North Haven Gardens

Forcing Bulbs Indoors for the Holidays

Brighten winter days with blooming bulbs indoors! They’re fun, easy, and make excellent gifts for friends and family.We have many bulbs in stock that are excellent for forcing including Amaryllis, Hyacinth, Paperwhites, Crocus and more!

If you want blooms for the holidays, you need to start your forcing this weekend. By Christmas and New Year's Eve, you'll have wonderful flowers ready for gifts and parties.

This Just In!!! We just received a beautiful new selection of festive, colorful glass vases and shallow bowls. Just add a coarse, gritty material such as expanded shale, river pebbles, or tumbled glass, place your chosen bulb with the roots burried into the growing medium, add water and voila! You're done! Easy! Add a bow and a pretty photo card from NHG and you've just created a unique, living, green gift in less than 10 minutes. Be sure to keep in a bright window away from drafts and vents. They'll need the sun to bloom.

Bulbs may also be forced in a vase sized to hold the bulb upright. Popular bulbs for vases are Hyacinth, Narcissus, and Amaryllis. Provide enough water in the bottom of the vase or bowl to just wet the basal plate … do not submerge the bulb! Place bowl indoors in bright, indirect light, away from drafts and heat registers to keep bulbs from becoming too dry, and to prevent the bulbs becoming too warm, too quickly.

Love to Cook? Plant Fall Saffron Crocus!

Here at NHG, we know you love pretty blooms that are easy to plant, easy to maintain and perform double duty -- beautiful AND edible! One of our favorites is Saffron Crocus. It's a  drought tolerant, hardy perennial that blooms in fall.  Plant the bulbs in clusters about 3"-4" deep in sunny to partially sunny spots in your garden. The stamen of the Saffron Crocus is the spice that is used in paella and other Spanish and Indian dishes. Each bloom provides 3 saffron threads. Plant now through winter. Fertilize at planting time with NHG Organic Bulb Food.

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There is also a spring blooming crocus. Unfortunately, it does not provide the same delicate, sought-after spice, saffron. However, it is an equally lovely drought tolerant, easy-maintenance bloom for your garden.

Spring Crocus: Beloved by children for being just the right size to pick, spring blooming Crocus bloom in late winter and earliest spring. They provide bright, cheerful blooms in yellow, white, purple and pinstriped. Planted in drifts and masses, they’ll get you through the winter doldrums and into spring with style. Adorable planted directly into your turf. Just like the Saffron Crocus, plant 3” to 4” deep.

 

Exotic Summer Blooming Bulbs

 
Sprekelia
 

 
Calla Lilies

Looking for unique, pretty cut flowers from your own garden? Or perhaps you want to add a bit of extra color during the warmer months? Planting summer-flowering bulbs right now will offer color, texture, beauty and lots of conversation about your garden! Consider planting bulbs among your perennials or under your annuals for a burst of color. Combine early, mid-season, and late flowering bulbs to keep a continuous progression of color. For the sunny summer garden, plant Aztec Lilies, Gladiolus, Acidanthera, Belladonna and Cape Lilies, Hymenocallis, and Cannas. For partially shaded beds, plant Pineapple Lilies, Asiatic and Tiger Lilies, Freesias, and diminutive Rain Lilies. As with all bulbs and corms, amend your beds well with plenty of Back To Earth Expanded Shale and Vital Earth Compost for rich, well-drained soil. Plant all bulbs three times the diameter of the bulb. Fertilize at the time of planting and after blooming with NHG Organic Bulb Food to promote flowering, strong stems, and to build energy for next year.

Almost Tulip Planting Time...

Did you know that December is the best time to plant your pre-chilled tulips? The window for tulip planting time in North Texas is usually after Thanksgiving and before New Year's. Soil temperatures must be consistently below 50F. We find that the third week of December is usually the optimal time.

We have a wonderful selection of pre-chilled Tulip bulbs, Daffodils, Dutch Iris, Crocus and much more right now! If you are a Grow Card Customer, and you purchase $100 worth of bulbs, we store and chill your tulips for you. If you did so, we will test soil temperatures and be calling you soon when it's the right time to plant your tulips! www.nhg.com