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Not a single site is complete without primroses. In early spring, when the bulk of the plants are just getting ready to wake up, these little heralds of the end of the winter cold are pleasing to the eye. Therefore, every summer resident (even if not in the first year) must plant small-bulb perennials.
They look good anywhere, although many note the not too flashy colors of small-bulb perennials and quick wilting. But careful selection of varieties can greatly improve the situation. Pay attention to the flowering period, analyzing with the climatic features of your region. You can choose decent varieties of small-bulb perennials with good resistance to weather changes.
Almost everyone loves small-bulb perennials. The unsightly plant species sometimes mentioned can be avoided if:
- Place a flower bed with small-bulbous perennials not too close to trees and shrubs. This technique will help provide plants with moisture in hot and dry weather.
- Avoid proximity to evergreens, in which a flower bed with small bulbs will be immersed in the shade.
- Arrange landing on the lawn. In early spring, they will give the green surface of the lawn an amazing elegance.
Naturally, there are also nuances of growing small-bulb perennials, the knowledge of which will help decorate the site without problems.
Some features of primroses
Why are our favorite primroses called small-bulbs? Because their bulb is small, sometimes even very small. But this does not prevent them from growing and blooming, dissolving the delicate aroma of spring. Before planting them in a permanent place, it should be borne in mind that small-bulbous perennials are good in groups. It is not worth planting them separately; a flowerbed of small-bulbous primroses looks more impressive.
The second feature of small-bulbous primroses is that almost all of them grow rapidly and form a large number of baby bulbs. This makes it possible:
- Plant bulbs loosely. Space is left between the plants so that the children are not crowded, and a quick transplant is not required. The only negative is that in the first year a flower bed with small-bulbous perennials will not be very lush.
- Opt for a tight fit. In this case, already in the first year we will get a dense flowering clearing, but we will have to separate the plantings in a year or two.
Another feature of small-bulbous ones is that they do not like an arbitrary planting depth. The average value is 10 cm, but this is for adult bulbs. Children dig less. It is better to focus on the norms for adult bulbs recommended for varieties:
- crocuses, pushkins, muscari, kandyka – optimally 8 cm;
- galanthus (snowdrops), chionodox, proliski (scylla) – up to 10 cm;
- colchicum (colchicum), white flowers – no more than 15 cm.
At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarity of the soil and climatic conditions. Light soils allow you to slightly deepen the bulbs, heavy soils require a decrease in depth. But with cold winters and a small thickness of snow, the bulbs can freeze. In addition, small-bulb perennials have the property of self-deepening.
How to prepare bulbs of small-bulbous perennials for planting
Needs an inspection first. Shrunken, sluggish bulbs are laid. Be sure to remove bulbs with visible spots, damage, or with large sprouts. Only elastic, dense bulbs with clean scales are taken for planting and, preferably, without sprouts. Experts recommend keeping them in a solution of manganese, but this requirement is not considered mandatory.
The main characteristics of small-bulbous perennials that make them very common:
- Flowering period. It lasts 25 days from April to mid-May.
- Winter hardiness and belonging to perennial plants. Transplantation is recommended after 4-5 years of development in one place.
- Vegetative breeding method.
- Transfer time. This is best done after flowering, when the leaves have not yet completely died. Bulbs can be easily found and dug up without damage.
- Planting time. For many types of small-bulbous perennials – immediately after digging. This applies to the blueberry and the snowdrop.
To select the types of small-bulbous perennials for your site, you should get to know the main representatives better.
We choose the best
Consider the popular types of small-bulb perennials that gardeners are happy to grow on their plots.
Scilla
Initially, this flower was considered a resident of the forest edges. But unpretentiousness, beauty and rapid reproduction made him a welcome guest on the sites.
This small-bulb perennial tolerates frost well, prefers shady places, but it can also be found in open places quite often. It blooms immediately after snowmelt, blooms with blue or white flowers. The only and main requirement that the small, small-bulbous perennial Scylla makes is sufficient soil moisture during the flowering period, but the water must be well absorbed.
