What follows bulbs

Rodger Whitlock totototo@pacificcoast.net
Wed, 18 Aug 2004 22:31:16 PDT
On 14 Aug 04 at 15:33, Jane McGary wrote:

> What plants -- ornamental or edible -- do others sow over their bulb
> beds?

At the 1991 Western Winter Study weekend, Don Elick recommended that
bulbs not be overplanted with *anything*. In his opinion, over-
planting had two drawbacks: one, it shaded the soil, thus preventing
the bulbs from getting the warmth they need in summer to properly
ripen; and, two, no matter what you planted, it would compete with
the bulbs for nutrients, thereby weakening them.

The context was his experience with bulbs in Japan's cold, dry
winters and hot, wet summers.

To this day I remain uncertain if this is generally applicable
advice, or advice applicable only to similar climates. But as he is
(was?) a very successful grower of Mediterranean bulbs in a climate
not especially suited to them, I think his opinion is worth
consideration.

-- 
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate

on beautiful Vancouver Island


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