Transitioning
Some things to think about as the seasons change
In central Pennsylvania, we’ve had a beautiful Indian Summer. November is upon us and it’s just started to get chilly. That means it’s time to plant some fall bulbs!
This crazy year has been my first with flowers. I dreamt it up in quarantine and I’ve been pleasantly surprised to still have blooms as we approach November. My dahlias have survived a lot longer than I anticipated. My original plan was to change the bulbs out in mid-October but the weather held out.
This is my first BIG fall bulb planting. Planting bulbs is a tough task in November but it will be worth it when you have fresh tulips for cutting in early spring.
Shop online to find the most eye-catching blooms
Picking your bulbs is one of the most important parts. I used to go to Lowes to look for bulbs but ordering online provides you a much bigger variety and better quality. I’ve had success with Johnny’s Selected Seeds and Dutch Grown.
I tend to go after unique and less-traditional flowers. I want to find different, quirky flowers that people don’t see very often. Take a scroll through their inventory, avoid the temptation to just auto-order what you usually do. You might be surprised what you find!
I also feel obligated to tell you that it’s never too early to look for bulbs. Not just fall, every season. If you have specific types in mind, it’s important to pre-order! I wish I would’ve known this sooner. The bulbs will only ship when they’re scheduled to be planted for your growing zone.
It’s also important to mention that this pandemic has renewed a lot of people’s love of gardening. Orders are up, products are unavailable and shipping is lagged. Don’t let it frustrate you, just keep this in mind. Plan ahead!
My bulbs came late this year. They were expected to be delivered in late September but they came in late October. This has actually been great because my bulbs are fresher. If you ever receive bulbs early, make sure to keep them in a cool, dry, dark area.
Prepping your beds is so important before you tuck those bulbs in for the winter
I love knowing that the same food I’m feeding myself is also feeding my flowers. With that being said, composting isn’t for everyone. There are easy ways you can add nutrients to your soil. Eggshells and coffee are your new best friends.
A friend of mine does a minimal amount of gardening, he tends to a few window boxes and some herb containers in the summer. He empties his used Keurig pods into the planters every few days. You can crush the egg shells up with a wooden spoon and dump them in as well. Just keep an eye on animals, they can’t help themselves.
Don’t throw away the planting instructions!
When your bulbs arrive, they’ll come with detailed instructions. Although the process is simple, it’s important to refresh your memory before you start planting. These instructions are always full of tips for your specific growing zone. These companies know what works best for their product. It’s worth keeping their advice in mind.
Investigate
Searching around for advice is just as important as the search for good bulbs. Through Google, Pinterest, and Instagram, I’ve found so many experienced flower farmers that I learn from on a daily basis. If you search, you can find growers in similar planting zones and learn from them. Instagram stories are especially great because you can see what they’re currently doing.
Clicking through mindlessly one day, I realized that my dahlias were drooping because they were planted too far apart. I’ll be following her dahlia planting spacing for next year.
Here are a few of my personal favorites-
www.instagram.com/muddyacresflowerfarm
https://www.floretflowers.com/
Join Facebook’s “Greenhouses and Gardens” Group
This may not be for everybody, but I’ve learned so much through this community. It’s a private group but they accept everyone. It’s a fun place to share your photos and connect with fellow flower lovers as well!
If I encounter a problem (weird mold on my dahlias this year), I snap a picture and post it to the group for a meeting of the minds. Within minutes, people are commenting and offering their diagnosis and remedies. It’s such a great tool to take advantage of.
Floret Farm’s Mini Courses
I stumbled upon Floret Farm’s blog at the beginning of my infatuation with flowers. She runs a small flower farm in Washington State and she’s been growing for decades. Her blog offers great resources for all parts of the growing process. She offers a detailed explanation of how she does things on her farm and also shares her failures and experiences along the way.
She also offers mini-courses each season. It’s so simple to join these courses. You simply provide your email and Floret sends you a short video each week with seasonal advice. You can watch the videos at your convenience and learn from the comfort of your own home.
Here’s a look at Floret Farm!
