Select Summer Flowering Bulbs Now

Splashes of bright color can brighten your summer gardens by planting summer blooming bulbs as the weather warms. Make your selections now! You can guarantee yourself a glorious summer filled with many cut flower bouquets.

Some of the summer blooming favorites include Gladiolus, Dahlias, Lilies and Tuberous Begonias. Their bright and dramatic colors make great garden accents for the long, hot summer days.

If you plant the Gladiolus every two weeks, you will have cut flowers through the summer. Dahlias are available in different heights and flower forms. Dahlia tubers get bigger every year and provide a larger and more colorful show.

If you have a shady spot in the garden that needs cheering up consider using hybrid Begonias. Tuberous Begonias are available in hanging basket and upright varieties.

Time to Plant Your Fall Bulbs

Think spring now! The second shipment of bulbs has arrived, bringing our collection up to a peak, Most bulbs have arrived including tulips, hyacinths, crocus, daffodils/narcissus, iris, freesias, ranunculus, and more…

For the best selection shop early. Store bulbs in a cool dry place until the weather substantially cools this fall before planting. Refrigerate tulips and hyacinths for 6-8 weeks. The chilling enhances flower development providing for nice long stems. Put the bulbs in paper bags, label them, date them, and put them in the crisper. Do not mistake them for soup ingredients. Be prepared to plant them as soon as you take them out of refrigeration (each day you delay you lose a week of chilling benefit).

Consider planting bulbs in containers. This is a great way to accent your porch or patio. When they are finished blooming you can then relocate them to a side yard where they can continue to be watered and nurtured allowing them to dry down naturally. It’s important that the bulb is allowed to reabsorb all the energy of the leaves before they rest in summer.

Add another dimension to your bulb pot or garden by planting a blooming blanket of flowers over the top. Here are some great double deck combinations: yellow daffodils and dark blue/purple pansies; peach tulips and light blue forget-me-nots; white tulips and pastel yellow pansies; red tulips, white paludosum daisies with blue pansies.

Most bulbs are planted point up, but when in doubt, plant sideways! Our nursery professionals will show you what’s up and what’s down.

Choose bulbs that will provide a succession of bloom. There are varieties of tulips, daffodils, narcissus, and iris that will provide early, mid, or late spring bloom. 

The layered look not only works in fashion but in the garden too. In a pot or garden bed plant bulbs in layers to produce a mixed bouquet look. Bulbs are planted 2½ times their diameter deep. So plant the larger bulbs, like daffodils deep. Over the top of daffodils plant tulips, then freesia and finally grape hyacinths.

You can even layer the same kind of bulb. For instance plant all daffodils some at the recommended depth of 6-8″ and another layer at 4″.  The shallower ones will bloom first and the deeper later.

Master Nursery Bulb Food

Formulated to aid in the development of strong root systems, sturdy and colorful flowers. Use at planting time and during the growing season. Provides ample quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash for good growth and bulb development for next years bloom.

Growing Paperwhites Indoors

One of the simplest and most rewarding winter gardening projects to take on is forcing (coaxing) paperwhite narcissus to bloom indoors.  In just 4 to 6 weeks after planting, you will see slender stocks produce intensely fragrant and delicate blooms.  We are planting up paperwhites now for the holidays ahead and you can too. By planting additional pots of paperwhites every ten days to two weeks, you can have continuous displays of blooms all winter long.

Forcing Paperwhites in Pots

In a 6-8″ glass dish, or terracotta cactus dish, (preferably without a drainage hole) place 5 to 7 paperwhite bulbs pointed side up over a layer of sand, pebbles, or florist’s marbles.  (Place enough sand, pebbles, etc. under the bulbs so that the shoulders of the bulbs are just below the rim of the dish.)

Partially cover the bulbs with an additional layer of sand, pebbles, etc. and add water. Maintain the water level just below the bottom of the bulbs, so they are not soggy wet, just moist.

You can also plant them in a pot with drainage. Nestle the bulbs into Master’s Professional Potting Soil, add water and enjoy – add decorative rocks as a top layer.

