Re: Bulbs

In a message dated 1/18/99 1:28:52 PM Eastern Standard Time, SPesznec@lhs.org
writes:

<< Also, where does everyone stand on the "leave the foliage until it rots
off" >>
6 weeks would be better than 3.  But the general rule is once the leaves turn
yellow, the photosynthesis has stopped and you can cut them off.  It's also a
good idea to put a little earth over the hole to prevent some of the bulb
predators from sliding down into the bulbs.  The narcissus bulb fly likes to
deposit its eggs in these holes and the hatchlings feast on the inside of the
bulbs, destroying them of course.  Some people have a big problem with this
fly, others never see it.  I always let my bulb foliage go away on its own.  

Here in the Cincinnati area it is not uncommon to see people gathering bulb
foliage and twisting it into a nice little topknot to keep things neat and
tidy.  Most daffodils bloom the following year anyway (I keep saying daffodils
are really tough), but you have to stop and consider that the surface of the
foliage is what is absorbing the sun's rays and feeding the bulb for next
year's flowers, so what sense does it make to gather this foliage up and
reduce the amount of surface exposed to the sun.

Bill Lee

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