Where are flower bulbs cultivated?

Long ago, flower bulb growers discovered that the soil right behind the Dutch dunes was perfect for this purpose. This is because flower bulbs require very good drainage – no wet feet for them. These sandy soils behind the dunes are just what flower bulbs need to thrive. Rainwater drains right through this soil. And the groundwater here is deep beneath the surface. Flower bulbs also prefer a chalky soil. These soils provide that, too. This is because this soil is so close to the sea that it contains a lot of pulverised shells. For a long time, growers believed that they were restricted to these sandy soils for growing bulbs. Although this is true for daffodils and hyacinths, they later made an important discovery. Tulips, lilies and gladioli would also thrive in light clay soils. This is why you now see flower bulb fields in many other parts of our country.

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