Achimenes Bulbs Welcomed Garden Additions

Achimenes, close kin of African violets, are welcome additions to gardens in. They thrive on heat and make wonderful window garden and porch box plants.

The north side of a building, or the dappled shade of a tree provide ideal light conditions for achimenes. They grow from small fleshy roots called “tubercles.” Achimenes tubercles are harvested during February for shipment in March and April as soon as frigid weather is on the wane.

One grower catalog lists 25 different achimenes, another grower 50… most of these are floriferous and worthwhile.

Plant six of the tubercles in a six-inch bulb pan or pot in rich but loose soil. Cover lightly and place in a warm, sunny place. Blossoms begin to come in June and continue in profusion until fall. They have been known to thrive in pure vermiculite when fed regularly with a well-balanced fertilizer.

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