Snowdrops – These well-known early bloomers are among the plants that produce one to several bulbs underground. What should you pay attention to when planting the onions?
How to properly plant snowdrop bulbs?
To plant snowdrop bulbs, plant them 8-10 cm deep in autumn, 5 cm apart and up to 5 per planting hole. Make sure you have plump, he althy bulbs and humus-rich, well-drained, slightly alkaline to neutral soil.
Planting time for the onions
The onions, which are available in hardware stores, garden centers and the Internet and can also be found in the supermarket from time to time, are best planted in autumn. The ideal period is between the end of September and mid-November. On the other hand, the early snowdrop plants must be planted in spring when they are blooming.
How deep and how do the onions have to be planted?
The bulbs, which should be plump and he althy, are placed in dug holes. The soil in it is loosened well before planting. If it is low in nutrients, add some compost (€12.00 on Amazon), manure or horn shavings. Basically, a humus-rich, permeable and slightly alkaline to neutral soil is best suited.
Now the onions are planted:
- Depth: 8 to 10 cm
- Distance between bulbs: 5 cm
- maximum number of bulbs per planting hole: 5 pieces
- Orientation of the bulb: with the tip up and the roots down
Plant neighbors are no problem for the onions
The bulbs of other early bloomers can be planted at the same time as the snowdrop bulbs. In general, snowdrop bulbs have no problem with plant neighbors. They get along well with crocuses, daffodils, tulips, winter aconites etc.
Caution: Onions are poisonous
When planting bulbs, the fact that all parts of snowdrops are poisonous should not be neglected. Onions in particular contain high levels of a toxic alkaloid. It is therefore advisable to wear gloves when planting the bulbs and when handling them in general.
Propagate the onions later
The year after the onions are planted, they can already be used for propagation. After the snowdrop has bloomed, it forms so-called breeding bulbs underground. They are separated from the main bulb and planted separately.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to plant the bulbs in summer, you should make sure to water the soil regularly. Otherwise there is a risk that the onions will dry out.