Keep the bulbs in a cool place (55 to 60 degrees) for a couple of weeks, watering as needed to keep them from drying out. When the sprouts are about 4″ tall, bring them into the light and warmth of your home where they will continue to grow and bloom.  Pinch off spent blooms so you can continue to enjoy the unfurling beauty.

Onions and Garlic

We now have onion bulbs and garlic in stock for planting now.

Garlic or onion bulbs planted into the soil now will begin to put down roots and sprout leaves. They will be nurtured through winter with cooler temperatures and rain. They will fill in well through spring for an early to mid-summer harvest.

Onions and the related shallots and garlic all grow best during cool weather and are okay planted in the fall in California for late spring harvest. Plant in rows 1 to 2 feet apart in a moist seedbed, in full sun.

Onion sets (bulbs) should be planted 1½ inches deep and seeds ½ inch deep. Place seeds or bulb sets 1 to 2 inches apart in the row for green onions or 3 inches apart for bulb production.

We offer onions in red, yellow and white onions and an assortment of garlic.

Bundles of bare root onions are very popular as well and we hope they will arrive in November.

Use our Recipe for Good Garden Soil and then get ready to plant.

bumper

Each 10 x 10 area add:
  • 5-8 bags (2 cubic ft. size) Bumper Crop
  • 5 lbs Iron Sulfate to acidify and add iron
  • 10 lbs Master Vegetable Food
  • 40 lbs Gypsum. (It loosens hard soils as it adds important elements: sulfur and calcium.)

Mix well with your soil to a depth of 8″ and water well.

Bumper Crop

We recommend Bumper Crop soil amendment when planting garlic or onions. Bumper Crop is a blend of various organic nutrients and 15% Chicken Manure. As a compost,  fir bark holds up well over time.  The addition of chicken manure provides a needed boost of nitrogen. Mix Bumper Crop with existing soil at a ratio of 50/50.
Bumper Crop is on sale during October. Buy 4 bags for the price of 3 bags (save $13.99).

Amaryllis Belladonna Lilies – Water-Wise Bulbs

Amaryllis Belladonna is a late summer/fall blooming lily which grows from a large bulb. They can survive with absolutely no additional water once established, putting on a lush display of strap-like leaves as soon as rains fall in November. By the dry days of summer, they shed their leaves again and remain hidden and protected to emerge in July as naked stalks reaching skyward to about 2 feet, then they bloom.

These amaryllis bulbs are hybrids, so they bloom across the pink spectrum; beautiful July, August, and into September.

Culture

amaryllisAmaryllis grow in full sun to light afternoon shade. You can find them naturalizing around old homes and wooded areas, a testament to their longevity without care.  They can do well with or without regular water, but they don’t want to sit in water or moist soil.

We have enormous bulbs ripe with potential.

 

Iris Rhizomes

iris-trioBearded Iris rhizomes have arrived!

If you want the impact of large blooming color throughout your garden without a lot of effort, you may find that Bearded Iris was made just for you. Water-wise and long-lived, this perennial is easy to plant and even easier to maintain. It will give you gorgeous color in spring (and fall if you buy re-bloomers). They are the perfect plant to take advantage of our Valley’s “second spring.” Plant immediately & enjoy flowers this coming spring.

Bearded Iris are not only “forgiving” they are such a strong competitor. Bearded iris are often planted en masse or in a row due to the plant’s ability to crowd out weeds. Strong and versatile with high impact colorful appearance, Bearded Iris are ideal both as a border defining plant and as an accent.

Bearded Iris gets its name from the appearance of the flower which has six petals; three upright petals (called standards) and three hanging petals (called falls). A fuzzy line or beard runs down the middle of each fall. Flowers come in many colors including blue, pink, purple, reddish, white, yellow, and bi-colors and have textures from plush velvet to silk — often on the same plant!

