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October 22, 2020 in Giveaways· Spring garden

Plant bulbs with DutchGrown & extraordinary 3 winner bulb giveaway!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Just when you can’t take those frigid temperatures one more day you’ll spot it. A diminutive purple crocus in full bloom. How your heart soars with joy!

Winter will end after all. Spring hasn’t been forgotten.

That’s the power of planting bulbs in fall. A small investment now in time and money equates to a big payoff come spring. And nothing could be easier than planting flower bulbs.

That’s why I’m so happy for the 3 winners who will get an assortment of bulbs from DutchGrown~ a renowned retailer of big, beautiful bulbs. DutchGrown has been in the bulb trade for four generations (since 1882) so they know bulbs inside and out.

During this long time span, DutchGrown has gleaned a wealth of knowledge in breeding and growing the best bulbs. Now they are passing on both their bulbs and know-how to you!

DutchGrown bulbs are coming straight from Holland (the bulb capital of the world) to their USA warehouse and then straight to your residence.

1st place – 100 bulbs, 2nd Place – 50 bulbs, 3rd Place – 25 bulbs (priceless value!)

How to enter to WIN!

Just fill out the easy SweepWidget form at the end of this post.

Planting bulbs with the DutchGrown Hyacinth salmon and yellow bulbs
DutchGrown Hyacinth bulbs Laura’s Favorite Collection (Salmon & Yellow) The purple and white tunics are pretty!

When is the correct time to plant bulbs?

That was a trick question! Because you already know the correct time to plant flower bulbs is when you find a moment to spare. After dinner is cooked, laundry done and homework completed. That’s when.

But if you desire a colorful array of blooms in spring, you must plant bulbs now in fall. Personally, I have no issue with those who plant from October – December. Right up till the ground is frozen if need be. Go for it!

In fact, I’ve planted bulbs as late as February (gasp!) with success. And despite living in the Northeast region of the USA, I still had big blooms in April! No doubt DutchGrown’s high quality bulbs helped!

My climate is cooler in zone 6a, so spring bulbs can be planted as soon as the ground is cool. I keep checking evening temps and when I see the range is between 40 degrees – 50 degrees Fahrenheit for a week straight I plant.

Give yourself a few days to plant in case other projects take you off the task. (Eeeek. Dinner!)

It’s also best to plant 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes. This gives the bulbs a chance to establish strong roots before the deep freeze.

If you live in an area without deep freezes, chill those bulbs in the fridge 6-10 weeks prior to planting because most bulbs need a chill period to bloom.

And bulbs don’t want to sit around either. They want in the ground within a few days of arriving on your doorstep. So be ready to start planting when they come because they won’t last until next season.

hyacinth flowers
DutchGrown Hyacinth Flowers!

Speaking of how-to plant bulbs…

Prior to planting, it’s smart to evaluate what bulbs like and don’t like. Bulbs like sun. So aim for a spot with at least 6 hours of sun daily. Bulbs don’t like “wet feet.” Who does? So avoid areas where water collects.

Planting at the bottom of a hill? I don’t think so. Loose, workable and weedless soil is what you want. Well-drained soil with the addition or organic matter such as compost or peat moss. I am planning on fertilizing mine, too.

As a general rule of green thumb, plant bigger bulbs at least 8″ deep and smaller bulbs 5″ deep. Typically this translates to planting bulbs 2-3 times their size in depth. So if your bulb is 3″, dig a hole 6″-9″ deep for best results. Second grade math….here I come!

Keep in mind that bulbs planted too deep may bloom later or not at all. But if planted to shallow, new growth may become exposed too soon and risk damage by cold temps. You can’t win!

When in doubt, I tend to error on the side of planting a tad bit deeper than too shallow. Shallow planted bulbs are also likely to get spotted by those stinking squirrels who dig them up and devour them.

Hyacinths should be planted a little deeper as well because those heavy stalks in bloom tend to plop over if not planted deep enough.

Point side up and root end down please!

Banana Ice Cream Tulip flower
DutchGrown Banana Ice Cream Tulip Flower

What bulbs to plant with DutchGrown?

DutchGrown provides a gigantic selection of bulbs all of the highest caliber. Bulbs that will make your heat beat a little faster in spring when they produce flowers. Humongous bulbs. And it’s perfectly normal to play favorites when bulb planting.

I love hyacinths. The look. The smell. The colors. So I go crazy planting them.

But let’s us tread off the beaten garden path for a minute. Planting tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, alliums and crocus is a no-brainer. But I highly recommend DutchGrown’s anemone, fritillaria and eremurus (foxtail lily) because they will make your head spin.

