Bulbs are a wonderful addition to any yard or garden. Once planted, bulbs take little care and are a surprise when they pop up and take on life and color. For those who live in the colder northern areas the first Crocus that pops through the snow is a welcome sign of spring.
photo credit: sabianmaggy

Fall is a perfect time to buy or order bulbs and many are on sale. By surfing the web or picking up a few gardening magazines you can get an idea of what bulbs will do well in you area and purchase them now before the selection has been picked over.

If necessary, you may want to chill the bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths (which need a certain amount of cold weather to bloom properly) by storing them in the refrigerator for six to eight weeks before planting. In my area this is not necessary but in the southern USA you may need to take this step.

Choose the area for your bulbs and work the ground. I like to improve the soil by adding organic matter. Leaves, compost and mulch are my choices. Soil preparation is not always necessary as long as drainage is good and the soil has not been overused for gardening.

How to plant bulbs outdoors

With a shovel or trowel, dig holes the appropriate depth for your bulb type. The package the bulbs were packed in or catalogs on bulbs will help you determine the proper planting depth.

A rule of thumb is to plant the bulb a depth of two to three times the width of the bulb.

Add bulb fertilizer to the bottom of the hole when planting and roughly mix it into the soil. If you don’t buy premixed bulb fertilizer you can use compost.

Place the bulb in the hole and make sure you have the right side up (usually point up, roots down). The bottom of the bulb should rest firmly on the bottom of the hole.
photo credit: sabianmaggy

There are a few bulbs that it is hard to determine the top from the bottom. When this happens, I plant them on their sides. They will still grow.

Refill the planting hole and tamp the soil lightly. Water the bulbs thoroughly.

I watch to make sure I don’t have small animals dig up the bulbs. Tip: If you have squirrels, plant your bulbs in a bucket that has no bottom or in a wire cage. The plants can grow out of the wire but the squirrels will have a difficult time eating the bulbs.

Many bulbs do well under deciduous trees in the spring. They will bloom before the tree leaves out and creates too much shade and the tree will help you find the bulbs before they grow.

Bulbs can  grow easily in pots and containers. By growing bubs in container you can move them indoors or outdoors, add color early in  the spring and protect bulbs if you have squirrel or deer damage problems.

There are also many exotic bulbs and tropical bulbs that will add color and fragrance to your home in the winter months.

For more information on bulbs check out the spring bulb article on Best Flower Gardening.

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There are several ways to store herb that you have grown in your garden. Freezing and drying are the most popular forms of storage.

I dry most of my herbs. I like the look and the smell of the barn when I have the herbs hanging while drying.

My barn works the best for me for drying as its dry and dark. Many people use a dark closet or even an herb drying cabinet.

And with modern advance the microwave will also dry herbs. Some question if the microwave dries out the essential oils in the herbs so that they are not as potent.

The following you tube below shows how to dry herbs

There are several points I consider important when drying herbs.

• Pick the herb in the morning. Rinse and make sure the herb is dry. I usually wait and start to dry the herb until the next day.
• When you feel the herb is dry, check once again. If the herb has any moisture left in the leaves it will mold when put in a jar.
• Store the herb in a glass jar and keep out of sunlight. Sunlight will delete the oils left in the jar.
• Herbs that are left whole, not crushed, will keep their herbal strength longer.

Herbs are easy and fun plants to grow. With the many uses for herbs you will find they are a wonderful addition to the yard and gardens.

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Fall weather is setting into NW PA and my gardens are winding down. At this time of year I check on my herb crops and get them ready do the winter season.
photo credit: themissiah

Many plants are annuals and will be removed from the garden. But I like fresh herbs so I will either transplant the plant into a pot and bring indoors or start a new herb plant from seed.

I grow my tender perennials  in a window. Rosemary is a tender herb in my region. And my perennial herbs are cut down (the tops will be dried for later use) and the plants will be prepared for winter. I clear any weeds from my herb patch and will cover the garden area when frost threatens. That may be any day.

If you are planning a new herb garden for next year or moving herbs indoors for an herbal window garden this you tube may be a guide on which herbs to grow.

And here is a you tube on fresh or dried herbs. I prefer fresh, but the time of year can influence if you can purchase fresh herbs.

Herbs are always in my garden and home. I use them for cooking, crafting, medicinal uses and for creating cosmetics.

They are also beneficial in the garden for controlling pests. One of my favorites for pest control and a forgotten herb in this time is Borage.

Herbs also add beauty to the gardens and yard. And for the beginning gardener, herbs are very easy to grow.

So if you haven’t grown herbs you may want to give them a try.

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