Is There a Bulb Shortage? The National Garden Bureau Investigates

Posted by Brian Sparks|September 4, 2021

Photo courtesy of 1-800-Flowers.com

Rumors are swirling that amid national supply chain issues, there is also a bulb shortage. However, the National Garden Bureau (NGB) has worked with its members to dig deeper into what’s actually happening.

As a reminder, the seed shortage that abounded last winter and spring was actually a supply chain problem, as NGB member experts detailed in two information blogs, Seed Facts for Informed Buyers and Ask the Experts about #SeedFacts.

Now, NGB member experts are once again on the case. They were recently asked if there was a bulb shortage; here’s what some of them had to say (information below comes directly from NGB members):

If you are planning to purchase tulips, daffodils, and other fall-planted bulbs, don’t wait too long or you may miss out.
Demand for bulbs, plants, and other gardening supplies has skyrocketed since the start of COVID-19 and is not slowing down. More people planting bulbs is a good thing, but it means more competition in the marketplace.
On the supply side, growers in Holland are doing their best to cope with a number of weather-related problems. Last spring was warmer than average, and the bulbs in Holland’s production fields did not put on as much growth as they usually do. Plants with less foliage produce smaller bulbs and that means fewer of this year’s bulbs made it to market. Many of those that did are on the smaller side of the acceptable size range.
This past summer was also much wetter than normal. Holland’s bulb farmers harvest their crops during the summer months when the weather is normally dry. This year, torrential rains caused a multitude of harvest problems.
Yet another challenge is shipping. Most bulbs are shipped by boat. The worldwide container shortage and related scheduling issues are making it much more difficult for suppliers to be nimble when managing inventory.
Shop early to avoid disappointment!