It grows very fast. Spillage reproduces equally well both by seeds and daughter bulbs. Therefore, sometimes it even requires control on the site. Looks great in rockeries, early flower beds, alpine slides. Many summer residents create conditions for forcing a flower for the holidays, for example, for the New Year. To do this, the bulb is placed in a planting pot with fertile soil mixture and drainage. Care does not require special. To improve the reproduction and flowering of the blueberry, the plants are fed with potash and nitrogen fertilizers. Small-bulbous perennials are fertilized in early spring before flowering. Transplantation is recommended after three years of growth in one place. The newly planted plant is loosened, mulched and watered.
Of particular note is the species of autumn scilla, which blooms in early August. Beautiful blue flowers with purple or violet-blue edges.
Erantis or Vesennik
Compared with the blueberry, a rarer plant for summer cottages. But the bright sunny color of the petals will break through the snow. This small-bulbous perennial tolerates even late snowfalls. Begins to bloom in March or early April. The term depends on climatic conditions. Plants are small (up to 10 cm), with small flowers (2 cm), but planted in a group, they look amazing. They can be planted in a monogroup, or they can be combined with other small-bulbous plants such as snowdrop or crocus. Requires light nutritious soil, sufficiently moist and slightly alkaline. It tolerates shading, although it is very photophilous and does not like stagnant water.
Transplantation is recommended once every 4 years, the deadline is at the end of August.
Galanthus (snowdrop)
The most famous small-bulbous perennial in all regions. There are 18 natural species of galanthus, but flower growers chose two for growing on plots – snow-white and Elweisa. When decorating plots, snowdrops are planted on discounts, alpine slides, but in groups. Snowdrops bloom as soon as the snow begins to melt. Very unpretentious small-bulb perennials, grow well even without care. Require a transplant once every 5 years. They grow well in forest conditions, so moisture and coolness in the soil are suitable for them. You can feed galanthus in autumn and winter to nourish the bulbs. Snowdrops grow well even without food, but when fed, the flowers will be more voluminous and more beautiful, and the duration of flowering will increase.
Bulbs are planted at a distance of 6-7 cm and with a embedment depth of up to 10 cm. They grow well in a planting container with drained soil (they cannot stand flooding). The main requirement is weeding. Galanthus do not do well next to weeds, which deprive them of food and are a haven for pests. And the second condition – do not cut off the green foliage. She should turn yellow and fade on her own.
Muscari (mouse hyacinth)
Attracts with its unpretentiousness and the ability to multiply rapidly. There are a lot of species, they differ in terms of flowering. You can choose the types of small-bulbous perennial so that Muscari pleases with its flowering longer. Of the features should be highlighted:
- does not like top dressing with mineral fertilizers, but responds well to organic matter;
- landing shelters are not required, it tolerates cold very persistently;
- once every three years requires transplanting overgrown nests;
- does not like getting wet, the soil must be permeable.
The rest of the plant grows exactly the same in sunny areas and in the shade. Advice! It is good to combine muscari with other plants that can cover the early withering foliage of a small-bulbous perennial.
Bright blue flowers go well with daffodils, yellow tulips, forsythia. They will help decorate the pond in the Muscari area with white, blue and yellow flowers.
Iris mesh (iridodicium)
Amazingly beautiful small-bulb perennial. The height of the plant is not more than 10 cm, but this does not prevent it from being very attractive.
This plant is an ephemeroid, so try to cover it with other flowers during the period when the leaves die. Net irises are planted on lawns, in rocky gardens, in containers for moving to the right corners of the garden. Planted in the garden in early autumn. Reticulated iris gives not only wonderful color flowers, but also a delicate aroma. Planting is best done in groups. Caring for small-bulb perennials of this species is identical to caring for tulips. They respond well to sunny places, nutritious soil, regular moisture from the moment of budding. Do not like:
- damp cold areas;
- excess moisture (may hurt).
They tolerate frost very well. The first transplant is carried out 4-6 years after disembarkation. Bulbs should be dried for 2-3 weeks in warmth (+ 25º) and without light. Planted in autumn to a depth of 4 to 8 cm, depending on the size of the bulb.
A great addition to the list would be crocuses,
pushkinia,
white flower,
kandyk from the lily group,
who will win your love from the first meeting.
Conclusion
Try to arrange for a start a small flower bed with delicate primroses in the country. You will immediately notice how they decorate and ennoble the site. These little bulbs will become your favorite plants that bloom in the first days of spring even under snow.