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I still have not planted my Fall bulbs.....

16 years ago

Good Morning from the Pacific NorthWest,,,,,

I always plant my Spring bulbs near Christmas or soon after. This is because of my microclimate near my stream. This year I was in a serious accident and am still not able to walk. The bulbs etc...., tulips, daffs,iris,and lily are still sitting in bags in the garage. If I can get them in the ground in the next month or so... is there any hope for them? I am not talking about blooming....just growing roots and hanging on? Any info would be appreciated because it will be a big effort to get them in the ground and don't want to waste my time scooting on my butt if they won't survive to bloom next year....I sure would appreciate any info you might have from past experience...thank you...Seattle area.

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Comments (5)

bullthistle
16 years ago
They may leaf but will not bloom until next year so all is not lost. I have always used bone meal and someone suggested plants have enough energy stored up, but I don't believe that, especially bulbs. Make certain that you use bone meal and either manure or compost in the hole. Yes animals do dig up bone meal which is why you put it in the bottom of the hole.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials
Donna
16 years ago
In your physical condition, I should think it would be easier to put your bulbs in pots for now. If they survive, you can plant them in the ground next year. If you plant them soon, I should think that all but the tulips would survive, and since you live in the Pacific Northwest, they may survive too. If the bulbs are dried out and feel like paper, or if they are soft and rotting, it's too late. Otherwise, you've got very little to lose. I hope you get fully well really, really soon! :)
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Hmmm. Well, VanZyverdens (they supply retailers all over the country) here in Meridian had their final clearanace sale all through the month of November. I went the first day and promptly took home 2 or 3 hundred and planted them. THEN a friend of mind called me to accompany her to the final day of the sale (last week) to "help" her. Came home with MORE. Naturally, it has rained everyday since. No matter. I put the tulips in the refrigerator and the narcisus are out in the garage. We had a killing frost the day after Thanksgiving, so as soon as it dries out, I'll "roll up" the last of the lantanas, cupheas, and hyacinth beans. That will make room for the new additions. I'm going to be out putting up Christmas decorations anyway...:) By the way, get a load of this. At the sale, I bought 100 Spring Green tulips, and 15 dozen named jonquils for $26!!!! Of course, this is why my addiction is so out of control...
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Four days before Christmas..and still, if you can get the tulips (cant speak for the daffs) into the ground, then that's the best place for them. They may not come to anything....this year ('06)...may produce just foliage. In that case, let them go through the same cycle as other tulips, let them wither on the vine....and they should recover to give you much flowering in '07. For the daffs....I'd venture.....get them also into the ground. Even if they don't come to anything, they will be able to be moved after they yellow up and should show well in '07. A heavy mulch over the site is I think valuable. You could just find a place ---away from your garden...and dump the whole lot of them into a ditch. Let them come up and then decide where you wish to move them to. (of course, plant them properly....I used the word 'dump' to mean to go whole hog and put them all in the one place. Imagine them all coming up..in flower..what a sight that would be.
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Right now is the time to plant bulbs. I planted 700 tulips last year and lots of people would stop by to let me know they were taking the long way home to pass by and see the garden. It was a lot of fun. I just added some bagged top soil and compost without really bothering too much about quantities. You plant them at twice the depth of the size of each bulb - I mean, if the bulb is 2 inches in diameter, you plant them 6 inches deep. Good luck! And don't forget to add bone meal to the planting holes. I actually finished planting late October last year. You have to plant before the first frost. And please get one of these bulb planters you step on. They are so much better than digging by hand. Though when you find a stone, it's always a pain.
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ofionnachta
16 years ago
Can you hire a friendly teen to do the digging while you stand or sit & supervise? Maybe go to a local Scout troop & see if you can float the project as a bit of service?

Provide a pizza & soda after the dig!
jeannie7
16 years ago
The tulips and daffs are three months too late. You cant expect them to form roots when there is not sufficient time for a cooling period.
I have to think, in the P>N>W.....? zone 8 ...you buy pre-cooled bulbs and have to give them the remaining interval of 10 weeks in a cool soil.
Since that is impossible now, your tulips and daffs cant grow roots and should not be planted lest they become fodder for squirrels etc.

The lilies and iris will be planted this spring when the soil has firmly warmed up. Depending on the variety, the lily might flower this year....the iris ...next spring.
violetta1976
16 years ago
I don't know much about bulbs, but I just planted some tulip bulbs in a container three weeks ago, and they're coming up. I'd forgotten about them and left them in a storage shed all winter.

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