How to Shop for Bulbs Online

Shopping for bulbs online is an easy and enjoyable way to buy your favorite flowers. With a click of the mouse, your garden is one step closer to an explosion of color.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spring-flowering Bulbs
• Summer Bulbs

1. Enter the Internet address of a company that sells bulbs online. Or, find an online retailer by conducting a search at a major search engine like Google or Yahoo.

2. Select bulb varieties based on color, bloom time, height, ability to grow in sun or shade, and adaptation to your climate.

3. Determine quantities of bulbs by noting how close they can be planted for each of your planting areas.

4. Choose hardy spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, crocus and hyacinths, for fall delivery and planting.

5. Choose tender summer-flowering bulbs, such as begonias and gladiolus, for spring delivery and planting.

6. Double-check information about delivery times. Make sure they are right for planting in your area. (Generally, the farther north you are, the earlier you should plant.)

7. Submit your order with completed billing and shipping information.

Tips & Warnings

• If you order bulbs such as tulips and hyacinths, which usually need chilling, make sure they'll be delivered early enough to keep them in your refrigerator for eight weeks before planting. Or order prechilled bulbs.
• Bargains are not always as good a deal as they may seem. They are often smaller or lower-quality bulbs that do not bloom as well.