Hi June. These tender bulbs are worth all the fall digging and winter storage, just to see this tropical plant with their majestic leaf structure each summer. Hopefully you had the chance to see their glory in some of our other summer garden tour videos, since this video (#345 ) was produced many years ago (currently on #905). Thank you for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard - www.WisconsinGarden.com
I just love how well you explain and show how to do things. I had Elephant Ears many, many years ago and did dig them up, but they didn't make it another summer. So this year I had brought 4 bulbs and first thing I did is looked up (thank goodness for computers these days) how to care for them and found your video's. You are so sweet and just wonderful at explaining things and your husband/camera man and you work so well together answering questions for me. Thank you so much. I did subscribe and liked :)
+Hatter Mad - We're so pleased you found one of our 653 UA-cam garden videos. Hope you have a chance to visit our website www.WisconsinGarden.com to see all of our latest garden adventures. At the top we even have a link to our first 600 videos listed by Topic A-Z. You'll find several videos on Elephant Ears listed in the 'E' section and we will be producing several more on this topic within the next week or two. Stay tune. Thank you so much for watching and subscribing. We truly appreciate your positive support. Lynn & Richard
So glad to hear you are OK. Any damage is difficult, but Sandy was so devastating! Have not tried artichokes yet; research says 'Globe' is good, starting with side shoots better than seeds, rich, moist but well-drained soil, plants produce for 3 years. Each year cut 10” side shoots to plant in new row to propagate. Loosely stake plants, pinch 1st year’s buds, main crop is 2 & 3rd year's buds. Dig up after 4 year’s growth. Mulch heavily for winter. Let me know. Good luck!
Lynn, you need to try eddoes or taro. Just buy eddoes from the grocery store. You can harvest come autumn and put the eddoes in soups, just like a potato. Even the leaves are edible. You just have to cook it. I'm growing it this winter, as an indoor plant.
Hi Steve. It's our pleasure and hope you visit our website www.WisconsinGarden.com for a lot more goodies. Thanks for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
Very interesting, I thought they were related to taro, but we obviously haven’t tried it. Will be on the look out for them now. Thanks for sharing. Lynn
Yes, I remembered my Calla lilies after digging up the elephants. Fall can be very busy! For some reason your comments come marked as spam??? I uncheck them, but it’s weird! Thought you should know. Thanks for your comment. Lynn
Lynn, My prayers are with everyone that had damage and are without power b/c it's getting cold now. We only had high wind and rain so we were lucky this time. Have you ever grown artichokes? If so, what kind and why did you choose it? I want to grow some but I know nothing about them, growing wise, that's what I need growing wisdom, lol. Thanks. Ann
Thanks for the video, that was exactly the info I was looking for. I received 8 bulbs as a gift this spring and planted them. They all grew (some huge) and had many babies. Will the baby bulbs grow into larger size bulbs, or will the small ones always grow small ears? This is my first year of having elephant ears and don't know what to expect. They are so neat!Thanks again!
+slimjam44 - Glad you found our video helpful - Next week we begin digging all of our elephant ear bulbs, dahlias, and other tender bulbs out of the ground and store over winter. Every year our elephant ear bulbs and leaves continue to get bigger and bigger. All the baby bulbs will continue to develop and ground as long as they remain healthy. If you live in a colder zone you will need to dig them up and store them in a cool dry dark place over the winter months. Don't plant them until the spring soil temperatures are at least a constant 45-55 degrees. Thanks for watching. Lynn & Richard
I live in Texas. Do I still have to store them in winter? We get few days of 30s and couple days of 20s in winter. I have the plants that look the same but are smaller size leaves and I never pull them out before winter, only new ones to replant in the spring. This ones always come back in spring. It s not the same for the elephant ear ones? Thank you.
