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Jumpstart Your Summer Containers

April 23, 2012  |  bulbs
Back garden

Some of the most striking summer flowers and plants come from bulbs. Unfortunately, they can take a loooong time to get going after it is safe to plant them outdoors.

Fortunately, you can bypass the wait by starting many of them indoors in pots now. By the time it is warm enough for them to be transplanted into your beds or containers, they will have completed the tedious sprouting and foliage-growing stages, and be nearly ready to begin blooming!

Cannas, tuberous begonias, caladiums, elephant ears, and dahlias are all excellent candidates: plant them in well-moistened potting soil and place in a warm, light environment. As the days warm up, you can place them outdoors and move them back in for the cool evenings until early- to mid-May. Keep the soil moist, and you could see blooms in June rather than July...and who doesn't like a "free" month of flowers!

Questions about this project or tips to share? Click Post/Read comments right below and let us know!