WHERE TO PLANT YOUR BULBS 
Customers often ask me: ''Where is the best place in my garden to plant my bulbs?" 
My answer has always been: ''Plant them where you can enjoy them most when they are 
in bloom.'' The general objection to this is that when, during the latter part of October 
the tulip and hyacinth bulbs should be planted, the favorite place in the garden is still 
in full bloom. 
HOW TO TIME YOUR PLANTING 
In our line of work we face a similar problem. Our favorite spot is the flower show, 
but we cannot put our bulbs in until about two or three weeks before the opening of 
the show. 
We overcome this difficulty by the use of wooden plant bands, 3x3x4"', tin cans, 
quart size preferred, or five inch pots, using one bulb for each container. 
This system is very flexible, as it can be used by one person who plants half a dozen 
bulbs or by a city park which plants thousands. 
BULB STRUCTURE 
A bulb consists of four or five layers of food storing tissue, which enclose—in minia- 
ture—the new flower and leaves. 
The root system which the bulb develops after planting draws in the very beginning 
its sustaining nourishment from these food-storing outer layers of the bulb. After the 
root system has sufficiently developed, it takes over and starts feeding the miniature 
flower in the bulb. 
POT CULTURE 
The foundation of the bulb is its root system. Only a low ground temperature, 40-45 
degrees Farenheit, will induce a bulb to develop an adequate root system. 
The reason why we have always objected to planting tulip and hyacinth bulbs before 
the end of October, and this applies especially to Southern California, is a high ground 
temperature retards root development. 
A high ground temperature not only prevents an adequate root growth, but it also 
develops the flower inside the bulb prematurely. 
WHERE TO PLACE YOUR CONTAINERS 
In order to expose these container planted bulbs to a cold temperature, it is neces- 
sary that you plunge them in a cool place in your garden—the coldest and shadiest 
place you can find. 
Find a level spot and cover up your containers with 6-8 inches of soil, sand, leatmold, 
or peatmoss. Keep well watered. 
WHEN TO TAKE THEM UP 
After 12 to 14 weeks, the root system has been fully developed and has started to 
feed the flower—which after this time is just about from 4 to 5 inches high. 
The bulbs are then ready to be moved to your favorite spot in your garden. Let the 
tip of the sprout just about peek through the soil. 
2 Mailing Address: 1595 Junipero Serra Blvd., San Francisco 25, Calif. 
Peter Valinga or: P.O, Box 281, Burlingame, California 
Home Telephone: Diamond 4-1812 Business Telephone: Juniper 5-0262 
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