Tender-bulb storage

Egg cartons make handy containers. Use them to overwinter glads and other summer bulbs. Photo/Illustration: Christine Erikson

Storing tender bulbs like gladiolus and freesias has always been a challenge for me. The different varieties have a tendency to mix together, and sometimes the labels get lost. I have discovered an excellent storage container that eliminates these problems: an egg carton. I simply fill it with a dozen cleaned bulbs and write the variety name with a permanent marker in the corresponding spot on the cover, the way candies are labeled in a box. The holes in the carton provide essential ventilation, and the individual cells keep mold and other diseases from spreading. The carton takes up just a little bit of space on a basement shelf and adds organization to my gardening.