We have no choice here in Wisconsin but to dig up our tropical Elephant Ears in late fall or this large bulb will not survive cold weather even in the ground. If you're sure your Texas temps don't drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, they should survive, otherwise, you'll also need to dig them out in late fall and store them indoors over winter in a dark dry space ready to replant in spring. Not quite knowing exactly what kind of bulbs you have, makes it difficult to advise. Sounds like you have a working system. Next time you're at a garden center, see if they have Elephant Ears for sale and compare them to what you have. Thanks for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
Hi Patrick. If you're referring to storing these bulbs over winter, we dig them out after the first frost. Then we hang them in netted bags in the basement over winter. The following summer we replant them once the soil is a constant 60-65 degrees. They won't begin growing until the soil is warm enough which could be the middle of July depending upon weather patterns. Hope that answers your question. Thanks for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
I just bought two bulbs, they had them in a box outside, it's still cold here in AR, are these bulbs going to sprout due to being in the cold, or should I return them before I plant em?
HI Charles. I would be concerned if the bulbs were exposed to freezing weather for any period of time because they aren't cheap. One way to tell is if the any parts of the bulbs are soft or mushy, indicating they may be starting to rot. When in doubt take them back expressing your concern and see if they will guarantee the bulb. If not, ask for a substantial discount or simply return them and find others to your liking. Keep us posted on what happens. Thank you for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
WisconsinGarden Thank you for your time and advice. The bulbs are hard as a rock. No soft spots and look good, I got them from Lowe's, And they do have them under a Cover, Not out where they keep pallets of stuff. Plus they put them out a few weeks ago, It has hit in the teens one night, But I would say they haven't been subjected to long term Cold. Below freezing. They are really good about returns here, But I'm going to give these a try. My first, So I'll be back looking at Alot more of your very helpful video's. Thank You Again.
I doubt that Lowe's would put them out too early in Arkansas knowing that they are considered tender bulbs. Next time you visit your local nursery ask them if they need to be dug up in fall or if there is a way to protect them during winter months leaving them in the ground. Although it is very interesting to dig them up and see all the new baby bulbs attached. As long as they don't fall off after digging them out of the ground we break off the baby bulbs the following spring and plant them separately.PLANTING1. Wait until the soil is warm and there's no danger of frost. Loosen the soil 8" deep. Dig a hole about 5" deep.2. Set the tuber in the hole, pointy side up. The the top of the tuber should be 1” below the soil surface.3. Cover the tuber with soil and water thoroughly.PLANTING TIPSIn warm, frost-free climates (zones 9-11), elephant ears can be grown outdoors year-round. In cooler areas (zones 3-8) they are usually grown as annuals. When planted in spring, they become big, impressive plants within just a few months, so be sure to give them plenty of room.Plant elephant ears in rich, well drained soil. Improving the soil with compost or topsoil will add nutrients and improve the soil's water-holding capacity.For elephant ears to reach their full size, they need consistent moisture throughout the summer. They also benefit from an application of liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.Have fun and keep us posted. TKS Lynn & Richard
WisconsinGarden I went over the 2 I bought and found one that has a softer spot on it about the size of your finger nail. It still feels ferm but softer then the rest of the bulb if that makes sense. I'm not for sure so I'm taking it to a nursery and see what they think. Thank you for your Help. I just love getting dirty.
Why thank you, Duwanda. :) We don't know who doesn't like some of our videos, but we are grateful they still watch them anyway. Have a great growing season. Lynn & Richard
jako mi se dopata vaš video draga lin javlja se iz srbije neznam engleski jrzik ali sve sam vas razumeo jer i ja ćuvam elephant ears voleo bih da mi se javite baj
Thank you your video was the most useful . Hopefully I have some good elephant ear bulbs to plant in the spring.
