Bulbs

Question 1

What is a bulb

Answer 1

An underground storehouse and flower factory.

Within the bulb is everything the plant will need to sprout and flower at the appropriate time.

Question 2

Parts of a bulb

Answer 2

Basal centre portion are the leaves cradling a bud.
Surrounding the bud is a white meaty substance called the scales.
In true bulbs the scales contain all the food the bulb needs to flower and thrive.
The basal plate anchors the scales and floral stalk.
The plate at the bottom of the bulb holds the roots for the plant.
The entire thing is surrounded by a thin skin called the tunic.

Question 3

Difference between bulbs and corms

Answer 3

The 2 look v similar
In corms most of the food is stored in an enlarged basal plate rather than in the meaty scales, which in corms are much smaller.
Corms tend to be flatter in shape than round, true bulbs.

Question 4

Difference between tubers and roots and bulbs and corms.

Answer 4

Tubers and roots have no protective tunic and are just enlarged stem tissue.
Come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Many come in clusters.

Question 5

Flowering period

Answer 5

Generally fall into either
Spring flowering - planted on autumn
Summer flowering - planted in spring
Spring flowering are generally hardy.

Question 6

Planting

Answer 6

As a general rule plant twice as deep as the size of the bulb.

Question 7

Naturalising

Answer 7

Often used in formal bedding schemes where they are used as infill.
Can look better planted more naturalistically planted as drifts or swathes in a lawn or border or round the base of a tree.
Scatter bulbs randomly to achieve this look, planting them where they land rather than the same distance apart.