Hummingbird Collection Growing Guide

Growing Guides › Hummingbird Collection

Planting Hummingbird Collection

Crocosmia:
Plant in spring after the last frost.
If you cannot plant your bulbs and perennials right away, store them in a cool, dry, dark location, like a basement.
Plant them with the pointy end up in asunny to semi-shaded area about 8 cm (3 in) deep and 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) apart.
Water thoroughly after planting.
These bulbs do best in well-drained soil.
Hemerocallis:
Keep plants cool until planting and be careful that they do not dry out.
Choose a planting spot in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, loose soil.
Plant with the top of the crown 3 cm (1 in) below soil level and space 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16 in) apart.
The roots should not be showing after planting andwatering them in lightly.
Gladiolus:
Plant them with the pointy end up in a sunny to semi-shaded area about 13 cm (5 in) deep and 13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 in) apart.
Liatris:
Plant the bulbs with the flat root plate facing down into the soil and the eyes, or crown, facing upwards about 13 cm (5 in) deep and space 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 in) apart.
Liatris will grow in full sun to partial shade but it will require 6 hours of sunshine a day for best results.

Growing Hummingbird Collection

These bulbs are very drought tolerant and only need occasional moisture when it isvery dry.
Plant in groups which then appear more natural.
This is a bold plant that can be used as a focal point in the middle or back of thegarden.
These plants prefer a slightly dry start if they are planted in spring. Once they are actively growing it is alright to give them supplemental water once a week, as needed, and enjoy a light application of fertilizer each spring.
They make excellent mass plantings where other plants may have trouble growing such as steep hills or in below average soil, or they even work well with trees and shrubs.
Plant Gladioli at biweekly intervals for continuous colour.
Gladioli will bloom in 60 to 80 days.
Shelter from strong winds.
These bulbs thrives in a range of soils from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, so soil amendments are rarely needed.
Water as needed during active growth periods, but allow the soil to become dry between watering.

Care Hummingbird Collection

These flowers last a long time as cut flowers,making them popular for arrangements and bouquets.
These flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Although each flower lasts only one day the blooms follow each other day after day for weeks and you can extend the bloom season by combining early, mid and late blooming varieties.
Remove faded flowers promptly for continuous blooming
These bulbs are very easy and do not need much fertilizer.
Gladioli bloom from the bottom up and they last a long time, about 2 weeks.
Stake taller varieties.
Whether in the garden as a specimen plant, en masse as foundation plantings or in a cutting garden, this is a consistent and colourful performer.
When in bloom, feel free to cut some flowers for bouquets.
These flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies

Winterizing Hummingbird Collection

When the plants have finished flowering, cutback the stems, but leave the leaves on even after they have died back. This will make good insulation against frost in the winter months.
If you grow them in a cold area, it isadvisable to cover the roots of the plant with bark chippings, to protect them from winter frosts
Foliage should be cut back in the fall.
For new plants, provide a winter mulch of evergreen boughs or salt marsh hay after the ground freezes to help prevent heaving
These bulbs are not winter hardy and need to be dug up after the first frost.
Do not wash but dry the bulbs for a day.
After you dry the bulbs, place in a paper bag.
Store them in a dark and cool location
After flowering, the leaves should be allowed to die down. The leaves will gather sunlight and provide nourishment for next year’s show.
You should be able to grow them right up into a USDA zone 4 with no problem outdoors. This is a cold-hardy bulb that does not require any winter protection in colder gardens

Related Guides

Other bulbs that go in the ground at the same time.

or let us do the planting

Three Million Tulips, One Weekend

Every autumn we put more than three million bulbs into the ground across 55 acres in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Every ticket includes ten tulips to pick and take home.