It is time to begin bringing the pots of bulbs planted in October out of storage and starting them into production.
The pots should be filled to “overgrowing” with feeder roots. The bulbs produce foliage and flowers quickly when brought into a warm place with lots of light.
The actual time is ten days or less.
The soil should be thoroughly soaked with water. Feeding with liquid manure will improve the blooms’ quality, particularly the substance.
A few pots brought in each week can provide flowers until they appear in the garden in the early spring.
Bulbs can be planted in the park after blooming, and there is a good chance of outdoor blooms another year.
Amaryllis may be planted in pots now. The bulbs are grown in a pot only about twice the bulb’s diameter in rich garden soil.
Plant the bulb with the upper one-half exposed water well, and put it into the storage area where the other bulbs were kept.
Winterizing In January
Get the garden ready for the cold of January. Winter hits this area in all its fury during January.
Mulches of strawy manure, prairie hay, or other materials should be put over the perennials and hardy annuals. Even permanent plantings of shrubs need this protection.
Ensure the plants are watered well before the mulch is applied, and be careful not to pack the mulch around the growing points.
Water through the mulch as helps keep it in place. Avoid mulch that tends to shrink and exclude air.
A reasonable precaution is to spray the mulch lightly with water when a heavy freeze is predicted.
December is a perfect time to clean, oil, sharpen and repair all the garden tools and equipment.
Check the supply of insecticides, fertilizers, and other materials; make order lists and, in general.
Get ready for gardening when the weather opens up—order seed catalogs and books for reference work during the cold days of January.
Garden furniture and ornaments should be checked, repaired, winterized, or stored.
Do not overlook the importance of water in December. More damage occurs from a dry freeze than from a wet one.
If the surface of soil or mulch is moist, it will freeze quickly, thereby insulating the portion below.
Shopping Ideas
For garden-minded friends, why not give gift certificates for roses to be shipped at the proper season for planting, which in our area is early to mid-February? Even bulbs can be provided for planting by January 1.
They will bloom late but are effective, and in our area, bulbs can usually still be planted until January 1. The cold that breaks their rest period comes during January-February.
Begin taking cuttings for plants next spring. If you use hotbeds and cold frame structures, check the ventilation carefully and avoid excess watering.
Check newly set trees for bracing, excessive soil settling, and water. Avoid unnecessary traffic on lawns as severe damage can result.
44659 by Robert H. Rucker