Plant now for Spring Color

For spectacular color in the spring, plant bulbs now! For the greatest impact, always plant large numbers close together; a planting of 50 or more gives a great display of color. Provide continuous color for weeks by planting early-blooming, mid-season blooms and late blooming tulips together. To add some great fragrance, plant hyacinths!

For tulips, choose a site with well-drained, loose, porous soil, with at least six hours of direct sunlight. Daffodils can take a bit more shade and thrive in a more naturalized, woodland setting. Add compost, peat moss or other humus-rich substances to improve heavy clay soils or to help excessively sandy soils retain moisture. Work these materials into
the soil 12 to 18 inches deep to encourage root growth.

It is important to fertilize your bulbs with a well-rounded fertilizer that includes nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Fertilize the day you plant, and again in the spring when the foliage begins to emerge.

When purchasing bulbs, make sure you select large bulbs. The bigger the bulb, the better the flower the following season. Make sure the bulb is firm and dense, without blemishes, cuts or mold.

Plant spring bulbs three times deeper than the bulb’s width. Most large bulbs, including tulips and daffodils, will be planted about eight inches deep. The deeper a tulip bulb is planted, the better the chance tulips will bloom for years to come. A depth of ten inches is good for tulips, while smaller bulbs will be planted three to four inches deep.

One good method of planting is to dig a large trench and place the bulbs in the hole. Not only is it easier to place the bulbs, but also the soil in the area will be well-aerated.

After the bulbs are covered and fertilized, water them in deeply. This watering should be sufficient until spring if there is plenty of moisture throughout the fall and winter months. If we have a warm, dry winter (anything above 32 degrees) water once or twice, taking care to not overwater, as this will cause the bulbs to rot.

Bulbs are very hardy and can withstand frosts very well. However, there may be some damage if emerging flower buds receive a very hard freeze. To prevent this, cover flowers with a cloth overnight.

After the bulbs have bloomed, let the foliage die back. Removing the foliage prematurely will hinder the bulb’s ability to make food for future flowering. If the yellowing foliage is undesirable, intersperse with annuals to hide the dying leaves.

When spring arrives and you have planted an abundance of bulbs, you will certainly enjoy the many colors these plants provide. So plant now for great spring color!

October Fall Field Days a Blueville Tradition

Growing up in Manhattan always brings back fond memories. I especially enjoyed the fall and coming to Blueville for pumpkins and getting a tour of the nursery during Fall Field Days. It has been a long tradition which we plan to keep going for years to come. We plan on having tours of
the fields of trees which are magnificent and seeing them growing here in Manhattan lets you know that they will do great in your yard and touring in the fall gives you a great perspective of the fall colors.

The Fall Field Days this year is on the weekend of October 14th and 15th . On the 14th we plan to have tours for the children from 9:00 to 4:00, weather permitting, please call if you have a class that would like a wagon ride. We will have pumpkin painting all day as well, everything will be provided, just bring the kids. Sunset zoo will be giving a presentation from 3:00 to 4:00 about Animals Around the World. On, Saturday October 17th as mentioned before we will be giving hay rack tours of the fields. From 11:00 to 1:00 we will be serving a free hot dog lunch. We will be giving away lots of great items and everyone will get a free shiny apple! Be sure to come out and join all the festivities and let us help you enjoy the colors of fall.

Blueville
Nursery Inc.