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What to do? Bulbs coming up now.

bloomingtoninbloom

16 years ago

Hi all,

I'm new to this zone 5/6 and I planted a large number of bulbs last fall. When cleaning out the garden today as I was removing fallen leaves I noticed many tulip bulbs (and I think some allium) have started to come up. Should I just leave the piles of leaves on top of them to protect them from the coming frosts? I don't want them all to die because I planted them to shallowly. (I really thought I hadn't!

Any thoughts?

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Comments (4)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
Now's exactly the right time for most spring blooming bulbs to make an appearance. In milder parts of the country, snowdrops, crocuses and early narcissus are already blooming. Bulb foliage is not affected by late frosts - it may get a little damaged/burned from excessively cold weather but that won't affect the flowering at all. These very hardy bulbs work to their own internal clock and they'll produce flowers precisely when it's time for them in your climate. Not to worry :-))
ljrmiller
16 years ago
Just let the bulbs do what they want to do. Otherwise you will go mad running in and out covering them with straw and row cover, then removing it because it got too warm, then putting it back with the next cold snap...And rest assured, if you start playing the cover/un-cover game, you will invariably be doing it dressed in a flannel nightgown, the world's ugliest bathrobe, a ski hat and your snow boots. Don't go down that road unless you have a specific plan to scare the neighbors :-)

Bulbs do just fine without any extra fussing.

Lisa (and yes, I was out there one year in nightgown and boots until I learned my lesson)
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ladychroe
16 years ago
LOL, Lisa! I go outside to do garden things in the most ridiculous outfits, and I'm sure the neighbors think I'm mad. Sometimes my husband starts singing that Crystal Waters song to me: "Ladadi, ladida. She's homeless!"

On the other side of the spectrum is weeding the beds in a suit and high heels after arriving home from work. I've been known to do that too. I don't know which is worse.

Anyway, yes, just leave the bulbs alone, they know what they're doing. We had temps in the teens a few nights ago, and now it's 45 degrees outside, and the crocuses are now blooming just the same.
jackied164 z6 MA
16 years ago
ladychroe your husband sounds like a total keeper. He singe Crystal Waters songs to you :).

So my advice to the origninal poster is to REJOICE! Spring is on the way! WAAAAA-HOOOOO! Actually I am ususally afraid I have not cleaned off the beds early enough when I find the pale twisted nubbins of bulbs trying to find some light when I do rake.

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