Q. 1: When should I dig up canna rhyzomes? I know most of them stay in ground year round, but I want to place these somewhere else. They're too crowded and don't bloom very much where they are. Once I dig them up, should I let them dry before transplanting or just replant right away?

Q. 2: When should I start putting new bulbs in ground. I'm sooooo tired of annuals ***and*** perennials that turn up their toes when the hellish heat hits. I just want to put some bulbs in, do my best by them and be done with annual plant renting.

Any suggestions on a 'best' environment for cannas welcome. All suggestions for a bulb bed welcome, too. The bed I have in mind runs east to west along a fenceline that is in shade much of the time, but has morning and evening sun on each end. It's about 20' - 25' long.

I split my Cannas several weeks ago and put them in one gal. pots. A couple have bloomed already and the plants were pretty small after the split. These are tough plants and seem to be very forgiving. They do like water. I have better luck with them in pots then in the ground, but that could be said about most every thing I grow. I did not let mine dry up before replanting them. Just a brutal splitting and into a new pot ! Some of my Canna are in hot sun, some in filtered light.

I took Lynn's advice once on how to handle/split cannas. We had a Swap I believe in Spring. As I remember she said I could dig up, separate the rhizomes around 2 weeks prior to the swap. She suggested just leaving them on the ground. I did this, brought them to the swap and shared. I've done it once since and I know the recipient now had blooming, robust cannas. Yes, they are forgiving and tough.

Re the bulbs. I think it depends on the bulbs, the quality of the bulbs and the quality of the soil. (mine is clay with some amend). I've purchased lots of Daffs with good success of first season blooms. I rarely have reblooms. In fact I can't find the bulbs I planted 1 1/2 years ago. They were cheap bulbs. Don't know if that matters - I'd think it wouldn't matter the quality of the daff. I've not planted other sorts of bulbs but I've had very good success with iris of various types. I think Marie is the most knowledgeable re bulbs as far as our region goes.

Good luck! Let us know.

Alma there are so many bulbs you can plant!! Mine come up at all different times of the year. Are you planting here or up North? I have daff's that come back every year although I did not do anything to the dirt. Just planted them in clay. I think you need to look for varieties that like or at least can take the heat. There are quite a few listed for the Southern are and those work great.
You can plant crinums, Daffs, rain lilies, glads,amaryllis,crocus, belladonnas,callas, lilies , oxalis, muscari, freesia and so many more!

Glad you found this Marie!!!!!!!
Thanks for reminding me of my Freesia. I got some from Lyle and they did well last year in a pot. I want to put them into the ground.

My built in bulb conversation detector led me here I really do love bulbs since I kill less of them than anything else. freesias do great in the ground. I need to order some more!!

Thanks, all! Marie, I was hoping you'd see this; I know you are the Bulb Queen. Now I need to figure out what to plant in the back, in the middle and in the front. AND, which ones come up and bloom first and last. Any more advice you can offer in this area? I know some glads and iris grow quite tall, so maybe they should be closest to the fence? I've tried canna in this bed and they didn't do well. I'll put these somewhere else.

Once I get the bulbs in, I want to plant seeds for greens and lettuces - and maybe some carrots and beets, too. Any reason I *shouldn't* do this in the same bed? I'm thinking the bulbs won't come up till spring, yes or no? Anyway, I want to have my cake and eat it too - literally.

I'd be concerned about fertilizing. I wouldn't want to plant edibles in a place where I'd use a non-organic fertilizer.

I just use Osmocote (non-organic Scott product - ugh) in my daylilies just once a year... otherwise I use just fish emulsion on anything else that needs a boost even my lawn.

Wow, learning what bulbs to plant where and for "when" blooms could be a real science... unless you go serendipity.

Come visit mamajacks on cubits she's having a great sale right now on bulbs.

I am no help on bulbs. I seem to over water and kill them.

If you do not use any pesticides then you should be able to plant edibles amongst the different bulbs. Just remeber that depending what bulbs you plant they can come up at all different time of the year. You could plant the back of the bed wiwth bulbs and leave the front with edibles

I don't know why fertilizing came up, but it doesn't matter; all I use are organics and NO pesticides ever, ever.

Maybe that's a good idea, Marie, to plant to bulbs toward the back and edibles up front. Boo made a point about overwatering. So if I water the bed for the edibles, am I likely to rot the bulbs? Oh, decisions, decisions....

Alma, I brought up fertilizing. Didn't know you never use pesticides (or herbicides?). Thinking that since you brought up planting edibles with ornamental it should be considered. It may not matter in your case but someone else reading about this may want to know.

Looking forward to hearing about your arrangement.

Are you spending time in Cottonwood? If yes, do you have a garden up there?

I wish I could spend time in Cottonwood, especially as it's now much cooler than here. Not that it's cool here! Sadly, I have to stay close to home and can only get away when Lorne is here.

Lorne planted some snapdragons in a tree well and put a sweet potato (in a glass) on the picnic table for some color. Someone made off w/the SP! I've seen some incredible gardens up there. It's a good elevation for gardening, not too hot in summer and a longer growing season than here.There's one area in particular where people seem to be growing for markets. Lots of big greenhouses.

How is Lorne doing? School going ok?

Marie, he's got a few - make that, a lot - more gray hairs, but he's doing great. This is the most use his gray matter has gotten in years; thankfully, it still works. He's consistently at the head of his class and last year got an award for leadership. I don't think he's ever had to read so much in his life and the paperwork just goes on and on and on..... I'm glad we got the trailer and put it up there; going back and forth just once a week is tiring enough. Wish him well; he's got one semester after this and he's an RN!

Glad to hear he's doing so good!