Hi June. These tender bulbs are worth all the fall digging and winter storage, just to see this tropical plant with their majestic leaf structure each summer. Hopefully you had the chance to see their glory in some of our other summer garden tour videos, since this video (#345 ) was produced many years ago (currently on #905). Thank you for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard - www.WisconsinGarden.com
I just love how well you explain and show how to do things. I had Elephant Ears many, many years ago and did dig them up, but they didn't make it another summer. So this year I had brought 4 bulbs and first thing I did is looked up (thank goodness for computers these days) how to care for them and found your video's. You are so sweet and just wonderful at explaining things and your husband/camera man and you work so well together answering questions for me. Thank you so much. I did subscribe and liked :)
+Hatter Mad - We're so pleased you found one of our 653 UA-cam garden videos. Hope you have a chance to visit our website www.WisconsinGarden.com to see all of our latest garden adventures. At the top we even have a link to our first 600 videos listed by Topic A-Z. You'll find several videos on Elephant Ears listed in the 'E' section and we will be producing several more on this topic within the next week or two. Stay tune. Thank you so much for watching and subscribing. We truly appreciate your positive support. Lynn & Richard
So glad to hear you are OK. Any damage is difficult, but Sandy was so devastating! Have not tried artichokes yet; research says 'Globe' is good, starting with side shoots better than seeds, rich, moist but well-drained soil, plants produce for 3 years. Each year cut 10” side shoots to plant in new row to propagate. Loosely stake plants, pinch 1st year’s buds, main crop is 2 & 3rd year's buds. Dig up after 4 year’s growth. Mulch heavily for winter. Let me know. Good luck!
nice bulbs tay well be nice plants next spring
+Jackie Horsley - Thanks again for watching and sharing. Lynn & Richard
Lynn, you need to try eddoes or taro. Just buy eddoes from the grocery store. You can harvest come autumn and put the eddoes in soups, just like a potato. Even the leaves are edible. You just have to cook it. I'm growing it this winter, as an indoor plant.
The leaves of the elephant ear and the taro plant are toxic to people and other animals like dogs but your right about the bulb itself
Thank you for your help, I am just starting to try growing my own plants for around and in my koi pond. Your videos are very helpful for a nube.
Hi Steve. It's our pleasure and hope you visit our website www.WisconsinGarden.com for a lot more goodies. Thanks for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
Thank you Lynn!
You're welcome James. Thanks again for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
Thanks for all the great help, I really needed it. I'll let you know. Ann
Very interesting, I thought they were related to taro, but we obviously haven’t tried it. Will be on the look out for them now. Thanks for sharing. Lynn
Yes, I remembered my Calla lilies after digging up the elephants. Fall can be very busy! For some reason your comments come marked as spam??? I uncheck them, but it’s weird! Thought you should know. Thanks for your comment. Lynn
Lynn, My prayers are with everyone that had damage and are without power b/c it's getting cold now. We only had high wind and rain so we were lucky this time.
Have you ever grown artichokes? If so, what kind and why did you choose it? I want to grow some but I know nothing about them, growing wise, that's what I need growing wisdom, lol. Thanks. Ann
Hot dogs are pretty adventurous, Rick! Lol
Awesome
Thanks Kimuseni for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
Thanks for the video, that was exactly the info I was looking for. I received 8 bulbs as a gift this spring and planted them. They all grew (some huge) and had many babies. Will the baby bulbs grow into larger size bulbs, or will the small ones always grow small ears? This is my first year of having elephant ears and don't know what to expect. They are so neat!Thanks again!
+slimjam44 - Glad you found our video helpful - Next week we begin digging all of our elephant ear bulbs, dahlias, and other tender bulbs out of the ground and store over winter. Every year our elephant ear bulbs and leaves continue to get bigger and bigger. All the baby bulbs will continue to develop and ground as long as they remain healthy. If you live in a colder zone you will need to dig them up and store them in a cool dry dark place over the winter months. Don't plant them until the spring soil temperatures are at least a constant 45-55 degrees. Thanks for watching. Lynn & Richard
I live in Texas. Do I still have to store them in winter? We get few days of 30s and couple days of 20s in winter. I have the plants that look the same but are smaller size leaves and I never pull them out before winter, only new ones to replant in the spring. This ones always come back in spring.
It s not the same for the elephant ear ones?
Thank you.
