It's time to plant bulbs, or at least that what we call the many roundish fleshy roots that become available in the fall. Fleshy roots may be the only common element that unites them, they are in fact broken into a few categories and they grow differently, are propagated differently and require different cultural practices to be grown successfully. By and large they are plants that have adapted to life in arid areas of the world or droughty places and go dormant for summer, growing again as natural precipitation occurs. Not to say that this is true for all, there are the fleshy roots of summer, flowers that open then rather than spring. Most of these are tender in our area and must be lifted and stored in a frost free environment, the most common are gladiolus, dahlias and cannas.

Popular bulbs are daffodils and alliums which are safe from marauding animals while tulips take a back seat due to their palatable bulb and flower. I have watched bulb trends change over the years and this can be directly associated with the increase in deer browsing and squirrel populations. Plant other deer resistant bulbs when necessary and these include snowdrops or galanthus, fritillaria, scilla and grape hyacinths or muscari. Voles are the nasty vermin that devour tulip and lily bulbs. They move around in shallow tunnels, readily consuming anything in the lily family and very fond of tulip bulbs.

Bulbs, tubers and corms have evolved differently in order to overcome drought, which usually occurs during the summer. Their swollen underground storage units rest in summer, only coming to life with fall, winter or spring rains. Most are natives of Europe with a few hailing from milder, southern parts of Europe. These usually bloom in fall like some crocus (sternbergia) and colchicums. The more conventional bulbs remain dormant until spring, sending up leaves first, eventually followed by flowers. The majority of the bulbs are from rocky, droughty areas, but a few such as fritillaria meleagris and galanthus or snowdrops come from naturally moist places and benefit with shady, damp sites with rich soil.

A true bulb, when cut in half, will reveal the young flower bud, pre-formed deep in the heart of the bulb. These are the true bulbs and it is critical that their foliage is allowed to die down naturally after flowering so that food is restored to the bulb. A new set of flowers will develop for the next year, re-packing their suitcase, so to speak. Not only can one see the small flower bud in their core but the layers that surround it are the leaves that will emerge. To care for true bulbs one must simply make sure that there is food and water available as the foliage cures. Once replenished, these small suitcases are self sufficient until water and soil temperatures tell them to grow. Many bulbs grow best with cool, downright chilly soil. We are about as far south as one can grow tulips, they are much happier further north. In more southerly climates tulips are stored in the refrigerator, planted in spring and planted annually.

One will also finds corms for sale in fall. Crocus are the most common and these are essentially fleshy units of starch or food. A corm ages, develops and grows in size until it reaches flowering size. Once mature they will flower and that corm will die. New corms will form below and around the original one. When a corm is cut in half, there is soft tissue, not layering of flower and leaf. The best care is that given prior to flowering, the food and water is stored to produce a better flower. Tubers follow the same care as corms but develop eyes from which shoots appear. For propagation, the eye can be cut from the tuber (with a section of the tuber) and rooted. The interior is also little more that soft tissue. Grow these with regular watering and feeding to produce the best flowers. Tubers include cyclamen and begonias.

Fleshy roots like rhizomes of iris and cannas have developed over time to store moisture during dormancy. They are actually modified stems. Their growth cycles will vary depending on their origins and habitat. The bulk of iris are summer dormant, lift and divide them now. When rain and cool temperatures begin, they send out new roots. Cannas grow rapidly with warmth and will behave like temperate perennials, dying down with the first frost.

It is almost impossible for a garden to exist without some bulbs or bulb-like plants. This month alone brings the pleasure of bright yellow sternbergias, pale pink hardy begonias and the diminutive flowers on cyclamen hederifolium. With our sometimes unsuitable summers, bulbs, tubers and corms may the best deal going!