At Zabo Plant, bulbs are at the heart of everything we do. From lilies to callas to gladiolus, every flower starts with a well-grown, high-quality bulb. While the flowers may steal the spotlight, it’s the bulb beneath the surface that carries all the power. But what does it take to grow a great bulb?

Growing Bulbs in Two Hemispheres

Right now, our team is busy harvesting bulbs in Chile. Because Chile is in the southern hemisphere, we can produce flower bulbs year-round by alternating with our Dutch crop. This not only ensures continuity in supply but also gives us valuable insight into how climate, soil, and growing conditions impact bulb performance.

The Life of a Bulb – Simpler Than You Think

Planting bulbs is surprisingly simple. Once they’re in the ground, most of the work is done by nature. With the right conditions—healthy soil, regular watering (especially when rainfall is low), and basic pest control—the bulbs grow steadily with little intervention. The key is monitoring. Regular checks for diseases, pests, and weather changes help us prevent issues before they affect the crop.

Cutting the Flowers to Strengthen the Bulb

As soon as the plant starts forming flowers, we remove the buds. This may sound strange—after all, we grow flowers, right? But in this stage, we’re not growing blooms; we’re growing bulbs. Flowering takes a huge amount of energy, and our goal is to make sure that energy stays inside the bulb. By removing the flower, we let the plant focus on building up strength for its next life—when it will be used by a professional grower or flower forcer.

Timing the Harvest Just Right

The plant stays in the field as long as possible to maximize growth. Through photosynthesis, the leaves continue fueling the bulb until the temperatures start to drop. Timing is critical—harvest too early, and the bulb is underdeveloped; too late, and frost can damage the crop. This balance is what makes bulb farming both an art and a science.

Why It’s All Worth It

At the end of the season, the bulbs we harvest are strong, full of potential, and ready to bloom wherever they’re planted. Whether it’s a vase in Tokyo, a bouquet in New York, or a field in the Netherlands, it all begins with one thing: a quality bulb.