When I was a mere lad I always had difficulty with the difference between bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes. All children at school nowadays are taught the difference, which I suppose is simple enough. It’s like riding a bicycle. Once you know it you’re not likely to forget it.
The bulb (onion, tulip, and so on) is just a condensed shoot at the centre of which is a flower, surrounded by leaves. Roots grow from the base of the bulb which is called the base plate.
It contains enough food to get it into flower, and doesn’t require feeding with fertilizer.
The corm is a condensed stem and a bud sits on top of the stem. Roots emerge from below it.
It also contains enough food to get it established to the point of flowering. Both bulbs and corms need the leaves which come with the flowers because it is the leaves which produce the food for the new bulb and corm produced during the growing season once flowering is completed.
Tubers come in two kinds. There are the root tubers such as the dahlia, and the stem tuber like the potato. Shoots only arise from the top of the root tuber, and in the case of the dahlia these provide the cuttings which the gardener wants to increase his stock.
You will all have observed that potatoes are quite capable of producing shoots if they are left too long. This shows clearly that they are stem tubers. They will produce roots and shoots quite readily and if they are earthed up in the usual way will produce another crop of potatoes for you. Try growing them in a large pot and gradually earthing them up.
Rhizomes are more or less flattened stems growing on or slightly below the soil surface. These include the gingers, and iris. Ginger grows perfectly well in any ordinary soil. It grows superbly well in rich loam producing roots of enormous size, and lasts for years.
I never cease to be amazed at the defences mother nature gives to members of the cactus family, and am always pleased that it so often works to our advantage. I suppose that there are few plants that look as attractive when they are out of flower as when they are flowering.
Many have quite vicious spines, but there are plenty of old dodges that are used to counter the pain, and in the case of Mammillaria spines in the flesh I suppose one of the most effective is candle wax. When it is allowed to dry and then taken off it will very often take all the spines with it. Clever eh?
One lot of spines that I was able to get relief from are the wounds inflicted by those of the bougainvillea. They can be excruciating. Of course bougainvillea can be planted to act as a protective barrier against intruders, be they two legged or four legged, and at this they are superb.
I read a most interesting article on ways to look after yourselves when you are working in the garden, or merely relaxing during the weekend over a barbeque. Exposure to the sun causes premature aging and wrinkling. First is the precaution of protection from the sun by using a wide floppy hat, and eye shades. Second I would suggest the use of sunscreen about factor 20 to 25, put on at least half an hour before you go outside. Thirdly, don’t be fooled into thinking that you can get used to Guyana’s blistering sun at any time. It can be highly dangerous. It’s always sensible to wear a T shirt, and a hat, especially if you are going a bit thin on top. All of these precautions are designed to protect you from an extremely vicious form of skin cancer called melanoma. The fairer your skin the more danger you are in. The darker your skin the better off you may be, but no-one is immune. Take care now until next week and may your God go with you wherever you may be.