Pete from DutchGrown sent me a foxtail lily that is still the talk of the town in my neighborhood three years later! A real show-stopper. It takes my breath away each year I see it in bloom.

Here’s my last secret. But you might want to keep this to yourself because they sell out fast. DutchGrown’s tulip ice cream, tulip ice cream banana or tulip blue wow will stun and amaze come spring.

And it’s never a bad idea to buy of of DutchGrown’s supersized bulb collections in sums of 100/500/1000 bulbs. Mass planting at its finest, folks!

It’s not as though anyone ever said “dang…I wish I had less tulips blooming in my yard” Get it? Yes you do!

Plant bulbs with the Fritillaria Crown Imperial Red Bulb
Fritillaria Crown Imperial Red Bulb. Big, beautiful DutchGrown Bulbs!

How bulbs should be planted…

It’s almost unbearable waiting for these DutchGrown bulbs to come to full fruition in spring. Until then, I am carefully evaluating and planning where to plant them. You’ll want to plan as well before your shipment arrives!

Some of the shorter tulips and hyacinths will serve as landscape border plants. Those banana ice cream tulips? Right in the front pathway where they will greet me each morning. Ditto for the crocus.

Hyacinths in the middle and the taller daffodils and tulips that will stretch 16-18 inches in the back of the pack.

It’s kind of like the yearly family photograph. Taller people in the back, shorter members in the front. You want to see all!

My preference is for close plantings so I tend to plant bulbs only 4 inches apart. It’s fine if some bulbs end up being a little closer to each other than the recommended spacing. It only adds to the natural look.

And I have even bigger and better plans for bulbs planted in pots and planters. Window boxes filled with bountiful and blooming bulbs. Can I count on you to check out my Instagram page for stunning flowers pics in bloom from DutchGrown in spring?

I love clusters of bulbs in various colors and shapes for a dramatic impact. In a perfect world, I’ll even make some futile attempts to stagger the bloom time with early, mid- and late season blooms for a constant display. But you know how that goes!

I will spread 2-3 inches of mulch over the soil in my window boxes regardless.

Plant bulbs with Ben & Pete - Brothers & 4th Generation DutchGrown Owners!
4th Generation DutchGrown Owners (and brothers) Ben & Pete in a tulip field in Holland!!

Why DutchGrown is the creme de la creme of bulbs

So if you’re a regular reader, you might remember me teaming up with DutchGrown a few years back. They sent me these tulip Ice cream bulbs that I highly doubted would look anything likes their online stock pictures.

I was wrong. Duly note that I was glad to be proven wrong! DutchGrown’s tulips looked every bit as beautiful as their photos indicated. It was a stunning display!

Tulips have a reputation of not coming back year after year. Dying out after the first year or two typically. Granted the squirrels did eat some of them, but I still have a few of DutchGrown’s resilient tulips coming back.

That’s a quality bulb for you! Because when it comes to bulbs, bigger is truly better. And that’s exactly what you’ll get with DutchGrown. Big, luscious bulbs. Plump and firm bulbs with no mold, rot or other unsightly markings.

Fresh and healthy bulbs ready to go into the ground. Bulbs that feel firm to the touch. Not soft or spongy bulbs that can rot. Bulbs with no root growth or sprouting (not including lilies & bulbs that are supposed to have roots).

Because as the old adage says…”you get what you pay for” in bulbs. Buying quality bulbs marks the difference between lackluster or no growth or a show-stopping display of bountiful, beautiful blooms in spring!

Plant bulbs with the DutchGrown Yellow Crocus
DutchGrown Yellow Crocus will make your heart soar in spring!

One more thought….

Please note that it’s normal and natural for some bulbs to development a natural blueish/greenish/grayish “transportation” mold when they are exposed to oxygen over their long journey overseas. So if you observe a few bulbs with this “mold” don’t fret. Your bulbs are perfectly normal and will grow fine!

I hope you win!

So during these crazy times in which we live, I hope you are one of the 3 lucky winners!

But even if you don’t, or don’t want to wait to acquire your bulbs, ordering from DutchGrown now is a great idea! You will not be disappointed.

Not when you receive your bulb shipment and not when you see the actual blooms you get.

Good luck all. I truly hope you win! All you have to do is fill out this SweepWidget form below. If you are one of the lucky winner’s, you will get a personal email from me.

Laura =)

35 Comments

Previous Post: « Thrills & Chills with Nags Head Hammocks Contemporary Adirondack Chair set giveaway! ARV $780!
Next Post: Forcing hyacinth bulbs in fall »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deb Latina says

    October 22, 2020 at 12:33 pm

    I love narcissus and crocus

    Reply
  2. AmyB says

    October 22, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    I love iris, tulips and daffodils

    Reply
  3. Terry Poage says

    October 22, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    What is the plant at the top of the giveaway??? It is beautiful.

