by Brian LeDuc
Flower bulbs come in a wide variety of sizes. It is important to get the largest, best quality bulbs you can find. Larger bulbs help to ensure success, producing larger and stronger plants with more flowers.
Several flower bulbs are part of the onion family, and because of this I like to use Onions as a representation of how important bulb size is. Which of the onions on your shelf go bad first? The smallest ones! Larger onions are more resilient, taking longer to dry out/rot and can withstand swings in temperature better. Flower bulbs are the same. Larger bulbs will withstand disease, draught, large amounts of moisture, and colder temperatures significantly better than the smaller ones.
Here at American Meadows we are committed to providing you with the highest quality bulbs. This means we do everything we can to source the largest bulbs possible. Below is a comparison of bulbs purchased from three different retail stores:
Each of the glass tubes contains 20 Dutch Master Daffodils. Starting from the left, the first tube is what is sold here at American Meadows, the middle tube was purchased at a local “Home Supply” box store, and the third is another online retailer. The difference is easily noticeable.
The next picture is the same comparison, but with Tulip Bulbs:
Again, our bulbs are quite a bit larger than other retailers.
Other things to be aware of when it comes to bulb quality is making sure they are firm and without signs of external damage or cracking. Do your best to avoid bulbs that are already growing and have shoots or freshly grown roots. This is difficult when purchasing online, but if you are ordering through a reputable company, they should be checking for these things regularly.
Next time you are looking to buy bulbs, think about how much time you put into planning and planting your garden and then anxiously waiting for your flowers to grow and bloom. Don’t be disappointed after all that effort by planting sub-par bulbs. Buy the largest, firmest, disease free bulbs you can afford, and you will have the best possible results.
Happy Gardening!