just mulch the newly prepared ground and wait to plant after we get rain.

Happy Gardening
Ron Burns