RADIO TRANSCRIPT
October 7, 2024
Matt Rodriguez

This is Matt Rodriguez, Horticulture Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center.

Today's program is on Flowering Bulbs. Many people love spring blooming flowers and in order to have those, we need to plant bulbs in the fall. Mid fall or late fall are the best times to plant bulbs depending on the particular variety. Refer to the plant tag or the information the grower has for specific planting times. Some flowering favorites are daffodils, tulips, crocus, and hyacinths. Typically the soil temperature should be below 60F. Bulbs need to chill for about 12 to 16 weeks to produce beautiful flowers. If they don’t get enough chilling time, they are stunted and low to the ground. Fertilizer is not always recommended, but it can help with future blooms. Some flowers will bloom for one season while others will come back for several seasons. It’s best to determine what flowers you want based on the life cycle. Check out our Plant Toolbox for some baseline information on plant varieties and care.

This has been Matt Rodriguez, horticulture agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center. For more information, call us at 828-764-9480.