    Reply
  4. Nancy Thompson says

    October 22, 2020 at 1:08 pm

    Purple tulips and frittallias.

    Reply
  5. Charu Nagarajan says

    October 22, 2020 at 1:39 pm

    Love to grow these. Not sure if some of these will grow in Florida panhandle. Thanks for the chance

    Reply
  6. Madeline Lonergan says

    October 22, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    Love to win this!

    Reply
  7. Jeane Campbell says

    October 22, 2020 at 2:25 pm

    When my daughter first bought the house they are in now, I went over one afternoon when no one was there and planted tulip bulbs. She was so surprised the next spring when they bloomed. That was a long wait for a surprise.

    Reply
  8. Kelly Lynn says

    October 22, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    I just learned a lot about bulbs. Hoping some of the ones I planted actually grow next year!

    Reply
  9. Michelle Proper says

    October 22, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Such beauty! I would absolutely love to plant these bulbs in my yard now and look forward to my favorite season!

    Reply
  10. h.r. says

    October 22, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    I love my hyacinth and crocus. Guess i’m old fashioned

    Reply
  11. Martha DeMArco says

    October 22, 2020 at 4:49 pm

    I love tulips and lily of the valley. But living in South Carolina, lily of the valley doesn’t grow.:(

    Reply
  12. DeeAnn S says

    October 22, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    The Banana Ice Cream Tulips are beautiful!

    Reply
  13. Ken Ohl says

    October 22, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    these are beautiful think my wife would love these

    Reply
  14. ADARIA Johnson says

    October 25, 2020 at 2:26 am

    Awesome Giveaway

    Reply
  15. Cheryl T says

    October 25, 2020 at 11:44 am

    My absolute favourite Spring flower is a Bearded Dutch Iris. How incedibly appropriate would it be to get them from DutchGrown Bulbs?!

    Reply
  16. Lisa Cress says

    October 25, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    It is the greatest to see bulbs come up in the Spring! Love this giveaway! Have a wonderful day!
    Thank you!

    Reply
  17. Kathy Derrick says

    October 25, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    Very cool plants. I have a collection and can always use more!

    Reply
  18. Kathy Derrick says

    October 25, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    I just bought Ice Cream Tulip Flowers and will plant them in the spring. Never saw one bloomed yet but anxious to see.

    Reply
  19. RJ says

    October 25, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    Another great choice for long lasting and beautiful tulips are species tulips .

    Reply
  20. RJ says

    October 25, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    To help with the site selection, use a area where the snow melts first in the spring.

    Reply
  21. Jasmin says

    October 25, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Tulips are my absolute favorite.

    Reply
  22. K. Lyons says

    October 25, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    Love bulbs especially tulips and daffodils.

    Reply
  23. Marie Kakoulli says

    October 26, 2020 at 5:10 am

    thanks!

    Reply
  24. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

    October 26, 2020 at 7:23 am

    A friend ‘smuggled’ some bulbs in from Holland when they were there. It is highly illegal in South Africa so we need this Dutch Grown company here as well 🙂

    Reply
  25. Nancy Bowers says

    October 26, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    Voles ate all my iris bulbs while I was too busy to tend my flowerbeds. I am ready to get some color back!

    Reply
  26. Erin Sandell says

    October 26, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    BEAUTIFUL!!!

    Reply
  27. Kristy Jo Oberts says

    October 26, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    Amazing giveaway!

    Reply
  28. Kristy Jo Oberts says

    October 26, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    I love tulips. This is my passion and any tulip bulbs are amazing!

    Reply
  29. Oven Fresh Cake says

    October 27, 2020 at 1:31 pm

    Helpful one! Thank You so much.

    Reply
  30. Sandra Mace says

    October 28, 2020 at 5:41 pm

    I just planted some daffodils but would love to have many more!

    Reply
  31. Kathy atkins says

    October 29, 2020 at 11:40 am

    Tulips

    Reply
  32. cynthia whipple says

    October 30, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    Bulb flowers are the most successful for me in the Calif. desert.

    Reply
  33. Jean Hansen says

    November 8, 2020 at 5:08 am

    A tulip is the most beautiful flower.

    Reply
  34. Rosemay says

    November 8, 2020 at 1:34 pm

    wow

    Reply
  35. vicki cohn says

    December 11, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    Just the gift for hubby

    Reply

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about laura sproull

about laura sproull

Hi! I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!

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