You will find that Bearded Iris produces a lot of results for only a small amount of effort and planting and care is easy – just follow these steps:

Choosing a Location
Bearded Iris prefer full sun. However, they are incredibly versatile and will tolerate partial shade. Some of the delicate pink and blue Bearded Iris hold their color better in partial shade. There is a trade-off; however; as shade increases; flowering decreases. The other consideration is good drainage, which is essential for healthy Bearded Iris. Excessive water and dampness are the chief hazards to successful Bearded Iris cultivation. With those location caveats in mind, you should have lots of areas where you can locate this attractive, low-maintenance, high-impact plant to good advantage throughout your garden and landscaping.

Planting
The best time to plant bearded iris is August through October. Early planting will allow them to become well established before winter. That is why they are ideal for our Valley’s “second spring” which starts in mid-August every year.

Iris grow and multiply when growers divide rhizomes, which are sort of like a very thick fleshy root. Bearded Iris produce seed that hybridizers use for developing new varieties.

Planting is easy. Make sure you have a well-prepared bed (see our recipe for good garden soil). Dig a SHALLOW hole about twice the size of the rhizome or clump of rhizomes. Form a mound of soil in the center for the planting base to promote drainage. Make the mound high enough, so the top of the rhizome is slightly above soil level. Spread the roots around the mound, fill with soil, and water. For a mass of color, plant at least three rhizomes (spaced 8 to 10 inches apart) or plant undivided clumps; point each fan of leaves away from the center of the group. Space the clumps 18 inches apart.

Care
As mentioned earlier, Bearded Iris is quite forgiving and require a minimum of maintenance. That is because its rhizomes are nutrient “storage” areas. Like camels, Bearded Iris can tolerate periods of benign neglect and are drought tolerant because each plant has this reserve storage that gets it through. But, rhizomes are both its strength and its weakness. Rhizomes are quite sensitive to moisture, so be sure to keep them well drained and NEVER over water.

Special Tip: Feed monthly from March through September with Maxsea 16-16-16. The last number is potassium, and it is critical to Bearded Iris success. At a minimum, 3 times a year in March, May & September.

Lily of the Valley – Popular Plant for a Woodland Shade Garden

Tiny, bell-shaped flower clusters of “Lily of the Valley” are in demand. Select yours early, these often come into the nursery and are sold out before some gardeners even have a chance to pick some up.

Growing in woodlands through Europe and Asia, they are charming and fragrant. Lily of the valley was featured in the bridal bouquet at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

The “pips,” like bulbs, are baby root sections of this fragrant favorite grow so well, they often bloom before they are planted.

Give Lily of the Valley pips water and provide some warmth and light and these cuties will sprout and bloom within just 3 or 4 short weeks. Lily of the Valley grows best in woodland conditions, same as fairies: fertile, humus-rich, moist soil and partial to full shade.

Enjoy their fragrant bloom again year after year. Be careful when situating this plant – though it may take a while to get started, this Lily of the Valley will spread rapidly, forming a dense, weed-smothering ground cover. Plant out in the yard, and watch them multiply before they bloom in increasing numbers next spring! Plant with care if you have small children or curious pets.  All parts of the plant are toxic.

Lily of the Valley benefits from annual mulching of acid planting mix.

Dahlias are Showing Off

Dahlias are beautiful because they are bright and often very large and have the added benefit of attracting pollinators. They also have a long blooming season and make an ideal, long-lasting cut flower. We have tubers now.

This beautiful sun-loving perennial bloomer is the official flower of the City of Seattle and also the national flower of Mexico. We have sought out Dahlias in a wide variety of heights and forms to suit any garden or landscaping theme.

Plant large dahlias 3 to 4 feet apart; plant smaller dahlias 2 feet apart — plant dahlias in full or morning sun in soil that drains well. Select tubers now and plant them as the ground begins to warm in spring (store in a cool spot until ready).

Planting

Dig a big hole, 8-10″ deep and improve the soil with a generous amount of Gold Rush soil amendment. Add and mix in Master Nursery Bone Meal in the bottom of the hole and plant the bulb (actually a tuber) on their side, 4″ deep with the cut stem, if visible facing up. Nurture them with water and an additional feeding of Rose & Flower Food as the buds form in summer and also feed monthly through September. Watch for a spectacular summer display that will continue right into fall.