We have no choice here in Wisconsin but to dig up our tropical Elephant Ears in late fall or this large bulb will not survive cold weather even in the ground. If you're sure your Texas temps don't drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, they should survive, otherwise, you'll also need to dig them out in late fall and store them indoors over winter in a dark dry space ready to replant in spring. Not quite knowing exactly what kind of bulbs you have, makes it difficult to advise. Sounds like you have a working system. Next time you're at a garden center, see if they have Elephant Ears for sale and compare them to what you have. Thanks for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
Watched video for drying elephant ears what do you do after uncovering them
Hi Patrick. If you're referring to storing these bulbs over winter, we dig them out after the first frost. Then we hang them in netted bags in the basement over winter. The following summer we replant them once the soil is a constant 60-65 degrees. They won't begin growing until the soil is warm enough which could be the middle of July depending upon weather patterns. Hope that answers your question. Thanks for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
I know!!! Who knows what could be in them. lol
I just bought two bulbs, they had them in a box outside, it's still cold here in AR, are these bulbs going to sprout due to being in the cold, or should I return them before I plant em?
HI Charles. I would be concerned if the bulbs were exposed to freezing weather for any period of time because they aren't cheap. One way to tell is if the any parts of the bulbs are soft or mushy, indicating they may be starting to rot. When in doubt take them back expressing your concern and see if they will guarantee the bulb. If not, ask for a substantial discount or simply return them and find others to your liking. Keep us posted on what happens. Thank you for watching, caring and sharing. Lynn & Richard
WisconsinGarden Thank you for your time and advice. The bulbs are hard as a rock. No soft spots and look good, I got them from Lowe's, And they do have them under a Cover, Not out where they keep pallets of stuff. Plus they put them out a few weeks ago, It has hit in the teens one night, But I would say they haven't been subjected to long term Cold. Below freezing. They are really good about returns here, But I'm going to give these a try. My first, So I'll be back looking at Alot more of your very helpful video's. Thank You Again.
I doubt that Lowe's would put them out too early in Arkansas knowing that they are considered tender bulbs. Next time you visit your local nursery ask them if they need to be dug up in fall or if there is a way to protect them during winter months leaving them in the ground. Although it is very interesting to dig them up and see all the new baby bulbs attached. As long as they don't fall off after digging them out of the ground we break off the baby bulbs the following spring and plant them separately.PLANTING1. Wait until the soil is warm and there's no danger of frost. Loosen the soil 8" deep. Dig a hole about 5" deep.2. Set the tuber in the hole, pointy side up. The the top of the tuber should be 1” below the soil surface.3. Cover the tuber with soil and water thoroughly.PLANTING TIPSIn warm, frost-free climates (zones 9-11), elephant ears can be grown outdoors year-round. In cooler areas (zones 3-8) they are usually grown as annuals. When planted in spring, they become big, impressive plants within just a few months, so be sure to give them plenty of room.Plant elephant ears in rich, well drained soil. Improving the soil with compost or topsoil will add nutrients and improve the soil's water-holding capacity.For elephant ears to reach their full size, they need consistent moisture throughout the summer. They also benefit from an application of liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.Have fun and keep us posted. TKS Lynn & Richard
WisconsinGarden I went over the 2 I bought and found one that has a softer spot on it about the size of your finger nail. It still feels ferm but softer then the rest of the bulb if that makes sense. I'm not for sure so I'm taking it to a nursery and see what they think. Thank you for your Help. I just love getting dirty.
I often take a sterilize knife and cut out any area of concern so that it doesn't spread. But if in doubt, return it for another. TKS - Lynn & Richard
I would love to know who is the one person that didn’t like this. I thought it was very informative.
Why thank you, Duwanda. :) We don't know who doesn't like some of our videos, but we are grateful they still watch them anyway. Have a great growing season. Lynn & Richard
jako mi se dopata vaš video draga lin javlja se iz srbije neznam engleski jrzik ali sve sam vas razumeo jer i ja ćuvam elephant ears voleo bih da mi se javite baj