Most people think of tulips and daffodils as the flowers grown from bulbs, but there are many others. Most of them bear flowers during the summer months. The most popular summer-blooming plants from bulbs are begonia, dahlia, gladiolus and lily. All but the lily must be dug up and stored in the fall. Lily bulbs are hardy and may be left in the ground.

Most lily bulbs are planted in the fall at the same time tulip and daffodil bulbs are planted.

Dahlias are generally planted as soon as the ground warms up and there is no danger of frost.

Gladioluses are often planted in series of weekly intervals until mid July. As a general rule, they may be planted until 60 days before the first frost.

Tuberous begonias are so tender that they cannot be set out until nighttime temperatures remain above 50 degrees. They should be started indoors two months before and planted outside when weather becomes reliably warm.

Tuberous begonias bear flowers more varied and colorful than any other summer-flowering bulb. Some resemble roses, others camellias, still others carnations.

Under ideal conditions some can reach flower size up to 10 inches in diameter. Colors range from pure white, yellow, orange, pink, red and multicolor. They will bloom from spring until frost when started indoors and brought outside.

Many of the tuberous begonias grown in our area are in hanging baskets. These are the pendulum type. These flowers prefer part shade rather than full sun. They are virtually disease free.

Tuberous begonias are very tender and will not survive any frost. However, it is to the gardener's advantage to allow them to grow as long as possible in the fall. As the days grow shorter, the flowers become smaller because most of the plant's energy is being used to increase the size of the bulb (tuber). The enlarged tuber can be stored in a cool location and restarted indoors in early spring. They will develop several green sprouts several weeks before they should be replanted. The tuber can then be cut into several pieces with at least one sprout in each piece. You will then have several starter plants from each tuber.

Dahlias are available in every color but blue and the flowers are as small as a quarter or as large as a dinner plate. They bloom from midsummer until frost on stiff, erect stems 1 to 7 feet tall.

They vary so much in flower form that they are classified in 16 categories. Each category includes the full gamut of colors, heights, and blossom size. Some of the more common flower forms are anemone, cactus, single, pom-pom.

Dahlias are grown from tuberous roots. A root division is shaped like a sweet potato; one end contains a tiny stem. From this stem buds will form the stems of the new plants. Root divisions are laid on their side 7 inches deep and covered with 2 inches of soil. Add more soil as they grow until the hole is filled. Leave the plants in the ground until killed by frost. Dig them up when the tops have died and store in the coolest part of your cellar to keep the roots from sprouting.

To keep dahlias from wilting when cut for bouquets, dip the end of the stem in boiling water for a second or sear them in a candle flame.

Gladioluses are grown mainly for cut flowers. It is the mainstay of the florist trade. Over 20,000 acres in the United States are devoted to raising glads commercially. Glads have one problem when grown in a flower garden. The lower blossoms on each spike bloom and fade before the upper ones open and unless the blossoms are removed as fast as they wither, they tend to look unkempt.

Glads come in 28 different basic colors, according to the North American Gladiolus Council. Flower size is also coded; there are five categories, with the smallest flowers under 2½ inches wide and the largest over 5½ inches wide.

Plants range from 1 to 5 feet tall. Plants only bloom for a week to ten days. A staggered planting schedule will assure flowers for about three months beginning in July. The bulbs (corms) are planted 4 to 6 inches deep beginning after the last spring frost and up to two months before first fall frost. Dig up the corms four to six weeks after the flowers fade. They should be stored at 40 to 50 degrees. Nylon stockings are ideal storage bags because they can be hung up to allow air circulation around the corms.

Lilies are a very diverse group of plants. The North American Lily Society divides lilies into nine horticultural groups. All are grown from bulbs that are usually planted in the fall, but some can be planted in the spring.

Lilies in our area can be left in the ground for years and need only be lifted and separated when they become crowded. The bloom period is from early June to early September, depending on variety. Easter lilies purchased as houseplants can be planted after the flowers fade and will bloom in the garden the next year.

Pete Hale of Sarver is a Master Gardener with the Penn State Master Gardener program.