Comments on: Plan Now for Spring–The Best Bulbs, Sources, and Shopping Tips

By: Bulb Buying Guide–For NC Beginner Gardeners « You Should Grow That!

Bulb Buying Guide–For NC Beginner Gardeners « You Should Grow That! — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 03:27:57 +0000

[...] Read the starter article from Chris about buying bulbs. This will give you a good plan to start from. Pick your places to plant and set that budget. [...]

By: No rain this week, but you should still grow more rain lillies–plant now! « You Should Grow That!

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:04:23 +0000

[...] are bulbs, so now is the time to [...]

By: christineramsey

christineramsey — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:36:41 +0000

That’s a sad story. Bret and Becky are obviously people who love plants and love what they do…
I guess White Flower Farm isn’t as pretty as their beautiful catalog–which I like to thumb though but never order from anymore. Their prices!! ouch.

By: Linda Watson

Linda Watson — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:59:11 +0000

Brent and Becky were pretty bitter about White Flower Farms. Don’t remember the details well enough to put them down here, but I stopped buying from WFF as a result. I recall it like this:

> B&B: But you said nothing would change!
> WFF: You’re mine now, my pretties. You and your little bulbs too! Bwa-ha-ha!

No fall veggies here yet, except some lettuce seeds in the kitchen.

By: christineramsey

christineramsey — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Thanks Linda–I have ordered from Bret and Becky and their products and service were fabulous. Don’t know how I got kicked off their fall mailing list but you have inspired me to look them up on-line and become a customer again.
I think they sold out to White Flower Farms, became disenchanted with big time plant selling and reopend under their own names. They were the Daffodil Mart before.
Many years ago, I called them with a question and Bret answered the phone. Bet that doesn’t happen at White Flower Farm.
And please let me know about the end of season sales. I need to get on that list, too.

PS–Have you planted any fall veggies? I have some but it’s so dry, I haven’t put them out.

By: christineramsey

christineramsey — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:03:12 +0000

Usually you can pick a time for shipment to your area–so storage isn’t such a big problem. The company stores them–their business–and you get them near planting time.
But you order now because varieties often get sold out.

I like to plant my bulbs on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. I sort of set that day aside and as long as there’s no monsoon, I go for it. It’s peaceful, outdoors and gets me out of the kitchen.
Sometimes I don’t get them all in the ground–but I try to do it before mid Dec.

By: Linda Watson

Linda Watson — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:26:10 +0000

Inspiring! Also try Brent and Becky's Bulbs. I know them personally from my days with the Perennial Plant Society. They couldn't be nicer and more fanatical about bulbs. Brent literally wrote the book on daffodils. Some spring I hope to visit their nursery in Virginia. Must be gorgeous! They have excellent end-of-season sales, too. One year I spent November on my knees after ordering 500 bulbs!

By: Melissa Blaisdell

Melissa Blaisdell — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 02:02:28 +0000

Ooh…this sounds so exciting. So when is the best time to plant these bulb beauties after we go shopping?

And if we have to wait a little, how should we store?

Great insight Chris, as always.

Grow on!
m