Garden blogger, Shelley Wigglesworth offers a broad range of botanical advice to our readers. Whether you need tips on curing common houseplant ailments or are looking for a plant that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, she’s here to help.
Do you have a gardening question for Shelley? If so, post it here and she’ll choose three to answer in an upcoming blog.
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Shelley, My husband bought me a bunch of Hyacinth and Tulips in pots, they are beautiful, but in the past when they have gone by, I have thrown them out. Can you tell me what to do with them so I can enjoy them again?
Hi JJ-Thanks for the question.
To enjoy your flowers year after year save the bulbs after the flowers have gone by. Remove excess dirt and dead stems and folige from the plant and store the bulbs in a cool dry place without direct exposure to sun light until late fall. In New England, a good time to plant is around the end of October, before the danger of the first hard frost of the season.
Bulbs prefer full sun and rich soil, so choose a spot with these conditions. Plant the bulbs in holes 6 to 8 inches deep, with the pointed end of the bulb facing upward. Finish by covering the newly planted bulbs with more soil. If all goes well, each April your Hyacinth and Tulips will re-appear-and the gift from your husband may be enjoyed over and over again.
Happy Gardening-
Shelley
Hi Shelly, I see that you are a master gardener in Maine… Have you had the opportunity to visit Shaky Barn Farms in Livermore on Rt 108? It is a unique garden center/pick your own with annuals, perennials, herbs, and plants for dyes. We’ve been there several times as it is a destination to linger, and enjoy with reasonable prices. They have a tea room welcome center, and many gardens decorate with antiques that display all the plants they sell. They have a LARGE cutting field, and there was a farm wedding party picking flowers last Friday!
I know they have a facebook page, and Bonnie and Mark are warm and welcoming. I hope you can visit them in your travels.
Dear Julia-
Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to make a point of visiting Shaky Barn Farms-it sounds lovely. Shelley