The Want List: Bulbs and Seeds For Fall
Keep the promise of spring alive by planting next year’s bounty now.
Nesting bulbs and seeds in the ground before wintertime is the set-it-and-forget-it method of gardening. While colder months may dim the vibrancy of your flower beds, a season of dormancy is essential to germination, increasing your chances of blue-ribbon blooms in the spring. We all need our beauty sleep, right?
What you should plant now is entirely dependent upon which hardiness zone you reside in. The Rocky Mountain gardens of Denver have different needs than the everlasting summer plots of Palm Beach. Wherever you are, winter comes for us all, and that’s just fine — some plants like it cold.
Here are some tried-and-true bulbs and seed packets to plant before first frost. Plug them in the soil, enjoy the spoils of winter blissfully unaware of what’s going on below the surface, and expect to admire a pastel patio by May.
Tulips
These bright, promising flowers are the first signs of life after a drowsy winter, darting up from the dirt to thaw our worries that warmer weather will never come. Plant their bulbs before your zone’s first frost date to enliven your yard when cold weather retreats. Try a frilly variety, like the Vovo Tulip, to not only add flair but give yourself something to look forward to through winter — or the almost Peony-like Wyndham Tulip, which looks like an artist’s cherished watercolor.
$22.00 (Bag of 10 Wyndham Tulip Bulbs) at Hitchfoot Farm
Bearded Iris
Another flower eager for a not-so-groundbreaking spring debut is the Bearded Iris. This fluttery, romantic bloom gives quiet luxury, providing a boost in curb appeal just in time for the spring real estate market. It may not be as universally iconic as the tulip or daffodil, but it’s full of enough character to charm any gardener.
$9.99 at Hudson Valley Seed
Pollinator Mix
You might fence deer out of your pumpkin patch, but there are some garden dwellers you want to offer Michelin-standard hospitality to. Pollinators are the facilitators of our gardens. Without their dedicated work, we’d be void of tomato season. This mix offers the butterflies and bees a buffet of nectar to fuel their fertilizing work. It’s not often advised but in this case, please feed the wildlife.
$6.49 at Botanical Interests
Crimson Clover
Come wintertime, you’re not the only one who enjoys hiding under the covers. Consider a hardy cover crop for your garden. The appeal of planting something like winter rye or crimson clover lies in the nutritional benefits: think of it as a nighttime skincare routine for soil. Once the birds start singing of spring’s return, your dirt will have been given a significant boost to support the vitality of the season’s bounty. The large, red flowers of Crimson Clover add texture and vibrancy while restoring your bed’s nitrogen.