Water in and then only water when you see leaves emerge. Dahlias then appreciate moderate watering, which should look like a nice thorough soaking 2 to 3 times a week after the weather warms.

For best appearance and to keep the blooms coming, snip off the faded blossoms.

In fall, many gardeners dig up their dahlia tubers to store in a cool, dry spot for winter. We are in a mild winter region, so ours planted here at the nursery bloom year after year without lifting and storing.

 

Dahlia Tubers Now In Stock

Spring bulbs are here now and more are coming in the weeks ahead. These include corms, tubers, and rhizomes for most of the summer blooming flowers such as gladiolus and dahlias.

Dahlias are beautiful because they are bright and often very large and have the added benefit of attracting pollinators. They also have a long blooming season and make an ideal, long-lasting cut flower. 

This beautiful sun-loving perennial bloomer is the official flower of the City of Seattle and also the national flower of Mexico. We have sought out Dahlias in a wide variety of heights and forms to suit any garden or landscaping theme.

Plant large dahlias 3 to 4 feet apart; plant smaller dahlias 2 feet apart. Plant dahlias in a spot in the garden with full sun or morning sun. Give them soil that drains well. Select tubers now and plant them as the ground begins to warm in spring (store in a cool spot until ready).

Planting

Dig a big hole, 8-10″ deep and improve the soil with a generous amount of Gold Rush soil amendment. Add and mix in Master Nursery Bone Meal in the bottom of the hole and plant the bulb (actually a tuber) on their side, 4″ deep with the cut stem, if visible facing up. Nurture them with water and an additional feeding of Rose & Flower Food as the buds form in summer and also feed monthly through September. Watch for a spectacular summer display that will continue right into fall.

Water in and then only water when you see leaves emerge. Dahlias then appreciate moderate watering, which should look like a nice thorough soaking 2 to 3 times a week after the weather warms.

For best appearance and to keep the blooms coming, snip off the faded blossoms.

In fall, many gardeners dig up their dahlia tubers to store in a cool, dry spot for winter. We are in a mild winter region, so ours planted here at the nursery bloom year after year without lifting and storing.

Select Fall Bulbs Now

 

Think spring now! We have a great selection of fall planted, spring-blooming bulbs available in our garden store.

Choose from tulips, hyacinths, crocus, daffodils/narcissus, iris, freesias, anemones, and more. For the best selection shop for fall bulbs early. Best to select bulbs by the middle or end of October for November/December planting.

Store fall bulbs in a cool dry place until the weather substantially cools this fall before planting. Refrigerate tulips and hyacinths for 6 weeks. The chilling enhances flower development providing for nice long stems. Put the bulbs in paper bags, label, date and put them in the crisper. Do not mistake them for soup ingredients. Be prepared to plant them as soon as you take them out of refrigeration (each day you delay you lose a week of chilling benefit).

Consider planting bulbs in containers.

This is a great way to accent your porch or patio. When they are finished blooming you can then relocate them to a side yard where they can continue to be watered and nurtured allowing them to dry down naturally. It’s important that the bulb is allowed to reabsorb all the energy of the leaves before they rest in summer.

Add another dimension to your fall bulb pot or garden by planting a blooming blanket of flowers over the top. Here are some great double deck combinations: yellow daffodils and dark blue/purple pansies; peach tulips and light blue violas; white tulips and pastel yellow pansies; red tulips, white paludosum daisies with blue pansies.

Most fall bulbs are planted point up, but when in doubt, plant sideways! Our nursery professionals will show you what’s up and what’s down.

Choose bulbs that will provide a succession of bloom. There are varieties of tulips, daffodils, and narcissus and more that will provide early, mid, or late spring bloom.

The layered look not only works in fashion but in the garden too. In a pot or garden bed plant bulbs in layers to produce a mixed bouquet look. Bulbs are planted 2½ times their diameter deep. So plant the larger bulbs, like daffodils deep. Over the top of daffodils plant tulips, then freesia and finally grape hyacinths.

You can even layer the same kind of bulb. For instance plant all daffodils some at the recommended depth of 6-8″ and another layer at 4″.  The shallower ones will bloom first and the deeper later.