Gardening Question of the Week
I Never Planted My Bulbs Last Fall. Now What?
Thursday February 14, 2008
autumnwyndsong posted a question many of us have had to deal with: "Back in Sept when fall bulbs started arriving in stores here in Southeastern PA, I went crazy and bought a bunch. This was our first fall in PA and I didn't realize how long it stayed warm, so I held off on bulb planting and all of a sudden my bulbs disappeared. I assumed my hubby was cleaning up and threw them out by mistake. What actually happened was that I put them in a cold dark place in our unfinished basement, and they were forgotten. Until today that is, got the spring cleaning urge, and found them on a shelf... grrr!
I realize that it is too late to plant fall bulbs, but does anyone have any recommendations for what I can do with them... maybe containers. I have allium, daffodil, tulip, hyacinth, and crocus. Thanks in advance!
I recommended planting now, if the ground is thawed. Otherwise forcing and transplanting. Have any of you had good luck planting or forcing forgotten bulbs?
Photo: © Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. Used with Permission.
Comments
What about putting them in the fridge for a couple of weeks before planting. My daughter does that every year ( after storing in a cool dry place until winter). This is done because we have a warmer climate all year round ie only one frost last year.
You may try planting the bulbs in containres with soil now, and let them freeze outside until spring thaw for ground planting.
The fridge is a good idea. I know that works well. But I never thought of putting them in containers and putting the whole thing outside. We might as well get something positive out of this cold freeze.
The reason we plant bulbs approx. 4 weeks before hard frost is to allow them to form roots but not to sprout. Planting your bulbs in a container now and putting them outside may, in fact, kill them, since they will not have formed a root system and could simply rot come spring. The container idea is sound, but if you can, keep the containers in the garage or somewhere else cold but not freezing (I have an un-insulated, closed-in back porch that is perfect for this type of exercise)for a couple of weeks to allow root growth. Then put them outside for the remainder of the winter. If you want your bulbs in the garden this year, transplant them before or after they have bloomed, but preferrably not during. The safest approach may be to enjoy them in their containers this year, lift them when the leaves have died back, and replant them outside next fall. Good Luck!
I did this one year when I lived in South Carolina, bought some bulbs in the fall and then forgot about them until they turned up in the spring. I planted them anyway. I got green growth that first year but no flowers (understandable). Every year after that though, they did just fine.
Where I live I have to protect them from the varmits throughout the winter. I keep them in a box in the garage where it is routinely under 40 degrees. Once they have all rooted and the ground has thawed I start planting them. I have thousands of bulbs. I found that the squirels and voles and all the other wonderful creatures don’t tend to touch them once they are rooted-not sure why. I would try the fridge or place them into containers also.
If you left your bulbs in a garage or shed where they were cold, you can go to a garden center, purchase a large plastic pot and bag of dirt, and plant the bulbs in the pot. I like to get the pots that are shallow and wide for the best effect (18-24″ across/8-10″ deep). They can be crowded close together. If your bag has an assortment of different kinds and sizes of bulbs, put about 3 in. of dirt in the pot, plant the largest bulbs, put another couple inches of dirt on top of those and put the smaller bulbs on top. Water and put in a sunny spot near the house. If you have squirrels, deer or rabbits around you will need to protect them. They will start growing almost immediately as soon as it starts to warm up. You will have a gorgeous pot full of blooming bulbs that would cost you $30-$45 or more to purchase from a florist or greenhouse! I do this every year — buy a couple of bags of assorted bulbs on sale and save them in my garage until spring for a lovely pot of blooming flowers! People stop and ask me where I bought them! Enjoy! ev