LaDell Sumpter

As a South African and spring bulb grower, I have found that what looks the prettiest in the product catalogs may not be the smartest. During a recent growing period working with Hippeastrum, a perennial bulb native to South Africa, I have documented a few tips that will help any beginning grower successfully grow and financially manage a large crop. Cultivating Cultivars In the trade, there are terms used to describe different bulbs. One of these terms is garden variety. Garden variety cultivars are usually only good for small quantities, as their habits are generally leggier and often inconsistent in maintaining desired traits across a crop. When working with Hippeastrum, it should be noted that there are both small and large bulb cultivars, and the size of the flower is related to the bulb. But beware, bigger is not always better. As a grower, you want to avoid the pitfall […]