Flower bulbs, a more Dutch product is hard to find. Most people will first think of tulips, but of course we must not forget the daffodils and hyacinths. Of course, tulips remain the most classic flowers among the tuberous plants. As Dutch people, we are so familiar with these flowers and flower bulbs that we actually no longer think about where these plants actually come from.

What are bulbous plants actually?

We have all planted flower bulbs, but do we actually know how a flower bulb is formed? How does a flower bulb actually get its spherical shape? Well, that bulb is actually nothing more or less than a tangle of petals that are glued together, as it were. They ensure that the plant that is already ready for spring can survive the winter with sufficient germination power.

When is the best time to plant flower bulbs?

Flower bulbs are best planted before winter. Normally it is already too late in December and the bulbs are planted in the ground in October and November. You do this with the point upwards, because the young plant will also find its way up through the soil layer in this way. When you are going to plant flower bulbs to have beautiful flowers in the spring, it is a good idea not to be absent-minded and to pay close attention to this. It may seem like a bit of unnecessary advice, but although this seems logical, it is still a common problem among novice florists.

How can you store the bulbs?

If all goes well, you will get beautiful flowers in the spring. In addition to tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, these can also be snowdrops and bluebells. When the flowers have finished blooming, it is time to remove the remaining foliage and dig the tubers out of the ground. It is best to store them in a dark and not too warm place. A closed cardboard box in the cellar is a good place to let the tubers overwinter.

Edible flower bulbs

We may not think about it anymore, but there are also flower bulbs that you can eat. Our grandparents and great-grandparents ate tulips during the Second World War to get through the famine winter. What we no longer realize is that we still eat relatives of our tulip bulbs. We think first of all of onions and shallots, which look a bit like flower bulbs. When we compare these tuberous plants with the tubers of flowers, we see great similarities. This is no wonder, because they all belong to the same plant family.

You see, flower bulbs have much more to offer than just flowers.