Summer and Fall Blooming Bulbs

Summer- and fall-blooming bulbs planted in the spring can bring new interest and color to your gardens and containers. Several great options provide a variety of interesting foliage and beautiful blooms of different sizes, shapes, and colors. They differ from spring-blooming bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, which are planted in the fall to bloom the following spring because they are not winter hardy. Sometimes called tender bulbs, they are planted in the spring after the threat of frost, dug up in the fall, and stored indoors during the winter.

The term bulb refers to a number of different types of fleshy underground structures, including true bulbs, rhizomes, corms, tubers, and tuberous roots. These are the plant's underground food storage parts, which nourish the plant during its growing season and help it to survive during dormant periods. When purchasing bulbs, select those that are large, firm, and blemish-free. Larger bulbs typically will produce larger blooms. Store the bulbs through the winter in paper bags, boxes, or mesh bags in a cool area, 40°F to 50°F. A spare refrigerator would work well. If you notice any rotten bulbs during the winter, discard them immediately, and in the spring, discard any that feel soft or withered.

While they do require extra work, it can be worth the reward, with stunning color throughout the summer and into the fall. Below are some choices to consider when planning your garden.

Canna Lily

While neither is an actual lily, canna lilies and calla lilies are two beautiful choices. Canna lilies have attractive foliage and red, pink, yellow, orange, or salmon blooms clustered at the top of tall spikes. Their large, glossy, 6 to 12 inches-wide leaves, which may be dark green, bronze, purple, burgundy, or multicolored, can give your garden a bold, tropical look. Emerging from rhizomes, most cannas are 3 to 6 feet tall, but some new dwarf cultivars are 1½ to 2 feet tall. They prefer full sun and soil high in organic matter. Plant bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep and 1½ to 3 feet apart with the eyes or growing points facing upward.

Removing faded blooms will encourage them to keep blooming throughout the summer. Dig the rhizomes in the fall after frost has killed the foliage and cut the stems back to 2 to 3 inches. Allow them to dry for several days, then store them in a cool area. Rhizomes may be divided every few years in the spring by cutting them so each piece has an eye or growing point.

Calla Lily

Calla lilies have sword-shaped foliage that may be solid green or green flecked with white spots. Typically 2 to 3 feet tall, they produce a yellow flowering spike surrounded by a colorful, leaf-like bract, which may be white, orange, pink, purple, red, or yellow in color, that curves around the spike in a tubular fashion. They are beautiful in a garden, in containers, or grown for cut flowers. They prefer full sun but can tolerate afternoon shade and moist, well-drained soil. If planting in containers, be careful not to let the soil dry out. Plant the rhizomes 3 to 4 inches deep and 12 to 18 inches apart with the eyes or growing tips facing upward. To conserve energy for next year's flowers, cut the flower stems as the blooms fade to prevent the plants from setting seeds. Once the leaves have died back or after the first frost, dig the rhizomes and trim off the foliage, leaving an inch or two of the stem. Allow rhizomes to dry in a warm area for several days, then store them in a cool place. They are poisonous and may be fatal if eaten, so be sure to store them out of the reach of children and pets. It is also recommended to wear gloves when handling them because they may cause skin irritation.

Gladiolus

Well known for use as cut flowers, gladioli can also be a beautiful addition to any garden. Growing from corms, they produce 2 to 4-foot flower spikes with trumpet-shaped florets lined up in double rows. They prefer full sun and sandy or loamy soil with good drainage. The size of corms varies, so planting depth will vary as well. Plant small corms 2 to 3 inches deep and larger ones 4 to 6 inches deep, with the growing tip facing upward. Staggering planting times every 10 to 14 days will allow continuous blooms throughout the season. In the garden, they are most attractive in small groupings. If planting for cut flowers, they may be planted in a row by digging a trench and planting them 2 to 4 inches apart. For cut flowers, cut stalks in the early morning or late evening when the first florets are showing color and leave at least four leaves on the plants to help corms continue to mature. Corms may be dug any time before the ground freezes. Leaving them in the ground as long as possible allows the corms to mature and store energy for the following year. Once dug, spread in a light, airy, warm place and allow to dry, then store for the winter.

Dahlias

Dahlias bloom in late summer and early fall and are found in any color but true blue. Their large variety extends to bloom size and height as well. Their blooms range in size from less than an inch to the size of a 14-inch dinner plate and heights of 2½ to 5½ feet. They prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Plant 4 to 6 inches deep with the eyes facing up in a large hole. About three weeks after planting, begin to pinch and remove the tips of the main stems to produce strong bushy plants and encourage the growth of side limbs. Removing some flower buds on each stem will help them produce larger flowers. To encourage continuous blooming throughout the season, remove the faded blooms. After a killing frost, cut the stems back to 6 inches to stimulate the tuberous root to produce eyes that will develop into next year's plants. Wait four to eight days for the eyes to develop, then dig, allow to dry, and store.

Begonias

Tuberous begonias are labor-intensive to grow but offer considerable variety in foliage and flowers. Their foliage may be green, burgundy, or bronze, and their showy blooms are orange, red, yellow, white, salmon, or pink. The form and shape of the flowers also vary, as they may be single or double, plain, or ruffled. There are two types of begonias: upright and pendulous. The upright varieties are generally between 6 to 12 inches in height, but there are some taller varieties. The pendulous varieties, more suitable for hanging baskets, cascade downward and have a drape of about 18 inches. Start the begonias inside 8 to 10 weeks before the average last spring frost. Examine the tubers for the appearance of new, pink budding stems. You can encourage them to bud by moving them to a warmer area a few weeks before you are ready to plant them. Gently push them, indented and bud side up, in a layer of peat or fresh potting soil and perlite, and very lightly cover them. Once the tubers begin to sprout, you may transplant them into pots using fresh potting soil according to the size of their tuber. There should be an inch of space between the entire root ball and the pot edge. Harden them off before bringing them outdoors. They prefer partial shade and well-drained soil. When foliage yellows or after the first light frost, dig the tubers. Cut the stems to 5 inches and allow them to dry thoroughly indoors at room temperature. Once dry, remove the stems and store them. Do not propagate by cutting the tubers, as this may introduce disease and cause them to rot. To propagate, cut stems when they are 3 inches tall and root the cuttings in vermiculite.